Getting a track signed...

chunkie · Post by **chunkie** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 12:41 pm

all material i've had commercially released has been the result of me going to a club night and manging to sneak a few moments of the label owner/dj's time

handed them a cd labelled with contact info and if they like it they've got in touch with me

I'm not sure which labels you are thinking of approaching and hence not sure if you'll get any opportunities to personally approach folks (for example if you really want one of the london-based labels)
in this type of situation the internet becomes your best mate and an email to their label address or pm (if they don't have label address etc) is probably your only way to get to who you have in mind

even though its the long-winded option i'd recommend approaching local labels and working up your reputation with them (even if you think you should be headlining dmz not playing at glorified house parties) - once you've got both a reputation and discography you'll stand in better stead approaching labels and by then should have managed to make a few contacts anyways

pretty much every big name has worked their local circuit first and built a rep (the old hip hop "paid my dues" type thing)

the advice about not sending out sub-standard material and running your name is something to keep in mind - to this end i'd also recommend trying to get your tunes to djs before you head to labels. they're more interested in new music than a label because being the man with the next best thing is always good for dj credo! plus if they tell you its crap then you've saved yourself some embarrassment (bar personal choice etc)

heider · Post by **heider** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 12:55 pm

ahh, more good info! thanks again.

i actually sent out a message to about 5 labels prior to this thread with links to some of my tunes. then i realized maybe i should get some advice first.

it's hard to actually meet anyone involved with (most of) these labels since i'm in the US. and i hate just sucking up to people on the internet.

i met paul/scuba when he played a night here awhile ago and i passed him one of my cd's. but i think i set a bad example since my production was not as good at the time.

dirty · Post by **dirty** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 2:50 pm

thesynthesist wrote:
DIRTY wrote:Basically just make good tunes because there is some stuff being released which shouldn't get a release
What fantasy world are you living in? Have any tickets for this "Fantastic Nonsense Express"??

How big do you think dubstep is?

All you need is one big tune, how many times have you seen it!!!!

Don't be a derkhead!

thesynthesist · Post by **thesynthesist** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 4:13 pm

DIRTY wrote:All you need is one big tune, how many times have you seen it!!!!

ozols man · Post by **ozols man** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 5:42 pm

im starting to think its about getting ur mate to chip into and producing the b side and just releasing ur own fuckin records these days

little boh peep · Post by **little boh peep** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 5:51 pm

ozols man wrote:im starting to think its about getting ur mate to chip into and producing the b side and just releasing ur own fuckin records these days

I'm sure that's how a lot of labels got started.

You still need buyers though.

two oh one · Post by **two oh one** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 5:57 pm

Why do you want to be signed?

heider · Post by **heider** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 6:00 pm

two oh one wrote:Why do you want to be signed?

i've been working on music for around 6 years now (casually) and I'd just like to see something come out of my efforts. same as the next guy, i'd like to hold a piece of vinyl in my hands with my name on it.

dirty · Post by **dirty** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 6:00 pm

Little Boh Peep wrote:You still need buyers though.

Thats true, thats why its important to get air time on the radio and to have some good publicity

FSTZ · Post by **FSTZ** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 6:11 pm

ozols man wrote:dont ever expect a label to get back in touch with you

maybe thats just me

I have been ignored before. I take it as a "not interested" gesture.

however, I recently got a call from a label boss wanting to sign a tune

if the tune is good, and the label is interested, and the stars are aligned in your favor...

they will find you

heider · Post by **heider** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 6:35 pm

unklefesta wrote:I have been ignored before. I take it as a "not interested" gesture.

same. i know some people just don't like the job of saying "hey your music sucks"

FSTZ · Post by **FSTZ** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 6:54 pm

I wouldnt want that job

sometimes people send me tunes and want "honest" feedback, and I give it to them. I have to preface it with my usual disclaimer "I'm not trying to be a prick, but..."

crappy job 4 sure

ozols man · Post by **ozols man** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 6:59 pm

Little Boh Peep wrote:
ozols man wrote:im starting to think its about getting ur mate to chip into and producing the b side and just releasing ur own fuckin records these days
I'm sure that's how a lot of labels got started.

You still need buyers though.

matter of time

ozols man · Post by **ozols man** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 7:03 pm

unklefesta wrote:
they will find you

haha i like that, the kinda thing ud think when on mushrooms.

at the end of the day this is true, u got to remember finding music and promoting and trying to sell it is some peoples thing. same as i like to just chill and make beats someones always gonna be searching for it...

FSTZ · Post by **FSTZ** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 7:08 pm

ozols man wrote:
Little Boh Peep wrote:
ozols man wrote:im starting to think its about getting ur mate to chip into and producing the b side and just releasing ur own fuckin records these days
I'm sure that's how a lot of labels got started.

You still need buyers though.
matter of time

what about distribution?

how will you deliver your product to market

I too have put a lot of thought into starting a label.

you'll need:

A. great tunes
B. name recognition (maybe not heavyweight action, but maybe get someone who is more well known to do a remix of the tune)
C. distribution

FSTZ · Post by **FSTZ** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 7:19 pm

ozols man wrote:
unklefesta wrote:
they will find you
haha i like that, the kinda thing ud think when on mushrooms.

but I am dead serious

and I wasnt high when I wrote that.

I have had a conversation with a gent about a couple tunes, he asked for 24bit wavs, and went on to tell me how much he liked the tunes.

about a week later he tells me to keep his label in mind for my future releases.

that happened about 2 weeks ago

then I signed a different tune to another label

just focus on the music, the rest will work itself out

really, it will

two oh one · Post by **two oh one** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 7:40 pm

unklefesta wrote:
ozols man wrote:
unklefesta wrote:
they will find you
haha i like that, the kinda thing ud think when on mushrooms.

but I am dead serious

and I wasnt high when I wrote that.

I have had a conversation with a gent about a couple tunes, he asked for 24bit wavs, and went on to tell me how much he liked the tunes.

about a week later he tells me to keep his label in mind for my future releases.

that happened about 2 weeks ago

then I signed a different tune to another label

just focus on the music, the rest will work itself out

really, it will

Listen to Unky Festertons, he's right.

Label people usually find you in small scenes such as this. You just have to get your tracks heard by whatever means you have and then you probably won't have to do much in the way of licking stamps. I've lost count of the offers I've had over PMs on this forum and myspace alone.

Build it and they will come all over you.

ozols man · Post by **ozols man** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 7:51 pm

yeh trust i got a couple offers about the shop, its nafffffin - its just i never get responses from labels who i contact directly....

my bredrin up in leeds is pretty big in the 4X4 scene, so were looking to do a collabo, talks of perhaps doing a side each or maybe just a straight 4X4 dubstep mutation and releasing it r in the pipeline too. my plan for my music is to basically start a FWD esque night where im in at the moment which is leeds. thing is i know so many producers its just silly so the idea is to rinse out all our own tunes along side tunes by other established djs in the styles of dubstep, techno, broken beat, soulful electro tech house, 4X4, grime... perhaps after a while the music were making will reflect the night that weve made... this is probably the BEST form of promotion, create a nice underground buzz ...

WHO KNOWS?!

heider · Post by **heider** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 8:19 pm

unklefesta wrote: you'll need:

A. great tunes
B. name recognition (maybe not heavyweight action, but maybe get someone who is more well known to do a remix of the tune)
C. distribution

forgot

D. lots and lots of alcohol

FSTZ · Post by **FSTZ** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 8:51 pm

and herb

Getting a track signed...

Who is online