Tell me about starting your own label

[string]

I would seriously like to do this, yet I have no idea whats actually involved, so I have a few questions...

First off, what amount of cash are we talking to put out at a 12" release? What about 3, 4, or 5?

How do you get a distro involved in your label? Are we talking presentations of artwork/music etc?

What about the actual pressing of the tune? how much? who deals with this?

How do you sign a tune via an artist? What sort of money are we talking to do this?

Much appreciated for any replys, be good to know whats involved and yeah I know theres no money to be made out of this, would be do something productive with life

[sines]

Get to talking to label heads,distros and they can pretty much answer alot of these questions.

[sines]

lol.
I wasnt being a dick about it.

[sines]

First off, what amount of cash are we talking to put out at a 12" release? What about 3, 4, or 5?-Depends on what kind of deal you get with the distro..if you are stateside a P&D deal would best suit you.

How do you get a distro involved in your label? Are we talking presentations of artwork/music etc?Basically a general idea of what you want to put out and a plan to do so.

What about the actual pressing of the tune? how much? who deals with this?Usually the distro handles this.

How do you sign a tune via an artist? What sort of money are we talking to do this? You come up with what you want. Its your label so you basically make the ins and outs of your label. Write up a contract and come up with a suitable amount for both parties.

Much appreciated for any replys, be good to know whats involved and yeah I know theres no money to be made out of this, would be do something productive with life

here ya go.

[betamorph recordings]

Get to talking to label heads,distros and they can pretty much answer alot of these questions.

I second that. Well said. Short and sweet. That's a lot of questions to answer. I'd be more than happy to talk to you about what I know....hit me up on aim bruv

[betamorph recordings]

First off, what amount of cash are we talking to put out at a 12" release? What about 3, 4, or 5?-Depends on what kind of deal you get with the distro..if you are stateside a P&D deal would best suit you.

How do you get a distro involved in your label? Are we talking presentations of artwork/music etc?Basically a general idea of what you want to put out and a plan to do so.

What about the actual pressing of the tune? how much? who deals with this?Usually the distro handles this.

How do you sign a tune via an artist? What sort of money are we talking to do this? You come up with what you want. Its your label so you basically make the ins and outs of your label. Write up a contract and come up with a suitable amount for both parties.

Much appreciated for any replys, be good to know whats involved and yeah I know theres no money to be made out of this, would be do something productive with life

here ya go.

That was nice of you

[ramadanman]

First off, what amount of cash are we talking to put out at a 12" release? What about 3, 4, or 5?

If you're paying for it yourself - you're roughly looking at about 800 pounds to press up 500 records. You could do it cheaper, ie around 500 pounds, but you do get what you pay for to a certain extent. If you press up 1000 it will be cheaper per unit. Most of the costs involved are set up costs. It could be a lot more expensive than 800 though - for example, using an expensive mastering house, having coloured vinyl, individually stamped etc etc

What about the actual pressing of the tune? how much? who deals with this?

You can go to a mastering house, master your tunes, and then take the master lacquers to a pressing plant yourself. But for example Transition will sort pressing out for you - it is easier this way, pressing plants aren't generally interested in dealing with the general public. An alternative option would be to have a P&D (pressing and distribution) deal with your distributor. This means that they press your records as well as distribute them - ie they pay for the manufacturing etc, and deal with a lot of the business aspect.

In terms of getting a distro interested, try giving them a phonecall to explain you'd like to start a label etc and take it from there. Normally a letter explaining your idea, as well as a CD with the music you want to put out.

[string]

cheers ranadanman, and sines (i guess )

ill hit u up at some point Betamorph, just got AIM especially!

[betamorph recordings]

cheers ranadanman, and sines (i guess )

ill hit u up at some point Betamorph, just got AIM especially!

Nice one mate....I'll be waitin

[__________]

be prepared to HASSLE people a LOT.

i've started a little digi label (hopefully physical eventually) and found some killer tunes from local boys, but in my experience, producers are really really slack. they'll forget, misunderstand, ignore or rise above what you have to say; and i've got a feeling that our LP is going to drop a few months late because of this.

you might find it easier if you're signing producers that don't smoke weed though.

[-dubson-]

a digital label i guess is alot cheaper than vinyl, how much does it cost to put out a digital release

[__________]

digital is cheaper.
you'll obviously need to pay for the mastering of the release, and depending on where you're selling your tunes online you may have to pay a sign-up fee, or membership fees for online distribution sites.

then there's promotion. how long is a piece of string?

[little boh peep]

but in my experience, producers are really really slack. they'll forget, misunderstand, ignore or rise above what you have to say; and i've got a feeling that our LP is going to drop a few months late because of this.

You can't want someone to succeed more than they themselves want to succeed.

[eshscramble]

be prepared to HASSLE people a LOT.

i've started a little digi label (hopefully physical eventually) and found some killer tunes from local boys, but in my experience, producers are really really slack. they'll forget, misunderstand, ignore or rise above what you have to say; and i've got a feeling that our LP is going to drop a few months late because of this.

you might find it easier if you're signing producers that don't smoke weed though.

you need to hit me up then man, i'll sort shit out faster than you can email - got some wicked tunes hiding atm...

[__________]

You can't want someone to succeed more than they themselves want to succeed.

great point, but a lot of people (like me) need a big kick up the arse to get anything together.

i thought setting up a night & label would be way too much for me to handle and i wouldn't succeed at it.
its mainly thanks to my mates and people that i respect who've motivated, encouraged and complimented me that i got off my arse and put on a successful event...hopefully one of many!

[dubstepz]

you might find it easier if you're signing producers that don't smoke weed though.

lol

Do they exist

[dubstep_warrior]

you might find it easier if you're signing producers that don't smoke weed though.

lol

Do they exist

haha everyonedoesit.com

[dusk governor]

you might find it easier if you're signing producers that don't smoke weed though.

lol

Do they exist

without weed the tunes will surely suck..

[dubstepz]

Ok.. on a level you will need to have cash.

As a digital only label without bare funds for promotion you have nothing to offer producers that they can't do themselves.. if they can be fucked but the ones that can be fucked are the only ones worth working with normally.

Vinyl is a cost. I would press a dubplate first and take it around some vinyl shops and see if they are happy to sell it for you, fuck going through distro's if your starting out + they will prob be happy to tell you what they think before you sink to much cash in it.

If you find a digital only distributor they normally charge a small fee and percentage of your sales. This will vary. You can so direct to digital-tunes.com but to get on itunes, beatport, amazon, napster etc you will need a digital distro.

Here is a list

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/help/custome ... i=77197031

My mate who run's an electro label is using these guy's... not sure how good they are though

http://www.abluentmedia.com/index.html

You will need to register with the ppl (free)

Info and app here

http://www.ppluk.com/en/Record-Companie ... payments1/

Then you basically have a ''label'' (minus the contract's which you can get online, music, website, DJ's on AIM, fanbase etc etc)

But it is all about finding the right music and I think you may find it hard as more producers figure out how to sell their own shit, if you don't have bare funds and contacts to promote it.

Dubstepz