Sending Demos To Labels

[bassbum]

As I was having no luck with labels I started controlling who can listen to my music with private tracks. I'm sending them out to like 20 labels that release music like the music I make and not one even listens to it.

Its getting really annoying... whats the point if they don't even know I exists and when I try to contact them they ignore me. I doing everything by the book and still no luck.

Any advise before I go crazy over this.

[bassbum]

Just want to add I know they get sent loads of stuff... How can I stand out?

[Brothulhu]

Most labels tend to have a way for people to submit tunes, find that and follow it to the letter. Maybe they don't want them on soundcloud, maybe they want it emailed to them as an mp3 attachment with a specific subject. If you have to write an email make it professional, no "hey just finished this its a banger u might like it lol"

[bassbum]

Most labels tend to have a way for people to submit tunes, find that and follow it to the letter. Maybe they don't want them on soundcloud, maybe they want it emailed to them as an mp3 attachment with a specific subject. If you have to write an email make it professional, no "hey just finished this its a banger u might like it lol"

I do and most labels only want (and say on there webpage) streaming links like Soundcloud these days. Im in a proper mood over this. If it was that the tunes where crap I could take it, work on them for a few months and try again. The tunes could be the best in the world but whats the point if they don't even play them.

[chekov]

just keep on at it

maybe send them to djs before labels, try get some radio play or something just to get your name out more

[bassbum]

Anyone on this forum have any contacts with any brostep lables and want to hock me up. I have had some of my tracks played on BBC intriducing and am confident my work is good. Drop me a PM .

I try not to be all spamy like that but im pulling my hair out over this.

[SunkLo]

I have had some of my tracks played on BBC intriducing and am confident my work is good.

Have you mentioned this in your emails? You may have to sort of write a cover letter about your accomplishments to get them to take notice. Does Soundcloud count the play if they don't listen all the way through? Maybe they just don't like what they hear. Are you sure they can access the link? Get someone who's not signed into Soundcloud to test it out for you and make sure they can actually play the track.

Also keep in mind, everyone and their autistic turtle is making brostep right now so producers in your genre aren't exactly unicorns. I'd say just be persistent and try to make a contact at a label you like. Ask them about their catalog, ask them what styles they're looking for, ask about upcoming vinyl releases, ask about any shows they might be promoting that are coming up, etc. Try to get an in somehow. Also, make contact with the other producers on the label. If they like your tunes and pass them along, you'll have a much better shot.

As someone already mentioned, get the support of some popular DJs. Bonus points if they're associated with the label you're interested in. Having your tunes played alongside those of the label's roster will help get their attention.

[LilWUB]

Those Audio Animals guys who always advertise here might hook you up if you're 12 or under.

[Brothulhu]

Anyone on this forum have any contacts with any brostep lables and want to hock me up. I have had some of my tracks played on BBC intriducing and am confident my work is good. Drop me a PM .

I try not to be all spamy like that but im pulling my hair out over this.

I don't run a label or any form of business but if you write your emails like you phrase your posts here I wouldn't be listening to your stuff. As a label owner I'm looking for the best so I can make the money I invest in mastering, promotion, manufacturing physical copies and putting stuff on iTunes/Beatport. Proof read your emails before you send them, make sure you come across as professional. Make sure everything is spelled, capitalized and punctuated properly. Most labels are probably swamped with demos in their inboxes, if I had limited time to review them I'd look for the people who's submissions are done in a businesslike way. At the end of the day what you are doing when you send a label a tune is trying to sell them a product. Watch something like The Dragon's Den or The Apprentice where they pitch a product, the people they pitch to pick up on tiny things that have nothing to do with the product but the person pitching.

I'm waffling now as its 3am but basically if your tunes are awesome and you think they are good enough for whatever label you're sending them to make sure you sound as good as you can in your submission to increase the chance of them hearing it. This probably wont work for shitty net labels run by 15 year olds who release 2 tracks a day, don't invest anything into their artists and do no promotion as a way for them to put their stuff on beatport or to try and make as much money as they can without finding real talent but why would you want on those labels anyway?

[bassbum]

Anyone on this forum have any contacts with any brostep lables and want to hock me up. I have had some of my tracks played on BBC intriducing and am confident my work is good. Drop me a PM .

I try not to be all spamy like that but im pulling my hair out over this.

I don't run a label or any form of business but if you write your emails like you phrase your posts here I wouldn't be listening to your stuff. As a label owner I'm looking for the best so I can make the money I invest in mastering, promotion, manufacturing physical copies and putting stuff on iTunes/Beatport. Proof read your emails before you send them, make sure you come across as professional. Make sure everything is spelled, capitalized and punctuated properly. Most labels are probably swamped with demos in their inboxes, if I had limited time to review them I'd look for the people who's submissions are done in a businesslike way. At the end of the day what you are doing when you send a label a tune is trying to sell them a product. Watch something like The Dragon's Den or The Apprentice where they pitch a product, the people they pitch to pick up on tiny things that have nothing to do with the product but the person pitching.

I'm waffling now as its 3am but basically if your tunes are awesome and you think they are good enough for whatever label you're sending them to make sure you sound as good as you can in your submission to increase the chance of them hearing it. This probably wont work for shitty net labels run by 15 year olds who release 2 tracks a day, don't invest anything into their artists and do no promotion as a way for them to put their stuff on beatport or to try and make as much money as they can without finding real talent but why would you want on those labels anyway?

I know what you're getting at. English has never been a strong point of mine and I don't really try very hard with forum posts on the internet. Trust me though, when I send emails to labels I use a word processor. I understand it's the music they would like to sell and a person they have to work with but I have never quite thought of it like that.

@Sunklo
I was keeping my emails short and to the point. I might try selling myself a bit more. I had a class at college on dealing with labels. The tutor said not to send loads of stuff to labels with your demo because they don't have time to look at it and it would just get put in the bin.

Maybe my Soundcloud counter is broken.

[test_recordings]

I know what you're getting at. English has never been a strong point of mine and I don't really try very hard with forum posts on the internet. Trust me though, when I send emails to labels I use a word processor. I understand it's the music they would like to sell and a person they have to work with but I have never quite thought of it like that.

@Sunklo
I was keeping my emails short and to the point. I might try selling myself a bit more. I had a class at college on dealing with labels. The tutor said not to send loads of stuff to labels with your demo because they don't have time to look at it and it would just get put in the bin.

Maybe my Soundcloud counter is broken.

@ "I use a word processor" ... computers don't know shit, they can make the meaning intelligible but they're basically guessing! If you write shit anyway you'll just get shit back. Bear that in mind and get someone else who can actually write acceptable English to proofread.

As for the content, you HAVE to mention your best achievements. Not mentioning you've had the BBC play your stuff is a massive shot in the foot. I'd even put it in the subject bar of the email, something like "Demo - played on BBC introducing", so they know there's some potential amongst the bullshit filling up their inbox.

Write everything you've got available with who's played it etc in an easyily readable list with links to the track on the end. Make it as an Excel spreadsheet then just copy it across so it's easy for you to make as well. Say, 4 columns, one for genre, one for who's played it, one for who's reviewed it, and then the final one with the track name and link <<< maybe not in that order, but systemising it makes it easier to read and so more likely to be read in full.

Most people will probably read an email for a set amount of time. If they can't find what they want, even if it mgiht be what they want, they'll just delete it and move on to the next one.

I'd put in the aim of the email in the first line after "Hi (label name)"... e.g. 'My name's ___ and I had some material played on BBC Introducing which might be of interest to you, please see the list below for track info and soundcloud links.' Then just list the tracks as above, then write your bio. They give a shit more about the tracks than the bio because they can write their own bio for you later and your life story might not be as interesting as you'd like to think.

[drooka]

be friendly mate, try to strike a convo BEFORE sending tunes and develop a bit of a relationship (at least to the point where they know your name as a decent chap). when sending tunes, dont do the whole private soundcloud deal. check the website, or better yet ask the head the best way to submit tunes. if they have a sc dropbox use that, otherwise grab a mediafire account and send a nice 320 mp3 or wav their way.

as far as actually finding the labels that will give you a shot, start small and do lots of collabs. many of the smaller labels will be more than willing to give up and comers a shot and will be pretty helpful as far as learning the process. by doing collabs, you get your name exposed to a large network, build a tight relationship with other artists and, hell, maybe even learn a thing or two

[wub]

Have a read through this;

http://www.attackmagazine.com/features/ ... -released/

Might give some pointers.

[chekov]

gona sort of hijack this thread while it's still going

if you send a tune to a dj/label and don't hear anything back, is it ok to send them more stuff like a couple months later if you feel like you've improved in that time?

[test_recordings]

Well, if it's pro standard I don't see why not. From the sounds of it, they might not have even listened the first time

[hutyluty]

just as an aside, and not to be mean or anything- but the bbc introducing stuff isn't too much of a sell- tbh they play any old shite on there.

If you haven't heard back after a couple of weeks maybe send a follow up email asking politely whether they listened and if they did then if they possibly had any feedback for you.

If they fail to respond more than once then really its not a label you want to be working with,

[wub]

If they fail to respond more than once then really its not a label you want to be working with,

I wouldn't entirely agree with this...it's not a labels prerogative that they have to respond to every submission, regardless of whether it's good or bad.

[hutyluty]

idk, if i ran a label i'd like to think I'd respond to every submission, even if it was with a copy paste "we're not interested at the moment". It doesn't take a lot of effort really, especially if people specifically ask for feedback.

[wub]

idk, if i ran a label i'd like to think I'd respond to every submission, even if it was with a copy paste "we're not interested at the moment". It doesn't take a lot of effort really, especially if people specifically ask for feedback.

That's depend on volume though...even small(er) net labels get somewhere in the region of 30-50 submissions a day. It'd be sustainable to respond to all of them, up until a point.

[mthrfnk]

I skim read most of the thread so I'm probably rehashing other peoples advice but... the point's I'd recommend are:

>Make sure you're SoundCloud/YouTube/Fb/Twitter etc. pages all link up, never hurts to try and gain exposure through multiple outlets, and it looks more professional
>Make sure your tracks on SoundCloud are labelled right/tagged/have artwork/have some form of description etc - again trying to make them look better rather than "my new track mixdown 2.", it's probably basic advise but to me something as small as missing artwork (even if it's just your name on a background) looks less professional.
>Make sure your emails to any labels are concise, don't waffle on about your background but equally don't skimp on the details (track links, social networks, places you've been featured or DJ'ed at)
>Try reaching out to promo sites (blogs/YouTube channels) these obviously offer decent ways to attract attention.
>BBC Intro is good, but I've also had my tracks played on a few of the stations and I've come to a few conclusions: 1)There's very little quality control, if a track's half decent they'll probably play it but they also play some shit 2)The genres that are played are vast, you might only have one person listening who likes dubstep 3)Some of the hosts are a tad vague on new music especially EDM which doesn't help when they're talking about your stuff 4)I reckon 90% of the listener base for those shows is people who're just listening for their own tracks... again not very helpful from a label point of view.
>My final point is the over saturation of the house/electro/glitch/dubstep/brostep etc. genres right now - everyone is making all sorts of shit and places like Beatport are flooded with crappy tracks. It's much harder (imo) to stand out as being relatively original and a good producer compared with 2-3 years ago and as such most labels are probably getting 100s of tracks every week, most of which will be half-assed 12 year olds wanting to be Tiesto.

My advice (which Madeon reiterated when I spoke to him about labels/getting noticed) is keep trying, keep making music and remixes, and keep sharing stuff on SC/YT and building a fan base... then labels will have much more interest in you because you're making it easier for them by bringing your own fans.