It’s not even remotely hard to understand and I have never worked in the music industry, so it’s mind blowing that Mariah Carey didn’t know that as a seasoned veteran with multiple contracts under her belt.
Why does it matter that Rick Rubin started a record label in his dorm room? Was he still living there when he signed Mariah? Should you mention he is white with a stupid beard and he funded Smokey Mountain Wrestling with Jim Cornette? What about his relationship with Russell Simmons?
Mariah didn’t know what Def Jam was? She just signed a contract with them?
I'm not blaming Mariah. When she left Columbia all five seats were empty and the people and companies she got to fill those seats were not top notch and she suffered because of it. Everyone she worked with at Columbia was on contract with them and couldn't leave inducing the song writer she collaborated with. She was never able to get back to the level of success she had at Columbia and for whatever reason she had a new manager every two years from 2001 to 2026. She never had the team she deserved.
Take for example the New Years Eve 2017 performance at Times Square. She says her ear piece wasn't working so she couldn't hear the music. Her manager at the time blamed it on her. This manager's previous job was producer for the Real Housewives of New Jersey. Mariah looked Terrible on this performance and it damaged her reputation.
Former President of BMG US describes the five empty seats. First three minutes.
Mariah 2017 New Year's Eve performance.