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Ok, so here is something a little bit different. Instead of reviewing a book I have read recently, I have decided to discuss a documentary, which recently has had a profound effect on the way I look at both 30 Seconds to Mars as a band, as well as the music industry as a whole. Directed under the pseudonym Bartholomew Cubbins, frontman Jared Leto documents the $30 million lawsuit EMI made against 30 Seconds to Mars after their wish to end their contract with the company. Originally set out to be a documentary tracking the making of their third album, This is War, ‘Artifact’ became a much more dramatic and thought-provoking film, exposing the corruption within the failing music industry.
"That’s the business model; screwing the artist.”
One of the most shocking things about ‘Artifact’ is the revelation of how corrupt the music business is, along with how vulnerable music artists are. The fact that 30STM were sued for $30 million, simply because after 7 years with the company they hadn’t been paid ever for their album sales, and were somehow millions of dollars in debt to the company, is ludicrous. While it is stated that the total wasn’t a play to the media (30$m for 30STM) is hard to believe, but nevertheless it certainly brings the shock factor to the situation. The way in which the whole system operates is, as my cousin perfectly put it, “terrifying”. One thing that the film is successfully executes is highlighting the process of creating and distribution an album, and how quickly the music business drains the earnings of the artist. As it demonstrates, making new albums is part of a corrupted cycle, as music companies finds numerous excuses for taking what they consider to be their money from album sales. One of the most bizarre revelations is how the music company takes money away from the artist’s earnings, known as royalties, to pay for potential breakages and packaging, even for downloaded songs where this is irrelvant. This leaves very little for the artist or those included in the creation process. Throughout the documentary, it is hard not to feel sorry for the members of 30STM, as they strive to continue writing an album that they know they will not be paid for, and also one that will potentially not even be released. You have to admire their determination and passion for music as they go on to make this album independently.
A whole other dimension is added to the documentary with the incorporation of 30 Seconds to Mars’ new music, which, funnily enough, EMI originally refused to allow the band to include in their documentary. This is War had always been an album that I enjoyed listening to; however, after watching ‘Artifact’, I found a new depth within their music, with the lyrics taking on a whole new meaning for me (I know that may sound somewhat pretentious, but hey, it’s true!) Throughout, the album plays an effective role in highlighting the dramatic moments of the film, and also the moments of triumph and success. Once more, there are some moments in which stripped back acoustic versions of their hits are simply just enjoyed by the viewer.
OK sure, there are some moments that feel a little cliche and sometimes a bit overdramatic (I guess it can be expected when the lead singer is also an actor, and a successful one at that), but at the end of the day it’s hard to simply comprehend how the band somehow managed to cope with the stress of being sued for so much money, and still manage to create a successful album. 'Artifact' is also special in giving a glimpse into the normal lives of the three musicians, and the amazing and often hilarious dynamic they have between them. Nowadays musicians are criticised for doing very little themselves and instead relying on others for their success; not 30 Seconds to Mars. Throughout the documentary what is made clear is how hard the band work, and how talented each individual is (a special hats off to Jared Leto, that man is a musical genius). Overall, ‘Artifact’ is a great documentary, which renewed my love for 30 Seconds to Mars and made me think differently about music artists and the music industry. It is without a doubt an eye-opener into the way in which the music business operates, and how (thanks to illegal downloads) even the most successful musical artists are suffering. 30STM’s passion for their music and what they believe in is certainly what resonates by the end of the film, and their success in the end is definitely deserved.
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