Mattias Noren - Famed Album Artist Explains His Quitting
November 21, 2007, 17 years ago
Famed artist Mattias Noren (ProgArt Media) known for his album art for EVERGREY, INTO ETERNITY, AYREON and many others has decided to quit. His statement follows:
"I have been running my CD artwork business for a few years now. I guess it's every artist's dream to be able to make a living out of something you really love to do. Unfortunately the music business has really suffered from all illegal downloading. Until about a year ago it didn't really hurt my business, but lately I have struggled with labels and artists asking me to do jobs for them and then they haven't been able to pay me in time… or pay at all. I have heard from other cover artists that they are having the same problems.When I'm writing this there are five labels/artists that owe me money that don't even bother answering my mails anymore. I have a family to feed here… this is simply not working anymore. I still love doing cover art and work with all those fantastic bands out there… but the "business part" has sucked all energy out of me lately. So when a "real" job showed up I decided to take it with a start in January 2008.
I will finish all projects I'm working on at the moment, and while doing this I won't take on any new projects AT ALL. After that ProgArt Media will be something that I can only spend a limited couple of hours a week on.
The situation might change again in the future. I don't know. I just feel that this is what I want to do right now. I hope you can understand and respect my decision. I can tell you, it wasn't an easy one."
