Sending mastered tracks to a label?

[hifi]

I don't really care if its mastered or not, if the tunes good, then its good. If its rubbish, no amount of mastering will hide that.

this, why would a label sign a tune just cos you have had several releases before, if its shit its still shit. but if a tune is good and has original ideas it doesnt matter it will be good mastered or not. even if the mixdown is bad, that can be fixed, but what cant be fixed is shit musical ideas. it doesnt hurt to give it a self master with some limiting though, make it a bit louder. but i wouldnt pay for a master by a pro myself.

loads of labels sign tunes all the time because of how known the artist is. most labels are just purely in it for the money. if it's shit and the song is by Lil Wayne a shitload of people are going to buy the song.

[hutyluty]

On a side note, you should shell out the money to have it mastered and release it yourself, and then submit your music to a label. It looks better if you're already trying to sell your tunes yourself. Shows initiative.

lol wat

stop giving it large about something you know nothing about as per usual

think ill go with people who have actually had releases on this one

[Sparxy]

On a side note, you should shell out the money to have it mastered and release it yourself, and then submit your music to a label. It looks better if you're already trying to sell your tunes yourself. Shows initiative.

lol wat

stop giving it large about something you know nothing about as per usual

think ill go with people who have actually had releases on this one

Let's be honest, in dubstep, it's not often Deep Medi, Dub Police, or whatever (insert big label here) will sign up a completely unknown dude out of the blue based on a demo (although it DOES happen). You have to earn your stripes and most people start on smaller independent labels before moving up the food chain.

I don't see what you mean by releasing tunes yourself, you really need to be a label to sell music (there are things like Chemical Records downloads where you can flog your music but its hardly what i'd call a 'release'). The smaller labels with space in their release schedule are always on the lookout for fresh talent, so if you feel your music is upto it, it won't hurt to submit demos to a few of them. Small labels will listen to almost everything they are sent, so if you aren't getting feedback or interest you should take that as a sign that you need to improve a bit, or you are sending your tunes to the wrong labels.

IMO you shouldn't really concentrate on getting releases, you should focus on making music you love and self improvement.

I have started my own label but its more out of passion for bass music than anything else. I have experience in running businesses and the capital to get it started so felt it would be a fun hobby. I have had a few demos I consider are awesome and are better producers than I am, and would fit on my label and I have offered releases to those guys. I won't be releasing my stuff until I feel it's upto the standard of the people I want to sign. Although I get sent a massive range of random stuff, maybe because i'm into the deeper side as well as the tearout stuff. Only thing i don't like really is cheesy stuff, and I do like my music on the darker side, so if you are submitting demos it might help to research the label owner and other tunes on the label to get a feel for their tastes and whether your music would sit well alongside theirs.

[Toric]

I don't see what you mean by releasing tunes yourself, you really need to be a label to sell music (there are things like Chemical Records downloads where you can flog your music but its hardly what i'd call a 'release').

Releasing your own music is far too easy nowadays with iTunes and Aggregators like CD baby. If you're not releasing your own music, you're probably going to get overlooked by a big label. Maybe not small labels, who probably have a lower standard on what you need to send in.

A big label will want more than just a mastered track.

-T

[hutyluty]

I don't see what you mean by releasing tunes yourself, you really need to be a label to sell music (there are things like Chemical Records downloads where you can flog your music but its hardly what i'd call a 'release').

Releasing your own music is far too easy nowadays with iTunes and Aggregators like CD baby. If you're not releasing your own music, you're probably going to get overlooked by a big label. Maybe not small labels, who probably have a lower standard on what you need to send in.

A big label will want more than just a mastered track.

-T

So you're saying big labels want you to have already self-released a track before they sign it because this is really really stupid and I hope noone is following your advice.

Labels do actually want to make money from sales, and so all the copies you sell on your own through Itunes or whatever is lost revenue for them and would make them far far less likely to sign you. Yes big labels are more likely to want you if youve had previous releases on smaller labels first, but they're not going to be impressed if you've just shoved a few songs up on the internet to sell (especially if its the same song you're trying to sign)

Anyway, sometimes big labels do sign unknowns, for example: Blawan signed to Hessle before anyone knew who he was and Old Apparatus went to Deep Medi and noone knows who they are at all.

I don't see why you feel the need to write such nonsensical rubbish, is it just to make you feel like you're the big man in music production circles giving advice to everyone? Because you should stop its irresponsible and means people willl call you out as the know nowt meff which you are.

[Toric]

Don't send unmastered tracks to a label that sells platinum albums.

So you're saying big labels want you to have already self-released a track before they sign it because this is really really stupid and I hope noone is following your advice.

Labels do actually want to make money from sales, and so all the copies you sell on your own through Itunes or whatever is lost revenue for them and would make them far far less likely to sign you. Yes big labels are more likely to want you if youve had previous releases on smaller labels first, but they're not going to be impressed if you've just shoved a few songs up on the internet to sell (especially if its the same song you're trying to sign)

Anyway, sometimes big labels do sign unknowns, for example: Blawan signed to Hessle before anyone knew who he was and Old Apparatus went to Deep Medi and noone knows who they are at all.

I don't see why you feel the need to write such nonsensical rubbish, is it just to make you feel like you're the big man in music production circles giving advice to everyone? Because you should stop its irresponsible and means people willl call you out as the know nowt meff which you are.

What label you on, bro?

-T

[hutyluty]

lol, just cos i havent been signed means i cant call you out when you start chatting shit?

-H-

ps. what label are you on bruv?

[Toric]

lol, just cos i havent been signed means i cant call you out when you start chatting shit?

-H-

ps. what label are you on bruv?

I used to work for Century Media a long time ago.

-T

[hutyluty]

what as a work experience boy? i'm sure making tea for a metal label really helped you understand the process of submitting tracks to dance music imprints.

just admit it you were talking wank and are not actually some expert in the field of everything s you claim to be

[Toric]

what as a work experience boy? i'm sure making tea for a metal label really helped you understand the process of submitting tracks to dance music imprints.

just admit it you were talking wank and are not actually some expert in the field of everything s you claim to be

No, I worked in marketing. It's really your loss if you don't want to listen to me. IDGAF.

-T

[hutyluty]

good for you, unfortunately some people will actally listen to what you say so i think i'll just keep disagreeing with you in as strong a fashion as possible totry and stop anyone following your advice

[Sparxy]

I don't see what you mean by releasing tunes yourself, you really need to be a label to sell music (there are things like Chemical Records downloads where you can flog your music but its hardly what i'd call a 'release').

Releasing your own music is far too easy nowadays with iTunes and Aggregators like CD baby. If you're not releasing your own music, you're probably going to get overlooked by a big label. Maybe not small labels, who probably have a lower standard on what you need to send in.

A big label will want more than just a mastered track.

-T

Don't agree with this at all.

Any old sod can "release" their song their song on iTunes. Using CD baby doesn't get your tune widespread distribution across a range of digital music retailers. It is a waste of time IMO and you're just adding your music to the swathes of crap thats already out there with no real backing or marketing help. Surely as a marketeer for a big label you'd know about marketing a release yes??? Basically impossible to do on your own with no brand or identity.

A big label won't want a mastered track. A proper label should be mastering it for you. Besides why would any label want to sign a tune that's already freely available? That's just ridiculous, any label doing that is going to lose money and go under very quickly.

*EDIT* My advice is just to keep doing what you love doing, making music. Send it to as many labels as you like, and if someone feels it / deems it good enough they will sign it. Putting your tune on iTunes and getting 3 sales isn't going to accelerate your career any faster at all.

[Toric]

I don't see what you mean by releasing tunes yourself, you really need to be a label to sell music (there are things like Chemical Records downloads where you can flog your music but its hardly what i'd call a 'release').

Releasing your own music is far too easy nowadays with iTunes and Aggregators like CD baby. If you're not releasing your own music, you're probably going to get overlooked by a big label. Maybe not small labels, who probably have a lower standard on what you need to send in.

A big label will want more than just a mastered track.

-T

Don't agree with this at all.

Any old sod can "release" their song their song on iTunes. Using CD baby doesn't get your tune widespread distribution across a range of digital music retailers. It is a waste of time IMO and you're just adding your music to the swathes of crap thats already out there with no real backing or marketing help. Surely as a marketeer for a big label you'd know about marketing a release yes??? Basically impossible to do on your own with no brand or identity.

A big label won't want a mastered track. A proper label should be mastering it for you. Besides why would any label want to sign a tune that's already freely available? That's just ridiculous, any label doing that is going to lose money and go under very quickly.

Explain to me how YOU THINK one goes about acquiring a brand or identity?

Deadmau5 did it, CM did it, even Sony BMG and Universal did it at one point.

If you think it's impossible, it probably is, but only for you.

Making a brand is a VERY possible thing for the average american/brit/norwegian/german/insert human regional segregation here. It takes time and effort, and some smart thinking. There are some good books on marketing your own music, would you like me to PM them to you?

To answer your second question, because a big label isn't going to take your song and plop it right out. It will go through many channels and sound much different than your release (better, maybe not to you, but to the general public). What they want is the RIGHTS to your creation. A big label wants to see what you can do on your own, so your skills and abilities compliment their skills/abilities/promotional avenues/ audiences.

If your song is up for download and you've sold so many copies that a record label doesn't want to sign it, your problem is probably something more along the lines of "I have too much money and need to quit my job and use the following I just made to make more money" rather than "who's gonna sign me?"

Just FYI, your record would have to go platinum or double platinum for that to happen, and then at that point you'll have labels coming to your door with contracts. They're smart, they know how to make a dime off you. especially since you probably are scared shitless and have no idea what to do with the money you just acquired.

-T

[Sparxy]

I don't see what you mean by releasing tunes yourself, you really need to be a label to sell music (there are things like Chemical Records downloads where you can flog your music but its hardly what i'd call a 'release').

Releasing your own music is far too easy nowadays with iTunes and Aggregators like CD baby. If you're not releasing your own music, you're probably going to get overlooked by a big label. Maybe not small labels, who probably have a lower standard on what you need to send in.

A big label will want more than just a mastered track.

-T

Don't agree with this at all.

Any old sod can "release" their song their song on iTunes. Using CD baby doesn't get your tune widespread distribution across a range of digital music retailers. It is a waste of time IMO and you're just adding your music to the swathes of crap thats already out there with no real backing or marketing help. Surely as a marketeer for a big label you'd know about marketing a release yes??? Basically impossible to do on your own with no brand or identity.

A big label won't want a mastered track. A proper label should be mastering it for you. Besides why would any label want to sign a tune that's already freely available? That's just ridiculous, any label doing that is going to lose money and go under very quickly.

Explain to me how YOU THINK one goes about acquiring a brand or identity?

Deadmau5 did it, CM did it, even Sony BMG and Universal did it at one point.

If you think it's impossible, it probably is, but only for you.

Making a brand is a VERY possible thing for the average american/brit/norwegian/german/insert human regional segregation here. It takes time and effort, and some smart thinking. There are some good books on marketing your own music, would you like me to PM them to you?

THEY HAD THE BACKING OF MULTI MILLION DOLLAR CORPORATIONS
And you're forgetting one crucial point, marketing your own music is pointless IS NO ONE LIKES IT

[wub]

Not wanting to take sides here, but just as an aside DeadMau5's first proper releases (his early chiptune stuff aside) were released on Zoolook, an independant record label based out of San Fran.

[Toric]

THEY HAD THE BACKING OF MULTI MILLION DOLLAR CORPORATIONS

And you're forgetting one crucial point, marketing your own music is pointless IS NO ONE LIKES IT

Line 1 : No, they didn't.
Line 2 : If no one likes your music, then you're not going to get signed and you need to find a day job.

Sorry to be blunt.

@wub, can you elaborate on your point?

[wub]

@wub, can you elaborate on your point?

Not really sure what there is to elaborate on - just that DeadMau5 started on indie labels.

[Toric]

@wub, can you elaborate on your point?

Not really sure what there is to elaborate on - just that DeadMau5 started on indie labels.

and he also created an Indie label.

He also made a brand for himself. Just like KISS did.

It' marketing. If you want to start your own label, then either go to school for marketing, or find a friend in the industry (I've done both) who can help you out. Or read some books. IDK really. I have a feeling I'm ruining some people image of the music industry here, and I know how unnerving that can be. Sorry guys. I'm just trying to prepare you for the future. If you want to do well in this industry, you have to market yourself. If the marketing isn't working, you either have crap music or you're doing something wrong.

But I see your point, Wub. I'm not saying you have to start your own label. A small indie label is only going to do so much for you, and 90% of the time that's absolutely nothing because it's just two guys in a garage going "let's start a label." They have no business plan, no marketing strategy, not even a fucking mailing list. All they do is screw you out of the 100 sales you get from them and then drop you like a bag of ice. I personally wouldn't sign to an indie label unless they had something to show me, which is the process I'm in with the label we're starting at the moment. Getting ready for launch and having something to show artists so they WANT to sign to us.

I've said enough,

-T

[hutyluty]

If you think it's impossible, it probably is, but only for you

lol you're such a nob

Just FYI, your record would have to go platinum or double platinum for that to happen, and then at that point you'll have labels coming to your door with contracts. They're smart, they know how to make a dime off you. especially since you probably are scared shitless and have no idea what to do with the money you just acquired.

-T

yeah but we're not talking about anyone selling millions of records on universal or whatever, when we say big label we mean tectonic or deep medi, maximum sales of i dunno about 30,000? (just guessing btw)

realistically, noone on here is going to sign to what you term a "big label" are they now?

[Sparxy]

Ok Toric, i'm not saying that its impossible to make a name for yourself by releasing your own music, i'm saying its pointless for the majority of people. There are so many amateurs with music on places like iTunes that its impossible to find the diamonds in the rough sometimes. Besides the point, very few people on the lookout for the newest dubstep sensation will be buying music on iTunes. I don't know about you but I go to Juno Download and Beatport to buy my music. DJs don't really go on iTunes do they? You could be releasing your tunes way before its release worthy. Did you get your own tune mastered? Is that the best tune you can make? Or maybe you'd be better of waiting a year before you've honed your techniques when a label will want to back you.

On the plus side, if you really are fucking awesome and loads of people start buying your stuff on iTunes you could be landed with a fat deal from a big label very quick. But I think this is incredibly unlikely and generally your time is better spent doing other things. I just think it's a huge waste of time and effort for the majority of people. If you were good enough you would get a release on a small label who would distribute your music properly.

Of course this is subjective and other people may believe they are making waves releasing their tunes through the likes of CD Baby, but each to their own, it's not how i'd want to do it.