label guidelines

[Sharmaji]

also thinking that we need to have a more heightened back-and-forth with labels here. We've got some well-released artists who are members of this forum, and the whole process deserves more than 3 pages of '320 sent' posts. I'm thinking i'd like to see labels make their plans clear, in the same way that they would in a conversation about a release so that a.), they can find artists that will live up to their plans, and b.), artists will know what they're getting into. Raising the bar, so to speak.

thoughts? Criteria? For starters, if they're digi-only (which is like 90% of the posts coming up), as an artist i'd like to see stylistically what they're looking for, what sites they sell on, where they promote, previous releases, etc. If digi & vinyl, i'd also like to see their distribution plans.

In an ideal world this would provide a conduit for better tunes to reach better-organized labels.

[my_fickle_eye]

also thinking that we need to have a more heightened back-and-forth with labels here. We've got some well-released artists who are members of this forum, and the whole process deserves more than 3 pages of '320 sent' posts. I'm thinking i'd like to see labels make their plans clear, in the same way that they would in a conversation about a release so that a.), they can find artists that will live up to their plans, and b.), artists will know what they're getting into. Raising the bar, so to speak.

thoughts? Criteria? For starters, if they're digi-only (which is like 90% of the posts coming up), as an artist i'd like to see stylistically what they're looking for, what sites they sell on, where they promote, previous releases, etc. If digi & vinyl, i'd also like to see their distribution plans.

In an ideal world this would provide a conduit for better tunes to reach better-organized labels.

Sounds good to me better communication between labels and artists is a win win really. Could you make a post format that every label would have to use to allow them to post (different categories etc). Maybe make it so they are only allowed to advertise for a certain amount of time without renewing.

[djake]

i rekon its a great idea!

but im not sure how it could be regulated, seeing as people can just come in here and post what they like anyway.

but im all for the idea.

[my_fickle_eye]

i rekon its a great idea!

but im not sure how it could be regulated, seeing as people can just come in here and post what they like anyway.

but im all for the idea.

Modding i guess, but it would take alot of modding. Same as posts getting locked from ppl not posting in the feedback threads

[djake]

like have a sticky or something that has a list of labels with contact detials/bio/what there looking for ect....

[abZ]

I am a little confused with this thread tbh. Do you want labels to post in this thread? Criteria for posting a thread in this forum? Or something else. Just not sure what you are looking for here. I will participate once this is cleared up tho. Also I find most producers don't even read this sub-forum so I wouldn't necessarily target here for potential artists.

[Sharmaji]

i want ideas for criteria-- so many new labels (and established) come here, i want to set up a format so that the exchange between labels and artists is of higher quality than it is now. something similar to the events section with very easily scannable material-- tho most likely not in the thread title.

[djake]

ah! i get ya now!

[youthful_implants]

labels tend to sniff out artists, not the other way round. not usually anyway. I get sent A LOT of demos. unfortunately 99% of them are rubbish.

if people send me myspace links, download links where I have to wait 30 seconds before I can download, tracks without the correct metadata, anything under 320, without a decent email explaining what they're about - they get binned.

my advice is make sure your shit sounds good before you send it out. present it properly. and have more stuff of the same quality for the label to listen to if they like what they've heard already.

DONT send out unfinished tracks with apologetic emails about how you know the bass isn't right but you'll fix it later. binned.

I can usually tell within about 30 seconds of listening to something whether its remotely appropriate to what I'm looking for, and it can take me days after talking to the artist to figure out where they're at to decide if I want to take it any further.

people need to remember that signing unknown, amateur artists is RISKY and I won't do it unless the tracks are outstanding.

without wanting to sound aloof or jaded the majority of label owners have been in the game longer than the artists they're looking at signing. we're not stupid, just fussy.

a thread with a list of labels is a good idea however.

[abZ]

labels tend to sniff out artists, not the other way round. not usually anyway. I get sent A LOT of demos. unfortunately 99% of them are rubbish.

if people send me myspace links, download links where I have to wait 30 seconds before I can download, tracks without the correct metadata, anything under 320, without a decent email explaining what they're about - they get binned.

my advice is make sure your shit sounds good before you send it out. present it properly. and have more stuff of the same quality for the label to listen to if they like what they've heard already.

DONT send out unfinished tracks with apologetic emails about how you know the bass isn't right but you'll fix it later. binned.

I can usually tell within about 30 seconds of listening to something whether its remotely appropriate to what I'm looking for, and it can take me days after talking to the artist to figure out where they're at to decide if I want to take it any further.

people need to remember that signing unknown, amateur artists is RISKY and I won't do it unless the tracks are outstanding.

without wanting to sound aloof or jaded the majority of label owners have been in the game longer than the artists they're looking at signing. we're not stupid, just fussy.

a thread with a list of labels is a good idea however.

Yeah I think all this is pretty standard. I still don't get how people think they can send you some 30 second clips of something they spent 30 mintues on or a myspace link or whatever. What is the point? Do you seriously think you are going to get signed based off of that? Rant aside, I have signed a few people from demos sent. It really is a laborious task searching for tunes these days and as I have found out recently a couple things I found the artist never even sent me a reply to say the tunes where taken or whatever. At least if the demo is sent then there is some interest on the artist side.

I am still not really sure what you are after Sharma, seems like the criteria is pretty obvious stuff but what format are you suggesting? Another sub forum or what?

[serox]

also thinking that we need to have a more heightened back-and-forth with labels here. We've got some well-released artists who are members of this forum, and the whole process deserves more than 3 pages of '320 sent' posts. I'm thinking i'd like to see labels make their plans clear, in the same way that they would in a conversation about a release so that a.), they can find artists that will live up to their plans, and b.), artists will know what they're getting into. Raising the bar, so to speak.

thoughts? Criteria? For starters, if they're digi-only (which is like 90% of the posts coming up), as an artist i'd like to see stylistically what they're looking for, what sites they sell on, where they promote, previous releases, etc. If digi & vinyl, i'd also like to see their distribution plans.

In an ideal world this would provide a conduit for better tunes to reach better-organized labels.

I always assumed these labels are run by people who do not have a clue 90% of the time. If they did they would have done what you suggested in the first place! I hardly ever see any kind of details of any future plans or what the label sets to do for you as an artist. They often come across more like "give me your tracks so I can take a cut of the profits. I have no experience in promoting artists and I have no money, thx"

[midnightminustwo]

to be honest i'm not ever going to put down in a public forum, what i intend to do with my label. if you want to sign with us, get in touch, we have website, blog, myspace, last.fm, spotify, we're in shops etc.

if an artist wants to talk to me about where they might fit in with the label, that's one thing, but there's no need fo rlabels to put down their plans. for a start, it's counterproductive, as most label owners/managers know, it's as much about shuffling around to get schedules right, flow of releases etc, and artists aren't always the most reliable, punctual sorts either.

if you think a label is a half hearted, half arsed thing, don't send stuff. but also don't assume just becuase you're ina position to send stuff that any label owes you anything. a bit of humility on all sides goes a looooong way.

labels - don't make promises you don't know if you can keep, artists, don't think you're the best thing the label has heard, especially when they hear stuff all day, every day.

[Basic A]

a thread with a list of labels is a good idea however.

http://www.dubstepforum.com/labels-t22931.html