After Burning Industry Bridges, James Blake Finds Success on His Own Terms

James Blake has been outspoken about the music industry’s imbalanced relationship with artists. In his view, the total dependence on music labels and large production companies robs musicians of the profits they could otherwise earn.

In a recent interview with Anas Bukhash, Blake discussed not only the music industry but also mental health, his current state of mind, and even opened up about his first sexual experience.

He admits he had a rather privileged upbringing, which led him to overthink and become withdrawn. Music became his way of coping with the world—it was like a best friend. It also helped him deal with the fact that he wasn’t very successful with girls, having his first sexual experience at the age of 23.

Initially mocked by his teenage friends for his interest in singing, Blake is now a globally recognized electronic artist who moves fluidly between underground and mainstream scenes while continuing to advocate for fair pay for artists.

Blake emphasized that, after years of being profited off by labels, this year marks his first attempt to operate as an independent artist.

To his surprise, people continued to support his music just as they had before—only now, he has control over the finances and promotional decisions.

While he has noticed a difference in the amount of money he’s making, his independence matters far more to him at this stage. The change has paid off in a currency that’s often overlooked: freedom.

Blake notes that the music industry lacks transparency, and when an artist is locked into a bad deal, there’s often no one to help. He wants to shift the narrative toward artists becoming independent and making decisions that serve them and their teams more fairly.

He recently launched a new service called Bside, currently in beta, designed to help artists explore new ways of funding their music—specifically by rethinking the model of ticket sales. The concept is simple: the artist receives the funds first, which allows them to secure venues more quickly and on their own terms.