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I have heard of a few people who have had tracks released on labels and they have had to pay money to the label to get the track mastered, wtf?

Is this standard for everyone? you pay a label?!

No wonder there are so many Micky Mouse 'labels' popping up releasing shit music.

hm.

ask 'em this: if you don't have real distro (digital or physical) and you don't pay for mastering... what exactly do you ,as a label, do?

for dubplates, pre-release mixdowns of exclusive bits, and my own stuff that i don't necesarrily want to release, i'll pay for mastering.

for anything that's getting handed over to someone else-- that's their problem. we generally stipulate in the contract that that entity--- label, orig. artist, management, whoever--pays for mastering.

lol at mickey mouse labels

my understanding was always that the label pays for this

if you're doing certain steps yourself for your own release you might as well be your own label.

or am I wrong here?

Sharmaji wrote:hm.

ask 'em this: if you don't have real distro (digital or physical) and you don't pay for mastering... what exactly do you ,as a label, do?

for dubplates, pre-release mixdowns of exclusive bits, and my own stuff that i don't necesarrily want to release, i'll pay for mastering.

for anything that's getting handed over to someone else-- that's their problem. we generally stipulate in the contract that that entity--- label, orig. artist, management, whoever--pays for mastering.

this.

you dont need to be big in the game to ask "what is this label actually going to do for me by releasing my tune?"

its all down to your contract if your signed, you should allways get a lawyer to read over it. but generally they pay for it.

i believe the normal situation is (or should be) the label will initially pay for mastering, pressing, etc, and then recoup the costs from your royalties. so basically you wont see royalties until your costs are paid. thats the risk a label has to take... if your track doesnt make back the costs then the label loses out.

at least thats how it works with proper labels as far as im aware.

gravity wrote:i believe the normal situation is (or should be) the label will initially pay for mastering, pressing, etc, and then recoup the costs from your royalties. so basically you wont see royalties until your costs are paid. thats the risk a label has to take... if your track doesnt make back the costs then the label loses out.

at least thats how it works with proper labels as far as im aware.

This right here. With my label anyway. If the label doesnt take care of it I wouldnt agree to the contact.

gravity wrote:i believe the normal situation is (or should be) the label will initially pay for mastering, pressing, etc, and then recoup the costs from your royalties. so basically you wont see royalties until your costs are paid. thats the risk a label has to take... if your track doesnt make back the costs then the label loses out.

at least thats how it works with proper labels as far as im aware.

correct, any label that's asking you to pay for mastering is a joke.

nitz wrote:its all down to your contract if your signed, you should allways get a lawyer to read over it. but generally they pay for it.

contracts are all very well, but a real lawyer will charge you a lot of money to read a contract - not an option for most amateur musicians. And even if you have a contract and you've been screwed, how are you going to take them to court? Again a very expensive process, not something that happens very often.

If you're really worried about being screwed/having contracts to protect you, just work with labels you either know & trust completely, or labels that have a proven track record and a good reputation.

Sharmaji wrote:hm.

ask 'em this: if you don't have real distro (digital or physical) and you don't pay for mastering... what exactly do you ,as a label, do?

It's like you took the words out of my mouth. I can't even count the amount of times I have told artists this when they are approached by mickey mouse (great term) labels.

I've never paid for mastering - I consider it the label's responsibility, and wouldn't release on a label that tried to tell me otherwise.

thinking wrote:

gravity wrote:i believe the normal situation is (or should be) the label will initially pay for mastering, pressing, etc, and then recoup the costs from your royalties. so basically you wont see royalties until your costs are paid. thats the risk a label has to take... if your track doesnt make back the costs then the label loses out.

at least thats how it works with proper labels as far as im aware.

correct, any label that's asking you to pay for mastering is a joke.

nitz wrote:its all down to your contract if your signed, you should allways get a lawyer to read over it. but generally they pay for it.

contracts are all very well, but a real lawyer will charge you a lot of money to read a contract - not an option for most amateur musicians. And even if you have a contract and you've been screwed, how are you going to take them to court? Again a very expensive process, not something that happens very often.

If you're really worried about being screwed/having contracts to protect you, just work with labels you either know & trust completely, or labels that have a proven track record and a good reputation.

You can go to small claims court over this and represent yourself. But I do feel contracts are worth slightly more than a handshake. Since I can't shake the hand of most of the people I sign it is necessary and shows that your are somewhat professional, there are so many fly by nighters in this scene.

That said they can screw you with or without a contract. It has happened to me!

It's only pretty recently I've seen labels ask their artists to pay, it's a bit disturbing/odd/sad really.

If a label wants the kudos that putting great music out there gives them, then they should be willing to put money behind it. Moreover, they should be absolutely intent on putting out the best product they can, and that alone should see them making sure things are of the best possible quality.

Be careful peeps, as abZ says they can screw you over contract or not!

abZ wrote:

gravity wrote:i believe the normal situation is (or should be) the label will initially pay for mastering, pressing, etc, and then recoup the costs from your royalties. so basically you wont see royalties until your costs are paid. thats the risk a label has to take... if your track doesnt make back the costs then the label loses out.

at least thats how it works with proper labels as far as im aware.

This right here. With my label anyway. If the label doesnt take care of it I wouldnt agree to the contact.

spot on

If its a decent label doing their thing for their artists, It should be them.

Honestly in this dubstep thing with enough determination and knowledge, you can do it yourself

Reach for the sky and do your thing!

-hk

macc wrote:It's only pretty recently I've seen labels ask their artists to pay, it's a bit disturbing/odd/sad really.

If a label wants the kudos that putting great music out there gives them, then they should be willing to put money behind it. Moreover, they should be absolutely intent on putting out the best product they can, and that alone should see them making sure things are of the best possible quality.

Be careful peeps, as abZ says they can screw you over contract or not!

Agreed. I never heard of it with any other genre apart from recently with Dubstep. This is why I call them micky mouse labels. they are not a real record label and are actually doing fuck all for you. They are interested in money and do not give a shit about the artists or the content they are selling. Another reason why I now have to spend twice as long going through records until I find something decent.

jameshk wrote:If its a decent label doing their thing for their artists, It should be them.

Honestly in this dubstep thing with enough determination and knowledge, you can do it yourself

Reach for the sky and do your thing!

-hk

I know of a number of people who own there own labels and did it with a grant from the Prince's Trust. I think it is still doable too! if I were interested in setting a label up this is what I would imo.

jameshk wrote:Honestly in this dubstep thing with enough determination and knowledge, you can do it yourself

with enough determination and knowledge you could build a telescopic bridge made out of chicken bones and condom wrappers, stretching from the earth to the moon.

serox wrote:

jameshk wrote:If its a decent label doing their thing for their artists, It should be them.

Honestly in this dubstep thing with enough determination and knowledge, you can do it yourself

Reach for the sky and do your thing!

-hk

I know of a number of people who own there own labels and did it with a grant from the Prince's Trust. I think it is still doable too! if I were interested in setting a label up this is what I would imo.

Im doing it myself soon, after all this coursework is done im starting it up. Would be interested in bouncing off someone, maybe we could sort something out if your interested. Not going into business together exactly, but its always good to have contacts doing the same thing as you, help eachother out and shit? Send me over a pm if your up for it bro!

-hk

jameshk wrote:

serox wrote:

jameshk wrote:If its a decent label doing their thing for their artists, It should be them.

Honestly in this dubstep thing with enough determination and knowledge, you can do it yourself

Reach for the sky and do your thing!

-hk

I know of a number of people who own there own labels and did it with a grant from the Prince's Trust. I think it is still doable too! if I were interested in setting a label up this is what I would imo.

Im doing it myself soon, after all this coursework is done im starting it up. Would be interested in bouncing off someone, maybe we could sort something out if your interested. Not going into business together exactly, but its always good to have contacts doing the same thing as you, help eachother out and shit? Send me over a pm if your up for it bro!

-hk

What do you plan to do tho exactly?

Start up my label, digital distribution at first but one day I hopefulyl wana move on to physical units. I will be putting some out but not on a huge scale you know? Just ptuting out decent music, not just dubstep however. I've got my fingers in alot of pies.

-hk