Pete Tong: 'Lady GaGa-esque stars need majors'

Pete Tong has said that musicians cannot achieve the level of stardom attained by Lady GaGa without the input of major labels.

The DJ and founder of FFRR Records claimed that despite "the gatekeeper aspect of record companies" disappearing through technological advances in production and distribution, pop superstars still cannot be established without the help of big firms.

Tong told DS: "There's millions and millions more tracks out there and artists out there to navigate and that's when you still need the filtering system to help you get to the highest level of it.

"Although anyone can get started, you still don't find anyone like Lady GaGa status without the input and help of a major label.

"It's a little bit different in electronic music. deadmau5 was doing really, really well and almost getting to serious venue sizes just with an agent. His record company complemented his position but it didn't make him."

He added: "I think the business of being in music has changed fundamentally. It's changed 360 degrees.

"Record companies and teams of great A&R and great management and marketing skills are still hugely valuable... I'm a big supporter of record companies that are good and have just got smaller, more focused, they've had to trim away all the fat.

"They do way, way fewer things better. In the old days they'd sign 25 things and hope one sticks - they literally can't afford to do that anymore. They have to sign one or two things and make sure it sticks."

A Celebration of Pete Tong airs tonight, April 8, at 7pm on BBC Radio 1.

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