Is signing to small labels worth it?

[enjarcher]

Basically, I recently got contacted by a site advertising themselves as a 'brand-new record label'. I was naturally pretty wary since I know there are a lot of startups around the web that aren't really of any value. They did however send me a very nicely formatted contract, and said that releases would be made available on Beatport and other stores. They have 700 likes on their facebook page. I am wondering if accepting the offer is worth it or whether I should stick to just self-releasing my songs for free. Advice please?

[jrkhnds]

are you comfortable with putting your music out there for people to buy?
would you pay for your own tunes?
would you spend £40 to cut them?

if the answer is no to any of these questions, don't sign anything with anybody and keep working on your music until all the boxes check.

[rickyarbino]

I would refrain from releasing with people you have little to no personal experience with as doing so often leads to all kinds of ripoffs and scammery.
Had similar situations which lead to sloppy promotion, artworking, mastering, and just about everything else. A lot of these types release your tunes, take the earnings and don't give any of it back to you. Try and get in touch with someone who's had releases with them, if they haven't had anything out follow my first point.\
Also, Jurkhands poses a good point on personal quality control. Is the music you're making really what you want to put your name out there with? Do you think you could get a lot technically better with your current set up?
All important points for consideration in these matters.

Speak to these people directly, in person or via something like skype, in order to fully discuss what it is you want for yourself and the tracks in question and to gain an understanding of what they want for you in those respects and for themselves as a label. Treat it like a job interview where they're the prospective employees, you've got the goods, they're asking to offer you the services and that's an empowering position.

Good luck.

[skimpi]

are you comfortable with putting your music out there for people to buy?
would you pay for your own tunes?
would you spend £40 to cut them?

if the answer is no to any of these questions, don't sign anything with anybody and keep working on your music until all the boxes check.

whats that got to do with music being good enough? lol

[JBE]

are you comfortable with putting your music out there for people to buy?
would you pay for your own tunes?
would you spend £40 to cut them?

if the answer is no to any of these questions, don't sign anything with anybody and keep working on your music until all the boxes check.

whats that got to do with music being good enough? lol

A lot actually. If you're not confident enough in your own work to be willing to put real money into it then you obviously aren't making music that is up to your own standards. If you don't like your music then why would you expect anyone else too?

[skimpi]

I like my own music but I dont wanna spend 40 quid cutting a dub I wont use lol

[xtcvsmistycold]

25 pounds for a 10" acetate

[jrkhnds]

sorry I hurt your cdj pride..?

[leaflet]

Yes signing to a small label is one of the best things you can do if you want to break through in some way I to the music industry.

This is because when the label grows and blows up, you will blow up with it...


but it should be a good small label. You should be able to see a website that they have set up or some music that they have released and be confident that they're heart and soul is in it through the way in which they design it and run it. And can be pretty easy to tell the good ones from the bad ones, but dig a little on message boards like this one and you will find them. Start sending your music and build a relationship. The pressure will also be far less on a release than for a bigger label and will help to ease you into the game.

[xtcvsmistycold]

You should be able to see a website that they have set up

[topmo3]

i dont think u actually need smaller labels. i'm not sure they'll be able to offer u anything cause if they're small even if they had proper distribution n all if no-one knows em it's useless. when your music is ready to be picked up by bigger labels then it's your time to hit the markets until then i'd refrain from any signing and just have a soundcloud / bandcamp just my 2 cents

[Riddles]

Yeah, I buy more from bandcamp from the artist themselves than from some small labels.

[murky21]

if it's not Def Jam then i wuoldn't bother personally

[shmurkle]

don't sign for anyone other than deep medi zed

[leaflet]

Sco - I meant that as an example of being able to see their artistic direction and seeing whether it fits yours if they do have one. If they just send you an email with nothing to show for it than they aren't even a small label!

TBH you are much more likely to build a relationship with a small label than you are with a big label if you are not established. They can then help you develop your sound and become bigger, which is when a big label will take notice.

However you may have some amazing music and be a complete nobody and the label will sign it straight away, but this is more uncommon.

[jrkhnds]

define "small".

[No_Long_Ting]

You have plenty of followers on Facebook and Soundcloud yourself, you already have artwork just set up a Bandcamp and do it yourself you don't need a start up label to sell your material

[djrq]

try to avoid labels with less of a network than yourself.
I understand that most labels have to start somewhere, but a quick look at the labels soundcloud and facebook should be enough to let you decide if it's worth it.
I have had to reel tunes back in from labels that I never should have been dealing with in the first place.

And if a smaller label DOES look like it's going to do a good job (nice artwork, well mastered, an owner with some character and potential reach), ask them when they intend to release, and on what platforms... if they can't answer either of those questions, step back and politely decline.

[No_Long_Ting]

You have plenty of followers on Facebook and Soundcloud yourself, you already have artwork just set up a Bandcamp and do it yourself you don't need a start up label to sell your material

But also saying that if you can find a good digital distro firm and your willing to put the work in, selling your music on the major outlets will give you some more exposure if you wan any advice DM me

[cloaked_up]

dont 'sign' to them

they are peasants
a good way to tell if its a proper record label is if they do 12"s

siging to an mp3
zzzzzzzzzzzzzz