has called music "an industry founded on exploitation, oiled by deceit, riven with theft and fueled by greed". but the experience left Fripp determined to take control of his own work and financial affairs wherever possible. As part of this aim, he founded Discipline Global Mobile (DGM) as an independent music label in 1992, as a fifty-fifty partnership with Singleton. DGM's
mission statement consists of five "DGM business aims", as follows: • "The first aim of DGM is to help bring music into the world which would otherwise be unlikely to do so, or under conditions prejudicial to the music and / or musicians.", • "The second aim of DGM is to operate in the market place, while being free of the values of the market place." • "The third aim of DGM is to help the artists and staff of DGM achieve what they wish for themselves." • "The fourth aim of DGM is to find its audience." • "The fifth aim of DGM is to be a model of ethical business in an industry founded on exploitation, oiled by deceit, riven with theft and fueled by greed." has recorded albums with DGM without signing a contract, stating that the relationship "is pure trust". Since at least the early 1960s, the recording industry has required artists to sign over
copyrights and
moral rights to their cover art, music, and lyrics. DGM rejects this practice, and since its 1992 founding has maintained its policy that its artists retain the copyrights and the moral rights to their works, This extends even to DGM's
knotwork corporate logo, the copyright of which is owned not by the company, but by its designer, Steve Ball. DGM does not require that its artists sign written contracts. Former
Led Zeppelin bassist
John Paul Jones said, "It's pure trust," and noted that "there are dangers on both sides. I could have a successful album and just sign with a major, or they could decide not to pay me." Jones explained that he was accustomed to "working in situations that do rely on trust and integrity, those old-fashioned words" because Led Zeppelin had no contract with
its manager. Another DGM band, alternative rock group The Rosenbergs, opted to work with the label following conflicts with their previous label
Universal Records, which had even demanded control of the band's
domain name: in contrast, DGM had encouraged them to retain control of their own
master recordings and provided them with funds for touring and promoting their album. Royalties are paid above the prevailing rate, as announced at DGM's launch. In return, DGM artists are responsible for promoting their albums through concert tours and interviews. ==Artists and back catalogue==