New Labels... too much?

[4linehaiku]

which brings me to my conclusion about the music industry in general, it's about who you know, just as much as what you know.

But doesn't this trend for artists releasing their own tunes on their own labels completly undermine that idea? You don't need to know anybody to put it out yourself, and if it's good (ie. what you know) then people are going to buy it.

[blackdown]

My answer is, make sure what you're launching is just as QUALITY, and is also DIFFERENT.

i couldnt agree more with this, it applies to labels and producers alike. too many releases/tunes out there that dont stand out. people need to find their own sound and label identity...

Ok, but what do you do if you got tunes, that are being played out alot, just as much as tracks that have full releases-

but you've sent these tunes to certain 'cliques' who won't have any of it?

which brings me to my conclusion about the music industry in general, its about who you know, just as much as what you know.

it is most definitely about who you know, to think otherwise is unrealistic. that said, i've searched out and got to know tens if not hundreds of people because i've heard and wanted to support their music.

the answer is to start your own label, but, back to my original point you need to be fully confident that you're really adding something to the scene before you do so.

i know it sounds harsh but to me it's important to be true to the music.

[seckle]

quality control
quality control
quality control
quality control
quality control
quality control
quality control !!!!!!!

after that...

please no more 12"s where one side is great and other side is rubbish. make sure your first 12" on your brand new label is way way beyond decent. it's got to be fire from the first bar and on both sides.

if you're sitting on dozens of unsigned tunes, that doesn't mean that the whole planet should be hearing them. of course, music is a subjective thing but if 50 people aren't feeling them what makes you think that 500 will?

i'd also like to plead with the distro's to really ask themselves "does this label we've signed have a vision?" . they're the one's green lighting all these projects, so they have the biggest responsibility.

i have a cork board at home where i've written a few things for my own inspiration, and one of them is an excerpt from my college uni course about marketing/branding. it's relevant to this thread so :

"Some solid advice for any young business: mark your territory, have something to say, and say it with conviction. A brand who has nothing to say, and who fails to claim a pioneering position in its competitive landscape, will die. Mark your territory - or hire someone to mark it for you. Remember, to be anonymous in a competitive world is to be dead."
B. Bernbach (Doyle Dane Bernbach)

[MARCHMELLOW]

which brings me to my conclusion about the music industry in general, it's about who you know, just as much as what you know.

But doesn't this trend for artists releasing their own tunes on their own labels completly undermine that idea? You don't need to know anybody to put it out yourself, and if it's good (ie. what you know) then people are going to buy it.

your right about the trend 100%. the point i was trying to make, is that its rare now for you to be picked up by a label, unless your known. of course its just a matter of getting 'known' but as a music any genre expands, this aspect gets harder and harder.

some people don't wanna always put there music out themselves. i think its great that its so easy these days though.

[skrewface]

labels are just run by groups of friends, and only seem to release stuff from their friends.[/b]

thats one thing that bugs me.

Radio stations, compilations etc. Thats what Dubstep is, a selfish elitistic crowd. Thats why people actually start their own shit lol

[forensix (mcr)]

Radio stations, compilations etc. Thats what Dubstep is, a selfish elitistic crowd. Thats why people actually start their own shit lol

the opinions of theiving stnuc like you have no value here, now fuck off to soulseek and download some unreleased dubs to play on your next radio show.

[rekordah]

DID YOU?

[unlikely]

im not so sure about the whole "only releasing tunes by people you know" thing being that much of a problem in dubstep, it seems to me that at the moment when someone comes with something different and quality it gets snapped up pretty sharpish. I've signed things from people i have never met after one listen before when its grabbed me, and i know a lot of the big labels have too

[ufo over easy]

Thats why people actually start their own shit lol

or just play out leaked dubs they got off p2p

[Littlefoot]

i think the diy attitude is the best. i dont see how itd make things "harder to follow", if u want a tune ull get that tune if u search for it

in 2007 (almost

there is no excuse for not finding a tune really!

i agree.

[juliun_c90]

as this graph from the office of national statistics shows, the number of dubstep record labels in existence now outstrips the quantity of dubstep 12"s available.

[Littlefoot]

i wonder how many people in this thread complaining even have the balls/talent to write and promote some dubs let alone release them?

[paulie]

There should be some kind of Soviet-style committee that has to approve your release before you're allowed to put it in the shops.

[gravious]

if it weren't for the medicore and garbage tunes, the amazing ones wouldn't sound as good.

Whilst that is true to some extent, I'd prefer if the garbage wasn't dubstep to be honest. There is enough garbage out there already to make dubstep sound good.

My answer is, make sure what you're launching is just as QUALITY, and is also DIFFERENT.

i couldnt agree more with this, it applies to labels and producers alike. too many releases/tunes out there that dont stand out. people need to find their own sound and label identity...

This is clearly so important. I haven't heard that many released dubstep tunes, even on the various new labels 001s etc, that are genuinely rubbish. However, there are undoubtedly quite a lot of tunes that just sound so-so, that don't stand out, and that don't sound like the producer has a clear idea of what they want to do with their style.

i'd also like to plead with the distro's to really ask themselves "does this label we've signed have a vision?" . they're the one's green lighting all these projects, so they have the biggest responsibility.

Yup. problem is, if they think that a so-so wobbler is gonna shift a few units now that dubstep is getting 'big', they aren't gonna turn down the money are they?

There should be some kind of Soviet-style committee that has to approve your release before you're allowed to put it in the shops.

DO IT

[umkhontowesizwe]

There should be some kind of Soviet-style committee that has to approve your release before you're allowed to put it in the shops.

Haha, roll over 'UK Garage Committee', enter 'UK Dubstep Committee'.

[eskmo / welder]

There should be some kind of Soviet-style committee that has to approve your release before you're allowed to put it in the shops.

Bush just put in a bill over here to do just that. Of course with him it's the opposite, only the worst gets released, the best get's covered up or shot.

[parson]

i'd also like to plead with the distro's to really ask themselves "does this label we've signed have a vision?" . they're the one's green lighting all these projects, so they have the biggest responsibility.

the only thing distributors ask themselves is "will this sell?"

if dubstep goes clowny it will be the distributors fault

some of us had so much trouble getting distribution before we had a name, and the tunes are the same tunes. its ludicrous to expect artistic integrity to be considered by ppls who's only concern is the bottom line

[boomnoise]

There should be some kind of Soviet-style committee that has to approve your release before you're allowed to put it in the shops.

dubstepforum?


i only half jest. this place is probably the best place to gauge how your tune will do. as ken says if 50 dont dig it, 500 wont.

i know certain distros are starting to turn down a fair number of new dubstep labels.

i think there are 2 distinct types of label in dubstep. those with vision and those without. those with really craft something unique. those that don't just bosh stuff out.

i think having a strong label identity is as important as having strong tunes. this is something which is crafted through consistent quality output which fits into the label's ideals. think hotflush, think deep medi, think hyperdub.

[nicon]

quality control
i'd also like to plead with the distro's to really ask themselves "does this label we've signed have a vision?" . they're the one's green lighting all these projects, so they have the biggest responsibility.

if somebody has an idea for a label.. and wants to put it on the market its up to him to do so.. lots of distro's have this kind of "control" but also alot dont, so the tunes whould come out either way.. it only takes 1 stupid person with 1 stupid idea..

i didnt read the whole thread but alot of people have quite some good arguments.. its true that you need a good friend base so you have playsupport.. but everything about non artists labels and such is just a load of bull imo.. it all depends on the one who's running it.. lots of big labels arent run by artists.. ive seen alot of labels that are run by artists that a utter mess.. so it works both ways..
just because mister-whats-his-name is behind the wheels doesnt means the label is gonna be BIG! it still comes down to marketing techniques and creating a quality package.. tunes / artwork / promotion

[dubluke]

ultimately i prefer artist run labels as they're organised by people who's main concern is good music, not profits and how much money is lining their pockets.

however i agree with boomnoise in saying that people should only be going in to start a label if they know where they are going with it and actually have a drive to keep pushing good tunes and not just to make a quick buck palming off one or two releases then forgetting about it, although i would hope that in dubstep the majority of people wouldn't do this anyway