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How to Start a Record Label: A Comprehensive Guide
Introduction:
Dreaming of launching the next big musical act? Starting your own record label might seem daunting, but with careful planning and execution, it's entirely achievable. This comprehensive guide will walk you through every crucial step, from crafting a solid business plan to securing your first artist and navigating the complexities of distribution. We’ll cover everything you need to know to successfully navigate the exciting, yet challenging, world of independent record labels. Get ready to transform your passion into a thriving business.
1. Developing Your Record Label Business Plan: Laying the Foundation
Before you even think about signing an artist, you need a robust business plan. This document acts as your roadmap, guiding your decisions and attracting potential investors or funding. Consider these key elements:
1.1 Defining Your Niche and Label Identity:
What kind of music will you focus on? Will you specialize in a specific genre (e.g., indie folk, electronic dance music), or will you embrace a broader approach? Defining your niche helps you target your marketing efforts effectively. Equally important is crafting your label's unique identity – your brand voice, visual aesthetic, and overall philosophy.
1.2 Market Research and Competitive Analysis:
Thoroughly research the current music industry landscape. Identify your target audience, analyze your competitors, and understand the prevailing trends. This research will inform your marketing strategies and help you differentiate your label.
1.3 Financial Projections and Funding Sources:
Develop realistic financial projections, including startup costs, operating expenses, and projected revenue streams. Explore various funding options, such as personal savings, loans, crowdfunding, or attracting investors. Be prepared to demonstrate the potential return on investment.
2. Building Your Team and Infrastructure: The Essential Support System
A successful record label rarely operates solo. You’ll need a strong team to handle various aspects of the business.
2.1 Legal Structure and Registration:
Decide on your legal structure (sole proprietorship, LLC, partnership, etc.) and register your label with the appropriate authorities. Consult with a legal professional to ensure compliance with all relevant regulations.
2.2 Essential Team Members:
Depending on your budget and the scale of your operations, you may need to hire or collaborate with individuals specializing in artist management, marketing, promotion, A&R (artists and repertoire), legal affairs, and finance.
2.3 Technology and Software:
Invest in necessary software and technology, including digital audio workstations (DAWs), music distribution platforms, project management tools, and accounting software.
3. Artist Acquisition and Development: Finding Your Stars
Finding talented artists is crucial to your label's success.
3.1 Artist Scouting and Networking:
Attend live music events, connect with musicians online, and leverage your network to discover promising artists. Develop a strong reputation within your chosen music scene.
3.2 Artist Contracts and Agreements:
Work with a legal professional to draft comprehensive contracts that protect both you and your artists. Clearly define rights, royalties, and responsibilities.
3.3 Artist Development and Support:
Provide your artists with the support they need to succeed, including studio time, marketing and promotion assistance, and guidance on their careers.
4. Music Production and Distribution: Getting Your Music Heard
Once you've signed artists, it's time to bring their music to the world.
4.1 Studio Recording and Production:
Secure access to high-quality recording studios, or consider investing in your own equipment. Ensure the production process aligns with your label's sonic identity.
4.2 Digital Music Distribution:
Choose reputable digital music distributors who can distribute your artists' music to various platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music.
4.3 Physical Media (Optional):
Consider offering physical copies of your artists’ music (CDs, vinyl) if it aligns with your target audience and label aesthetic.
5. Marketing and Promotion: Building Your Artists' Fanbase
Effective marketing and promotion are crucial for artist success and label growth.
5.1 Digital Marketing Strategies:
Utilize social media, email marketing, paid advertising, and other digital strategies to reach your target audience.
5.2 Public Relations and Media Outreach:
Build relationships with music journalists, bloggers, and radio stations to secure press coverage for your artists.
5.3 Live Performances and Touring:
Support your artists in booking live performances and tours to engage with their fans directly and build their fanbase.
Conclusion:
Starting a record label is a challenging but rewarding endeavor. With a well-defined business plan, a strong team, talented artists, and effective marketing strategies, you can increase your chances of success. Remember that persistence, adaptability, and a passion for music are essential ingredients for navigating the dynamic music industry.
FAQs:
1. How much money do I need to start a record label? The startup costs vary significantly, from a few thousand dollars to hundreds of thousands, depending on your scale and ambitions. A detailed business plan will help you estimate your initial investment.
2. What are the most common mistakes new record labels make? Common mistakes include inadequate market research, poorly drafted artist contracts, ineffective marketing, and underestimating the ongoing costs of operation.
3. Do I need a music background to start a record label? While a music background can be beneficial, it's not strictly necessary. Strong business acumen, marketing skills, and a passion for music are equally important.
4. How do I find and sign talented artists? Attend live shows, network online, and actively seek out artists whose music aligns with your label's identity. Build relationships and focus on long-term partnerships.
5. What are the legal requirements for starting a record label? This varies by location. It's crucial to consult with a legal professional to ensure you comply with all relevant copyright, contract, and business registration laws.
| how to start a record label: The Label Machine: How to Start, Run and Grow Your Own Independent Music Label Nick Sadler, 2021-07-04 Whether you want to start a record label, self-release your own music, or are just an avid music lover, this book will give you information about the business of music. The Label Machine: How to Start, Run and Grow Your Own Independent Music Label is the first book to give music artists practical step-by-step comprehensive instructions for setting up and running an independent music label to successfully distribute and market their music. You will learn all about the music industry business and how to navigate the tricky dos and don'ts. You will finally understand and take control of your music copyright and get to grips with the legalities involved. You will build your music business effortlessly, learning how to professionally market your music and artists - allowing you to reach thousands of fans. And essentially, you will learn how to create multiple label revenue streams to create an established record label. It features a detailed breakdown of how every part of the industry works together, including copyright in the UK and US, record label set-up, record releases, and royalty collection. It also provides in-depth guides on marketing, covering; traditional PR, Facebook and Instagram advertising, Spotify playlisting, and fan growth. Includes templates for record label and management contracts, marketing and promotion schedules, press releases, and fan email automation. |
| how to start a record label: How to Start a Record Label - A 30 Day Guide Scott Orr, 2021-03-16 Get Ready to Build, Launch, and Grow a Successful Record LabelDiscover how to create goals and define your audienceLearn how to manage royalties and contractsBuild a successful album campaignLearn about Digital and Physical DistributionLearn how to discover and sign new acts to your record labelUnderstand how to effectively pitch your music to the pressLearn how to manufacture vinyl, CDs, and cassettes How to Start a Record Label - A 30 Day GuideAre you looking to start a record label?Are you confused by some of the steps?Are there gatekeepers standing in your way?Do you love discovering great music and sharing those discoveries?Do you want to build a successful and sustainable record label?How to Start a Record Label - A 30 Day Guide will walk with you through this journey and help uncomplicate the entire process! Here's What You Get: A in-depth 30 day guide detailing the many facets of running a record labelStraight-forward tips and tricks to get your music heardPractical recommendations |
| how to start a record label: Start & Run Your Own Record Label Daylle Deanna Schwartz, 2003 An updated guide to becoming a music mogul explores alternative markets for all musical genres, utilizing the power of the Internet and offering suggestions for marketing overseas. |
| how to start a record label: The Art of Mixing David Gibson, 2019-01-10 David Gibson uses 3D visual representations of sounds in a mix as a tool to explain the dynamics that can be created in a mix. This book provides an in-depth exploration into the aesthetics of what makes a great mix. Gibson’s unique approach explains how to map sounds to visuals in order to create a visual framework that can be used to analyze what is going on in any mix. Once you have the framework down, Gibson then uses it to explain the traditions that have be developed over time by great recording engineers for different styles of music and songs. You will come to understand everything that can be done in a mix to create dynamics that affect people in really deep ways. Once you understand what engineers are doing to create the great mixes they do, you can then use this framework to develop your own values as to what you feel is a good mix. Once you have a perspective on what all can be done, you have the power to be truly creative on your own – to create whole new mixing possibilities. It is all about creating art out of technology. This book goes beyond explaining what the equipment does – it explains what to do with the equipment to make the best possible mixes. |
| how to start a record label: Punk Record Labels and the Struggle for Autonomy Alan O'Connor, 2008 This book describes the emergence of DIY punk record labels in the early 1980s. Based on interviews with sixty-one labels, including four in Spain and four in Canada, it describes the social background of those who run these labels. Using the ideas of French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu, this book shows how the field of record labels operates. The choice of independent or corporate distribution is a major dilemma. Other tensions are about signing bands to contracts, expectations of extensive touring, and use of professional promotion. There are often rivalries between big and small labels over bands that have become popular and have to decide whether to move to a more commercial record label. Unlike approaches to punk that consider it a subcultural style, this book breaks new ground by describing punk as a social activity. One of the surprising findings is how many parents actually support their children's participation in the scene. Rather than attempting to define punk as resistance or commercial culture, this book shows the dilemmas that actual punks struggle with as they attempt to live up to what the scene means for them. Book jacket. |
| how to start a record label: Start an Independent Record Label: Music Business Made Simple J. S. Rudsenske, J. P. Denk, 2011-08-01 An indispensable step-by-step guide to releasing your own records and beginning a working independent label. Since the boom of homemade records and independently-minded musicians in the 1980s, the alternative music industry has grown from strength to strength, driven by a policy that privileges the music itself over the aggressive marketing and branding strategies of the majors. You can retain all control and rights to the music you release, allowing you to showcase and sell the music that you believe should be heard. There has never been a better time to begin a label for yourself, and this comprehensive title shows you exactly how it's done, including: Devising a business plan Finding and choosing talent Creating and manufacturing records themselves All aspects of promotion and marketing Distribution and radio Get your company organised and get those records out there right now with the help and advice of this informative guide. |
| how to start a record label: Start and Run Your Own Record Label, Third Edition Daylle Deanna Schwartz, 2010-10-20 For everyone interested in starting a record label–to market new talent or to release and promote their own music–there has never been a better time to do it! Music can be released, distributed, and promoted for a fraction of traditional costs. Veteran author and music-business consultant Daylle Deanna Schwartz (who started and ran her own label) has rewritten and expanded her classic, Start & Run Your Own Record Label, to reflect industry changes and new opportunities for marketing music in today’s climate. Start & Run Your Own Record Label is a comprehensive guidebook to building a record label, packed with how-to information about market trends and revenue streams for music releases. In addition to updated information on physical distribution, generating publicity, marketing, and promotion, it also has new information about key issues including: •Balancing on and offline promotion and marketing •Making the most of online resources (social-networking sites, blogs, ringtones, videos, radio, and more) •Using digital distribution profitably •Licensing your recordings for use in the media •Marketing music overseas Ms. Schwartz has compiled new interviews with top industry professionals and independent labels–including recording artist CJ Baran (Push Play), Jed Carlson (founder, ReverbNation), Daniel Glass (founder, Glassnote Entertainment), blogger Perez Hilton, Scott Lapatine (founder, Stereogum), recording artist Ingrid Michaelson, Jeff Price (founder, Tunecore), MP3 bloggers, music-magazine editors, publicists, and others–for the most up-to-date, authoritative, and practical compendium available. |
| how to start a record label: Music Business For Dummies Loren Weisman, 2015-06-29 Start your music career off right with this fun guide to the music industry Music Business For Dummies explains the ins and outs of the music industry for artists and business people just starting out. You'll learn how file-sharing, streaming, and iTunes have transformed the industry, and how to navigate your way through the new distribution models to capitalize on your work. It all begins with the right team, and this practical guide explains who you need to have on your side as you begin to grow and get more exposure. Coverage includes rehearsing, performing, recording, publishing, copyrights, royalties, and much more, giving you the information you need to start your career off smart. Music industry success has never been easy to achieve, and recent transformations and disruptions to the business side have made the whole idea even more daunting than before. This guide gives you a roadmap around the landmines, and provides expert advice for starting out on the right foot. Find the right players, agents, and business managers Make more money from your work with smart distribution Build your brand and get people talking about you Get gigs, go on tour, and keep on growing If music is your calling, you need to plan your career in a way that sets you up for success from the very beginning. Put the right people in place, get the most out of your investments, and learn how to work the crowd both virtually and in person. Music Business For Dummies is your companion on your journey to the music career you want. |
| how to start a record label: Dust & Grooves Eilon Paz, 2015-09-15 A photographic look into the world of vinyl record collectors—including Questlove—in the most intimate of environments—their record rooms. Compelling photographic essays from photographer Eilon Paz are paired with in-depth and insightful interviews to illustrate what motivates these collectors to keep digging for more records. The reader gets an up close and personal look at a variety of well-known vinyl champions, including Gilles Peterson and King Britt, as well as a glimpse into the collections of known and unknown DJs, producers, record dealers, and everyday enthusiasts. Driven by his love for vinyl records, Paz takes us on a five-year journey unearthing the very soul of the vinyl community. |
| how to start a record label: Our Noise Laura Ballance, John Cook, Mac McCaughan, 2009-09-15 Merge Records defies everything you’ve heard about the music business. Started by two twenty-year-old musicians, Merge is a lesson in how to make and market great music on a human scale. The fact that the company is prospering in a failing industry is something of a miracle. Yet two of their bands made the Billboard Top 10 list; more than 1 million copies of Arcade Fire's Neon Bible have been sold; Spoon has appeared on Saturday Night Live and The Tonight Show; and the Magnetic Fields' 69 Love Songs is a contemporary classic. In celebration of their twentieth anniversary, founders Mac and Laura offer first-person accounts—with the help of their colleagues and Merge artists—of their work, their lives, and the culture of making music. Our Noise also tells the behind-the-scenes stories of Arcade Fire, Spoon, the Magnetic Fields, Superchunk, Lambchop, Neutral Milk Hotel, and Butterglory. Hundreds of personal photos of the bands, along with album cover art, concert posters, and other memorabilia are included. |
| how to start a record label: Music Production: Recording Carlos Lellis, 2013-07-04 Your recording can make or break a record, and a clean recording is an essential catalyst for a record deal. Professional engineers with exceptional skills can earn vast amounts of money be in demand from the biggest acts. To develop such skills you need to master both the art and science of recording. Rehearsal to Monitor Mix gives you all you need to know, the tools and techniques, to put into practice and improve your recording. Covering the entire process from fundamental concepts to advanced techniques and offering a multitude of tips and tricks and audio samples, this book has it all. Carlos Lellis teaches you , how to craft and evaluate your recording then take it a step further. He describes the theory and the tools used how these are put into practice and then shows you how they are put together. Using audio and visual materials and field observations to aid with explanations Packed full of photos, graphs, diagrams and audio samples, Rehearsal to Monitor Mix is a vital read for anyone wanting to succeed in the field of recording |
| how to start a record label: The American Record Label Book Brian Rust, 1984-01-21 |
| how to start a record label: Record Label Marketing Clyde Philip Rolston, Amy Macy, Tom Hutchison, Paul Allen, 2015-11-19 Record Label Marketing, Third Edition is the essential resource to help you understand how recorded music is professionally marketed. Fully updated to reflect current trends in the industry, this edition is designed to benefit marketing professionals, music business students, and independent artists alike. As with previous editions, the third edition is accessible for readers new to marketing or to the music business. The book addresses classic marketing concepts while providing examples that are grounded in industry practice. Armed with this book, you’ll master the jargon, concepts, and language to understand how music companies brand and market artists in the digital era. Features new to this edition include: Social media strategies including step-by-step tactics used by major and independent labels are presented in a new section contributed by Ariel Hyatt, owner of CYBER PR. An in-depth look at SoundScan and other big data matrices used as tools by all entities in the music business. An exploration of the varieties of branding with particular attention paid to the impact of branding to the artist and the music business in a new chapter contributed by Tammy Donham, former Vice President of the Country Music Association. The robust companion website, focalpress.com/cw/macy, features weblinks, exercises, and suggestions for further reading. Instructor resources include PowerPoint lecture outlines, a test bank, and suggested lesson plans. |
| how to start a record label: Break the Business Ryan Kairalla, 2016-01-16 For generations, record companies have dominated the music industry. Artists were unable to get their material to the masses without label backing, meaning that the path to stardom inevitably involved artists having to sign exploitative record contracts. These record deals were profoundly one-sided, and usually imposed brutal, predatory terms on artists. Fortunately, times have changed and artists no longer need labels. It is a new music business, and it is time for a new kind of music business book. Break the Business is the musician's guide to achieving music industry success through embracing an independent, entrepreneurial, and artist-centered business model. |
| how to start a record label: XXX Fanzine (1983-1988) Mike Gitter, 2017-11-10 xXx Fanzine isn't merely a collection of articles, reviews, and photographs from one of Hardcore America's best-known fanzines. It's a chronicle of punk's evolution in the 80's: a story of music and ideologies in motion. xXx's story picks up while the first wave of hardcore was in full swing. Major players including Minor Threat had already released landmark records, and bands were loading up station wagons to play now infamous venues like The Channel, A7 or D.C. Space. Now, in addition to reproducing (and restoring) original interviews and pages from the zine itself, xXx Fanzine re-interviews countless bands and musical prime-movers including Ian MacKaye, Keith Morris and members of Agnostic Front, Bad Brains and Cro-Mags to give the book a rare Then-And-Now perspective. xXx Fanzine isn't just a look back at hardcore's salad days, but a unique look at how punk's music and message shook the mainstream itself. |
| how to start a record label: Major Labels Kelefa Sanneh, 2021-10-05 One of Oprah Daily's 20 Favorite Books of 2021 • Selected as one of Pitchfork's Best Music Books of the Year “One of the best books of its kind in decades.” —The Wall Street Journal An epic achievement and a huge delight, the entire history of popular music over the past fifty years refracted through the big genres that have defined and dominated it: rock, R&B, country, punk, hip-hop, dance music, and pop Kelefa Sanneh, one of the essential voices of our time on music and culture, has made a deep study of how popular music unites and divides us, charting the way genres become communities. In Major Labels, Sanneh distills a career’s worth of knowledge about music and musicians into a brilliant and omnivorous reckoning with popular music—as an art form (actually, a bunch of art forms), as a cultural and economic force, and as a tool that we use to build our identities. He explains the history of slow jams, the genius of Shania Twain, and why rappers are always getting in trouble. Sanneh shows how these genres have been defined by the tension between mainstream and outsider, between authenticity and phoniness, between good and bad, right and wrong. Throughout, race is a powerful touchstone: just as there have always been Black audiences and white audiences, with more or less overlap depending on the moment, there has been Black music and white music, constantly mixing and separating. Sanneh debunks cherished myths, reappraises beloved heroes, and upends familiar ideas of musical greatness, arguing that sometimes, the best popular music isn’t transcendent. Songs express our grudges as well as our hopes, and they are motivated by greed as well as idealism; music is a powerful tool for human connection, but also for human antagonism. This is a book about the music everyone loves, the music everyone hates, and the decades-long argument over which is which. The opposite of a modest proposal, Major Labels pays in full. |
| how to start a record label: Def Jam Recordings Bill Adler, Dan Charnas, 2011-10-11 The illustrated oral history of the greatest hip-hop hit-making machine in history. |
| how to start a record label: Music Is Your Business Christopher Knab, Bartley F. Day, Sue D. Cook, 2013 New Edition! Completely Updated and Expanded This book takes the mystery out of the NEW music business! The music industry has changed dramatically in the last five years. You need the latest information on how the music industry is set up, and you need legal information that is current, accurate, and targeted to independent record labels and musicians-whether you're an experienced performer or just starting out. Music industry veteran Christopher Knab's honest, no-nonsense information empowers you to sell, promote, publicize, and perform your music. Learn how to work with industry professionals, prepare a career plan and publicity campaign, connect with your fanbase, grab the attention of distributors, get radio airplay, negotiate offers for live performances, and create a demand for your music with traditional methods and social networking strategies. Entertainment law attorney Bartley F. Day's straight-to-the-point legal chapters include Making Sense of Music Industry Contracts, Recording a Cover Version, Trademarking Band Names, Insider Tips for Hiring a Music Attorney, Filing Copyright Applications, Recording Contract Advances and Royalty Rates, and a new chapter on the controversial 360 Deals now offered by many record labels. This edition is filled with brand new topics like Radio's Reasons Not to Play a Record, and updated favorites like, Ten Reasons Why Musicians Fail (and How Not To), and Con Jobs: Watch Out for the Flim-Flam Man. There's a sample Four Front Music Marketing Plan, a Distributor One-Sheet, a Band Tour and Work Schedule, a Band Bio, and much, much more. At 343 pages, this edition is over 70 pages longer than the 3rd edition. Newly revised, illustrated, and indexed, the 4th edition of Music Is Your Business is the essential book for independent musicians and record labels, and is used as a college and university textbook. |
| how to start a record label: All You Need to Know About the Music Business, Seventh Edition Donald S Passman, 2009 No one understands the music industry--from the technology, to the legalities, to the new industry practices--better than veteran music lawyer Donald Passman. In this completely revised and updated seventh edition of All You Need To Know About the Music Business, which the Los Angeles Times called “the industry bible” and which has sold hundreds of thousands of copies, Passman offers executives and artists, experts and novices alike the essential information they need not only to survive in these volatile and exciting times, but also to thrive. Drawing on his unique, up-to-the-minute experience as one of the most trusted advisors in the business, Passman offers advice concerning: - The Copyright Royalty Board’s latest decisions regarding online transmissions. - The developing new customs concerning new technologies such as streaming on demand, ringtones, and digital downloads. Passman also gives guidance on other fundamental issues such as how to: - Select and hire a winning team of advisors--personal and business managers, agents, and attorneys--and structure their commissions, percentages, and fees in a way that will protect you and maximize these relationships. - Master the big picture and the finer points of record deals. - Navigate the ins and outs of songwriting, music publishing, and copyright law. - Maximize concert touring and merchandising deals. Almost everyone in the music business, from musicians and songwriters to entertainment lawyers and record company executives, are scrambling to sort out what is going to happen next, and Passman is right in the thick of these changes. Here is a book for anyone interested in a music career: a comprehensive and crucial guide to making it in one of the world’s most dynamic industries. |
| how to start a record label: How to Write About Music , 2015-02-26 If writing about music is like dancing about architecture, you'd do best to hone your chops and avoid clichés (like the one that begins this sentence) by learning from the prime movers. How to Write About Music offers a selection of the best writers on what is perhaps our most universally beloved art form. Selections from the critically-acclaimed 33 1/3 series appear alongside new interviews and insights from authors like Lester Bangs, Chuck Klosterman, Owen Pallet, Ann Powers and Alex Ross. How to Write About Music includes primary sources of inspiration from a variety of go-to genres such as the album review, the personal essay, the blog post and the interview along with tips, writing prompts and advice from the writers themselves. Music critics of the past and the present offer inspiration through their work on artists like Black Sabbath, Daft Punk, J Dilla, Joy Division, Kanye West, Neutral Milk Hotel, Radiohead, Pussy Riot and countless others. How to Write About Music is an invaluable text for all those who have ever dreamed of getting their music writing published and a pleasure for everyone who loves to read about music. |
| how to start a record label: All You Need to Know About the Music Business Donald S. Passman, 2015-11-10 All You Need to Know About the Music Business by veteran music lawyer Don Passman—dubbed “the industry bible” by the Los Angeles Times—is now updated to address the biggest transformation of the music industry yet: streaming. For more than twenty-five years, All You Need to Know About the Music Business has been universally regarded as the definitive guide to the music industry. Now in its tenth edition, Donald Passman leads novices and experts alike through what has been the most profound change in the music business since the days of wax cylinders and piano rolls. For the first time in history, music is no longer monetized by selling something—it’s monetized by how many times listeners stream a song. And that completely changes the ecosystem of the business, as Passman explains in detail. Since the advent of file-sharing technology in the late 1990s to the creation of the iPod, the music industry has been teetering on the brink of a major transformation—and with the newest switch to streaming music, this change has finally come to pass. Passman’s comprehensive guide offers timely, authoritative information from how to select and hire a winning team of advisors and structure their commissions and fees; navigate the ins and outs of record deals, songwriting, publishing, and copyrights; maximize concert, touring, and merchandising deals; and how the game is played in a streaming world. “If you want to be in music, you have to read this book,” says Adam Levine, lead singer and guitarist of Maroon 5. With its proven track record, this updated edition of All You Need to Know About the Music Business is more essential than ever for musicians, songwriters, lawyers, agents, promoters, publishers, executives, and managers—anyone trying to navigate the rapid transformation of the industry. |
| how to start a record label: Work Hard Playlist Hard Mike Warner, 2019-06-17 Mike Warner is an independent artist, curator and the go-to person when it comes to playlist strategies on music streaming services. This book teaches artists at any level how to grow their audience on streaming services through profile enhancement, data analysis, automation and creating value as a curator. In this book Mike sets the record straight what playlists really can do for artists' careers. You will learn how to customize your artist profiles on popular streaming services; build a playlist and grow it's following; pitch to independent curators; grow your network; release music catered to playlists. The book also has numerous helpful tips and tricks to show you along the way. |
| how to start a record label: Music, Money and Success Jeffrey Brabec, Todd Brabec, 2011-07-18 The Insider's Guide to Making Money in the Music Industry. Millions dream of attaining glamour and wealth through music. This book reveals the secrets of the music business that have made fortunes for the superstars. A must-have for every songwriter, performer and musician. |
| how to start a record label: How to Start A Rap Record Label: A Step by Step Guide Gio Williams, 2014-06-05 Dear Soon-to-be Record Label Entrepreneur, If you want to start your own record label but thinks it’s confusing and difficult and looking for someone who can actually help you, then you’ve come to the right place. Despite this guide is focused on Starting rap and Hip Hop Labels...Here you’ll find out exactly how you can start an indie record label in any genres of music including country music, reggae, rock..etc The author is Record Executive turned Music Business consultant with 20 years of Entertainment lawyer experience who hails from the birth place of hip hop music New York City.He’s penned down everything there is about starting a record label into this over 100+ pages e-book. It will take you by the hand and guides you step by step through what’s involved in starting an independent record label of your own and will help you to become the KING KONG of the record label business. Unlike other How to start a record label e-books here on Amazon, this e-book is guaranteed to get you started and help you succeed in record label business. This ultimate record label guide will provide information and advice on everything you should know to start your own record company and run it successfully. It will show you how to start your own record label business, retaining lawyers and accountants, what to include in your business plan, how to construct budgets, what to look for in an artist and how to sign one, the ins and outs of artist contracts, what to seek in a distributor, and how to develop a marketing plan that can market your music effectively. This comprehensive record label guide is your road map to success and offers information on the following: • Everything there is to know about owning a record label such as what you know before starting and exactly where to start from! • Step by step instructions on legally establishing your record label! • Comprehensive discussion on the most important aspects of your record label and its type! • Estimation of required start-up cost, advice on where to find the investors and more! • Tips and advice on establishing your record label business! • Details on different aspects of releasing CDs including the technical aspect of making CDs! • Helpful tips and advice on making money and spreading word-of-mouth for your music! • Various proven ways of publicity that will push your artist, and your label, right into the center of attention! • Everything about radio stations, from how they run to who works there! • A complete guide to forming a radio promotion plan! • Importance of promotional tours for grabbing media attention and expose your artist to new fans! • Complete list of the pros and cons of being small in a very big business! • Explanation of a distributor and the importance of distribution for your record label business! • Things to look for in order to finding the right distributor for your label! • Details of how it all works with the distributors! • Guidance on paying royalties and negotiating artists’ royalties! Know what you need to consider when calculating royalties! • Guidance about various aspects of wheeling and dealing your business such as contracts, deals, letters and other massive amounts of paperwork! • Guidance on some other major business aspects! • Bonus information that will help you with the details of your record label business, such as CD pressers, radio stations, and how to write great promotional pieces! This e-book is written in simple and easy to understand language, jam packed with vital advice, helpful tips and proven techniques that show you exactly what you need to become the next Artista Records or even Universal Record Label and market yourself as a top-notch record label executive! Imagine What You’ll Be Up To After Reading Our Guide… • You’ll be one of the few lucky people who actually live their dreams! • You’ll fire your boss, quit your job and leave the boring life of the 9 to 5 grind! • You’ll be a re |
| how to start a record label: How to Start a Record Label Brian Jeffries, 2012 |
| how to start a record label: Vinyl Ventures Bill Nowlin, 2020-10 Rounder Records was born in 1970, a hobby that got out of control, a fledging record company more or less conceived while the Sixties were still in flower, which began on just over $1,000. Founded by three friends just out of college, the Boston-area company produced over 3,000 record albums, the most active company of the last half-century specializing in roots music and its contemporary offshoots. Rounder won 56 Grammy Awards and documented a swath of music that in many cases might otherwise never have been presented to a broader public. It's arguably a quintessentially American success story. This book focuses on the early years up to and just through when Rounder evolved to a second stage, with a generational change that has kept the label healthy and flourishing when so many other cultural enterprises from the era have folded or gone dark. It's the story of three people with no background in business who took an idea and, through hard work and passion, built up something of lasting cultural significance. Rounder Records: A Biography is less a standard history and more an idiosyncratic memoir written by one of the three Rounder founders. The book includes original photographs taken by the author or drawn from the Rounder archives. |
| how to start a record label: The Lazy Genius Way Kendra Adachi, 2020 Be productive without sacrificing peace of mind using Lazy Genius principles that help you focus on what really matters and let go of what doesn't. If you need a comprehensive strategy for a meaningful life but are tired of reading stacks of self-help books, here is an easy way that actually works. No more cobbling together life hacks and productivity strategies from dozens of authors and still feeling tired. The struggle is real, but it doesn't have to be in charge. With wisdom and wit, the host of The Lazy Genius Podcast, Kendra Adachi, shows you that it's not about doing more or doing less; it's about doing what matters to you. In this book, she offers fourteen principles that are both practical and purposeful, like a Swiss army knife for how to be a person. Use them in combination to lazy genius anything, from laundry and meal plans to making friends and napping without guilt. It's possible to be soulful and efficient at the same time, and this book is the blueprint. The Lazy Genius Way isn't a new list of things to do; it's a new way to see. Skip the rules about getting up at 5 a.m. and drinking more water. Let's just figure out how to be a good person who can get stuff done without turning into The Hulk. These Lazy Genius principles--such as Decide Once, Start Small, Ask the Magic Question, and more--offer a better way to approach your time, relationships, and piles of mail, no matter your personality or life stage. Be who you already are, just with a better set of tools. |
| how to start a record label: How to Ru(i)n a Record Label Larry Livermore, 2015 In 1987, off-the-grid punk agitator Larry Livermore began documenting the burgeoning DIY East Bay punk rock scene with the newly founded Lookout Records. He had no idea this little label, first run out of his solar powered cabin in the Northern California mountains, then a cramped room in the backstreets of Berkeley, would rise to international prominence, introducing the world to the likes of Green Day, Operation Ivy, and a host of other artists. How To Ru(i)n A Record Label documents the author's experiences from Gilman Street to Bialystok, Poland, as he built Lookout from the ground up, only to find himself losing control of the label a mere ten years later, and abruptly walking away from the multi-million dollar company when it was at its peak of success. Throughout that time, however, he was central to the influential scene that gave birth to Gilman Street, Maximum Rocknroll, and a new generation of independent music that has had an everlasting effect on both the underground and mainstream. In the process, he just might even have found himself. |
| how to start a record label: How Music Works David Byrne, 2017-05-02 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • David Byrne’s incisive and enthusiastic look at the musical art form, from its very inceptions to the influences that shape it, whether acoustical, economic, social, or technological—now updated with a new chapter on digital curation. “How Music Works is a buoyant hybrid of social history, anthropological survey, autobiography, personal philosophy, and business manual”—The Boston Globe Utilizing his incomparable career and inspired collaborations with Talking Heads, Brian Eno, and many others, David Byrne taps deeply into his lifetime of knowledge to explore the panoptic elements of music, how it shapes the human experience, and reveals the impetus behind how we create, consume, distribute, and enjoy the songs, symphonies, and rhythms that provide the backbeat of life. Byrne’s magnum opus uncovers thrilling realizations about the redemptive liberation that music brings us all. |
| how to start a record label: The Art & Science of Respect James Prince, 2019-07-23 Foreword by Drake The successful Hip Hop mogul, boxing manager, and entrepreneur who has had a lasting impact on modern popular music reveals the foundation of his success--respect--and explains how to get it and how to give it. I was taught that you must believe in something bigger than yourself in order to get something bigger than yourself. For decades, serial entrepreneur James Prince presided over Rap-A-Lot Records, one of the first and most successful independent rap labels. In this powerful memoir, told with the brutal, unapologetic honesty that defines him, Prince explains how he earned his reputation as one of the most respected men in Hip Hop and assesses his wins, his losses, and everything he's learned in between. Throughout his life, Prince has faced many adversaries. Whether battling the systemic cycle of poverty that shaped his youth, rival record label executives, greedy boxing promoters, or corrupt DEA agents, he has always emerged victorious. For Prince, it was about remaining true to his three principles of heart, loyalty, and commitment, and an unwavering faith in God. The Art & Science of Respect brings into focus a man who grew up in a place where survival is everything and hope just a concept; who outlived most of his childhood friends by age twenty-four; who raised seven children; who helped develop international superstars like Drake and world champion boxers like Floyd Mayweather and Andre Ward; who rose to the heights of a cutthroat business that has consumed the souls of ambitious hustlers and talented artists alike. Throughout this raw memoir, Prince's love of family, music, boxing, and Houston's Fifth Ward-- Texas' toughest, proudest, baddest ghetto (Texas Monthly)--shines through. Yet one major lesson looms over all: Respect isn't given, it's earned. In recounting his compelling life story, Prince analyzes the art and science of earning respect--and giving respect--and shows how to apply these principles to your life. |
| how to start a record label: The Complete Guide to Starting a Record Company Keith Holzman, 2004 The definitive guide to starting your own record company. |
| how to start a record label: How To Start a Record Label and Recording Studio Earl R. Dingman, 2022-02-11 Informs you about the different types of businesses, how to setup your business address, what kinds of software and computer systems you might need, how to start and write a website with sample code, business card examples, how to find bands and recording artists, the ins and outs of investors and partners, how to setup a recording studio and music publishing company, all about performance rights organizations world-wide and how to get on Spotify, Amazon, iTunes, etc., all about promotion, DAW and Music Writing software, Songbook publishing, contracts and agreements, accounting and taxes, Copyrights, Trademarks and Service Marks, fabricating CDs and Vinyl records, about Radio. Includes an appendix with listings of various websites and suppliers. Written by a musician, website developer, recording engineer and producer, who setup both ASCAP and BMI publishing companies, along with an independent record label and got songs on commercial as well as college radio making the ASCAP Current Performance status. |
| how to start a record label: How to Start A Record Label: A Step by Step Guide Jordan Johnson, 2014-05-21 Dear Soon-to-be Record Label Entrepreneur, If you want to start your own record label but thinks it’s confusing and difficult and looking for someone who can actually help you, then you’ve come to the right place. Here you’ll find out exactly how you can start an indie record label in any genres of music including country music, reggae, rock, hip hop and rap music. Introducing…How To Start A Record Label! I’m a retired Record Executive turned Music Business consultant with 20 years of Entertainment lawyer experience from New York City. I’ve penned down everything there is about starting a record label into this over 100 pages e-book. It will take you by the hand and guides you step by step through what’s involved in starting an independent record label of your own and will help you to become a BIG FISH of the record label business. I’ve written this e-book in a simple and easy to understand language with vital advice, helpful tips and proven techniques that show you exactly what you need to become the next Artista Records or even Universal Record Label and market yourself as a top-notch record label executive! Unlike other e-books, this e-book is guaranteed to get you started and help you succeed in record label business. This ultimate record label guide will provide information and advice on everything you should know to start your own record company and run it successfully. It will show you how to start your own record label business, retaining lawyers and accountants, what to include in your business plan, how to construct budgets, what to look for in an artist and how to sign one, the ins and outs of artist contracts, what to seek in a distributor, and how to develop a marketing plan that can market your music effectively. Let’s Have A ‘Sneak-Peak’ Into This Ultimate Record Label Guide… This comprehensive record label guide is your road map to success and offers information on the following: *Everything there is to know about owning a record label such as what you know before starting and exactly where to start from! *Step by step instructions on legally establishing your record label! *Comprehensive discussion on the most important aspects of your record label and its type! *Estimation of required start-up cost, advice on where to find the investors and more! *Tips and advice on establishing your record label business! *Details on different aspects of releasing CDs including the technical aspect of making CDs! *Helpful tips and advice on making money and spreading word-of-mouth for your music! *Various proven ways of publicity that will push your artist, and your label, right into the center of attention! *Everything about radio stations, from how they run to who works there! *A complete guide to forming a radio promotion plan! *Importance of promotional tours for grabbing media attention and expose your artist to new fans! *Complete list of the pros and cons of being small in a very big business! *Explanation of a distributor and the importance of distribution for your record label business! *Things to look for in order to finding the right distributor for your label! *Details of how it all works with the distributors! *Guidance on paying royalties and negotiating artists’ royalties! Know what you need to consider when calculating royalties! *Guidance about various aspects of wheeling and dealing your business such as contracts, deals, letters and other massive amounts of paperwork! *Guidance on some other major business aspects! *Bonus information that will help you with the details of your record label business, such as CD pressers, radio stations, and how to write great promotional pieces! Imagine What You’ll Be Up To After Reading This Amazing Guide… You’ll be one of the few lucky people who actually live their dreams! You’ll fire your boss, quit your job and leave the boring life of the 9 to 5 |
| how to start a record label: The Rule-Breaker's Guide to Social Media Damian Keyes, 2018-06-12 WANT TO BUILD AN ONLINE FOLLOWING FOR YOUR BUSINESS, SERVICE OR PRODUCTS BUT NOT SURE WHERE TO BEGIN? In The Rule-Breaker's Guide to Social Media Damian Keyes shows you how to get ahead in the 'creative age' of the internet by ripping up the rule-book and starting all over again. Crammed full of expert anecdotes, tips and advice - plus a highly effective 30 Day Challenge - this book will revolutionise the way you view online marketing. It's time to unplug from the old ways of doing things and embrace your unique strengths, skills and passion. It's time to become a rule-breaker! 'Throw out any other guide, because this is all you need to effectively build your brand and business through social media.' John Michael Morgan, author of Brand Against the Machine At the age of 23 Damian Keyes became one of the founders of The British Institute of Modern Music, which is now the largest full-time independent music education provider in the world. Damian also owns several businesses, including DK Music Management and Warble Entertainment. As a bass player he has performed in over 2000 venues around the world, including Wembley Stadium and Hyde Park. In his role as a keynote speaker Damian travels the globe helping brands and businesses grow using social media marketing. For more information please visit: damiankeyes.com |
| how to start a record label: Music Business Made Simple J. Scott Rudsenske, James P. Denk, 2004 At last, an entertainment attorney offers up the honest truth about becoming a successful recording artist. This book is packed with solid information geared toward anyone who wants to become a musician. It's a terrific primer for parents of kids who are clamoring for music lessons or permission to go to a college of music.The book is divvied up into manageable chapters: practicing, recording your first demo, creating a promo kit, finding a manager, playing a showcase, and much more. This is the first book in the Music Business Made Simple series. These easy-to-digest handbooks cover everything one needs to know about the music business. The second book in the series, Be Your Own Music Mogul: Launch an Independent Record Label will be published in Spring 2005. |
| how to start a record label: How Do I Get A Record Deal? Sign Yourself!: Earn Your 1st Million Streams & Find Your 1st True 1,000 Fans Benjamin Groff, 2020-12-21 Stop ⚠ pitching your music to record labels! Instead...★SIGN YOURSELF!★ Let me guess? Are you a music artist, not living your passion, grinding at your 9 to 5 and wondering How to get signed to a record deal? Unfortunately, record labels just do not care about your music until you start showing up on their data and research reports. Solution? Let's flip the script! That's right! This book shows you exactly how to get more fans, achieve your 1st Million Streams, and deliver the exponential metrics the labels are looking for. That's right. How to make it in the music business is completely different today. So instead, let's get the labels to call you! Written by 25 + year music business veteran, Benjamin Groff, Sign Yourself includes: The signature Sign Yourself program - 12 repeatable steps to get signed! ✓ Get more fans and make a living with just 1,000 core fans! ✓ Music marketing and how to promote your music - the NEW way! ✓ How to stand out amongst 175,000 + music releases per week! ✓ How to create your own sonic identity! ✓ How and where to upload your music along with key release strategies! ✓ Identify the right partners (digital distributors, publicists, indie labels, music marketers, music supervisors, publishers and more)! ✓ The book also answers a huge question - do you even need a record label today? After reading this book, the answer just might be: quit your day job, make your entire living making music and Sign Yourself! Each copy includes a free audiobook and a downloadable plan for releasing your music, showing you exactly what to do when for your next music launch. Don't wait! Read this book and learn how to unlock all the benefits to - SIGN YOURSELF! ★★Scroll to the top and click the 'BUY NOW button, before the price changes.★★ |
| how to start a record label: The Future of Music David Kusek, Gerd Leonhard, 2005 From the Music Research Institute at Berklee College of Music comes a manifesto for the ongoing music revolution. Today the record companies may be hurting, but the music making business is booming, using non-traditional digital methods and distribution models. This book explains why we got where we are and where we are heading. Kusek and Leonhard foresee the disappearance of CDs and record stores as we know them in the next decade. For the iPod, downloading market, this book will explain new ways of discovering music, new ways of acquiring it and how technology trends will make music flow like water, benefiting the people who love music and make music. |
| how to start a record label: Heavy Tales: The Metal. The Music. The Madness. As Lived by Jon Zazula Jon Zazula, 2019-08-11 Heavy Tales is the detailed never before told story as lived by Jonny Zazula on how he founded Megaforce Records out of a flea market in New Jersey with his wife Marsha and built a dynasty unmatched by many others forever changing the scope of Heavy Metal. The bands they worked with would go on to release some of the most prolific and important albums in Heavy Metal History giving it it's Golden Era. As a renegade youth who went from living on the city street to later work on Wall Street and then moving unexpectedly towards the music business, when in the winter of 1982 he received an unexpected demo tape of the underground, unsigned band Metallica while working in a flea market. Eager and determined to have the music heard by the entire world Jonny and Marsha founded Megaforce Records in 1983 and released Metallica's debut album, Kill 'Em All. Through this release Megaforce had cemented its position as the de-facto music label in America for Heavy Metal but that's just the start. Heavy Tales details the stories of how Jonny worked miracles by managing and releasing albums by Metallica, Anthrax, Testament, Overkill, Ace Frehley, King's X, Ministry and others. With a foreward written by Chuck Billy and over 100 photographs unearthed from the MegaVault and photographer friends, Heavy Tales is definitively an American story of a family man with a dream to prove to the world that Heavy Metal belonged on the stage, on the radio and in your living room. H.C.M. Jonny Zazula is the co-founder of Megaforce Records and CraZed Management. A lifelong music disciple and avid Nightmare Before Christmas toy collector he now spends retirement with his wife, Marsha, and the dogs in Orlando, Florida. |
| how to start a record label: Start Your Music Business Audrey K. Chisholm, 2013 |
| how to start a record label: The Blue Note Label Michael Cuscuna, Michel Ruppli, 2001-03-30 Provides a complete discography of all recordings made or issued on the Blue Note label from 1939 through 1999. |
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