The father and manager of Beyonce - Matthew Knowles - has told BBC Radio 1 that UK artists should not be obsessed with 'breaking America'. Recognising that many in the British music industry and media see the ability to build a successful career in the US as the real test of an artist's talents, Knowles said: "A lot of people feel they have to be accepted in America, and I don't feel that way at all. With Destiny's Child/Beyonce, we sold way more outside America than we did in, so it baffles me that you're trying to sell records in America".
For those artists still keen to 'break America', Knowles reckons it is important to build a strong fan base in the home territory first: "British artists wanting to make it in Amercia should build a fan base in the UK and Europe before going across the Atlantic".
On more general issues, Knowles advised up and coming artists to consider going the independent label route at the start of their careers: "It should not be about the money. In the UK, the challenge is the deal can be too big. You need to start out with an independent label. Then it's down to hard work and luck - a combination of both... you gotta put in the work... spirituality, doing the right thing, integrity, good things happen to good people."