Sending Demos To Labels

[Genevieve]

Most labels don't sign from demos. Don't even know why they put it up in the first place. Some do, but really just network a lot. Play shows. Send your tunes to DJs first and don't just send them, ask them politely if they would be interested in hearing your shit and tell them why you want them to hear it specifically.

When I got a batch of songs done, I'll do exactly that. Send them to the label owner of my favorite label (label's defunct now) and my favorite DJ and some dudes I used to work with who are in the scene. Sure I wanna get signed, but most of all, I wanna know from them what I can do to IMPROVE and those people shaped my taste and style. It means a lot to me what they have to say about what I'm doing.

Don't approach this as business, where it's like "get me signed so I can be the next big thing". Do it from the heart and sincerely. Most indie labels are passion projects and they wanna release passion projects.

[Mad_EP]

Just a couple of ideas...

1) Labels Not Responding
..all this means is that they don't want to sign those exact tracks *right now*. that is ALL you can definitely deduce. I know people (including myself) who were signed by labels that hadn't responded to the first demo - it was just that those tracks weren't the ones they wanted and some people really are busy enough that they can only respond to those they are ready to release right then. Also - demos have an INSANELY long half-life... and you don't know who they might be sharing your demo with (all the more reason to actually wait until you have some really great tracks, not just send out every month's output). I've met artists I really respected - who already knew my tracks because 'So&So' shared em (and I had never sent So&So the tracks). If it's good, shit will get passed around, and even if the label you sent it to doesn't sign you, there still good be an ongoing benefit from that demo.

2) Most Labels Don't Sign Demos
..it's true some labels don't sign demos - but those are also the ones that say on their website that they don't accept demos. If a label tells you how to properly send demos (and definitely follow those instructions if you do send) - then there is at least a chance. All of my early stuff was signed from raw, unsolicited demos. Most everyone I know got their start from raw, unsolicited demos. The labels I know, still continue to sign from raw, unsolicited demos.

3) Make Sure to Write Bio/Acheivments/Cover Letter
..again, this is by a label by label basis. I know labels that upfront state "No messages, no letters - we just want to hear the music"... and to be honest, that should be commended that there are still labels with such pure ethos. Others may or may or may not care... but you run the risk of false associations. If you say "DJ So&So has played my music" that could be cool - but what if that label doesn't get along with them? Sure, some achievements are cool enough to state without worry of politics, but I would be wary of using it too much. Just let the music speak for itself.

4) Etc..
..the best advice I can give is keep it simple. Make good tunes, and before you send them out - make sure they are good. Not just because your friends say they are awesome, but even people who don't like you think they are good. Then send them out, be polite, be respectful, and remember that these labels owe you nothing - and you are asking them to spend a lot of money on you. Don't worry about gimmicks - there are enough people who have the gimmick trade covered. Just make good tunes.

[Icetickle]

I think Dodge & Fuski are making their own label.. They are pretty obsessive with reading comments/messages etc.
Also can you PM me with the demo? I really want to hear it.

[blinx]

Honestly i would also suggest possibly, just create your own label, build a website and do the whole grass roots method. You could even do like skrillex/pretty lights/paper diamond/ill.gates and just give the damn music away for awhile. Once it catchs on and you actually have a real fan base and/or track record to draw upon labels will want to try and obsorb your next few releases.

[bassbum]

Thanks guys.. lots of new ideas floating around my head now, along with new motivation.

I just have one big question. How do I get contact information for DJs?

[SunkLo]

Just amble up to them at a show with your pupils wide as saucers, drenched in sweat and frisbee a CD-R at their sternum.
Dodge behind the desk and shout in his ear, "THart lot gewan'll do yer infh udiggn da rel budman choons iffa feelmi m8?"

If he leans away from you and nods alarmingly, it means he's down with the vibes you're putting out. The quicker he tries to break eye contact, the quicker you'll get a call from the label.

[wub]

How do I get contact information for DJs?

Most of them will have a Soundcloud page.

[YeahItsMe]

I feel like nobody touched and it is pretty important...

Labels will be more likely to sign you if you have a good fanbase. Set up all possible social network sites to grow your fanbase an market yourself. Labels will be more interested in someone who has good music, adecent amount of fans, and a lot of motivation.
Remember, a label has to invest money in you when they sign you, so they don't want to use their money on you if you can't make them any money. They want guarantees, not maybes and maybe that's why everybody give your songs to djs and PLAY LIVE SHOWS.

It is tough if your local area has a small dubstep scene. I have thought about moving because of it

[mthrfnk]

I feel like nobody touched and it is pretty important...

Did you read my post

[chekov]

I feel like nobody touched and it is pretty important...

Did you read my post

he's quoted himself in his sig so probably not

[hutyluty]

I feel like nobody touched and it is pretty important...

Did you read my post

he's quoted himself in his sig so probably not

loooooooool

I bet he's never even said that either the liar.

[Genevieve]

I feel like nobody touched and it is pretty important...

Did you read my post

he's quoted himself in his sig so probably not

It's a deep and thought provoking quote, though. I never did it before, but it makes me wanna start supporting my favorite artists.

[Icetickle]

I've read in some article that you shouldn't sent your unreleased ep to a shit ton of labels because label owners don't like competition. So should we only send it to 2 to 3 labels or what?
The more labels u send it too the chance for getting signed is getting bigger by a bit, or am I wrong?

[mthrfnk]

I've read in some article that you shouldn't sent your unreleased ep to a shit ton of labels because label owners don't like competition. So should we only send it to 2 to 3 labels or what?
The more labels u send it too the chance for getting signed is getting bigger by a bit, or am I wrong?

Don't send a single email to 100's of labels.
Send an individual one to each label.
I see no problem in sending to multiple labels tbh.

[Icetickle]

I've read in some article that you shouldn't sent your unreleased ep to a shit ton of labels because label owners don't like competition. So should we only send it to 2 to 3 labels or what?
The more labels u send it too the chance for getting signed is getting bigger by a bit, or am I wrong?

Don't send a single email to 100's of labels.
Send an individual one to each label.
I see no problem in sending to multiple labels tbh.

Do they give a shit about the amount of views on the "Private" soundcloud link you send 'em?

[ThisIsSovereign]

Do they give a shit about the amount of views on the "Private" soundcloud link you send 'em?

Some do, I've sent demos to one that said they'll ignore ones with hundreds or thousands of shares. Shouldn't really be a problem if you just share to some labels or DJs.

[Gurnumsbug]

Biggest flaw is when you have little to no followers on anything..
Work on getting a fanbase.. its not easy and I'm still learning how to do it

[mthrfnk]

Biggest flaw is when you have little to no followers on anything..
Work on getting a fanbase.. its not easy and I'm still learning how to do it

This x100

I've posted this so many times, if you have a fan base (even like 1000+ followers) it looks better and labels are more comfortable as they effectively have to do less work marketing you.

SoundCloud/YouTube/Twitter/Facebook - set them all up, interlink them, make them look professional (name/age/location/type of music you make/artwork/sample tracks) and interact with artists you like or labels you're interested in.

Also hit up blogs/youtube/soundcloud promo channels - they can be invaluable (for example some will help you to get 10k+ legit plays in a few days... even if only 10% of those people go on to check out the rest of your work that's still another 1000 people)

[bassbum]

Biggest flaw is when you have little to no followers on anything..
Work on getting a fanbase.. its not easy and I'm still learning how to do it

This x100

I've posted this so many times, if you have a fan base (even like 1000+ followers) it looks better and labels are more comfortable as they effectively have to do less work marketing you.

SoundCloud/YouTube/Twitter/Facebook - set them all up, interlink them, make them look professional (name/age/location/type of music you make/artwork/sample tracks) and interact with artists you like or labels you're interested in.

Also hit up blogs/youtube/soundcloud promo channels - they can be invaluable (for example some will help you to get 10k+ legit plays in a few days... even if only 10% of those people go on to check out the rest of your work that's still another 1000 people)

It's funny that this thread got bumped with this. I am planning to do exactly what Mthrfnk said next.

[mthrfnk]

Biggest flaw is when you have little to no followers on anything..
Work on getting a fanbase.. its not easy and I'm still learning how to do it

This x100

I've posted this so many times, if you have a fan base (even like 1000+ followers) it looks better and labels are more comfortable as they effectively have to do less work marketing you.

SoundCloud/YouTube/Twitter/Facebook - set them all up, interlink them, make them look professional (name/age/location/type of music you make/artwork/sample tracks) and interact with artists you like or labels you're interested in.

Also hit up blogs/youtube/soundcloud promo channels - they can be invaluable (for example some will help you to get 10k+ legit plays in a few days... even if only 10% of those people go on to check out the rest of your work that's still another 1000 people)

It's funny that this thread got bumped with this. I am planning to do exactly what Mthrfnk said next.

I've been doing this slowly for the past few months... my main problem is not actually having any finished tracks to back myself up with (fucking retarded I know but I've been making demo after demo without finishing much).

I managed to get some really small promo on two YouTube channels a while back with one of my tracks, I contacted one and surprisingly the other one contacted me... I've only had about 2k plays total off that which sound shit (kinda is) but it's a positive for me in terms of the comments and likes I got. I've also been contacted by a few small labels who were interested in my stuff they found on SoundCloud but I turned them down, imo unless the label is fairly well established themselves you're better off self-releasing/promoting yourself these days since it really is quite easy - you can even get your tracks on iTunes/Spotify yourself plus there's always Bandcamp.

Until recently I'd been getting about 100-150 plays a day on SoundCloud and steadily getting 1-5 followers a day (again not massive but this was with no new finished/free tracks and no promo aside from maybe here and my Twitter) but a few days ago I tidied up my SoundCloud - literally removed 3.5 hours of demos/wip's/sound design from the last 2 years and I made some new logos and got my pages looking okay... I'm planning a new release atm which hopefully should be able to pull me some promo from a variety of places. I'm not looking to get 1000's of plays and get signed asap but I think planning things properly and having some form of professional aspiration is a good thing, especially going forward.

Just realised this is kind of a pointless post since nobody really gives a fuck but maybe someone will benefit

Oh btw I forgot mixcloud in my previous post, posting casual mixes with your music in always helps I think.