Dubstepforum.com

hi
ive been making music for few years now, but do not have much knowledge about Record Labels and how the business works.

I mean, what does it actually mean to be "signed" to a label? They own you?

And how do you actually start/set up a label? is it as simple as setting up a limited company?
And what are the costs involved? ....what is a record label?

Should one try to get onto other established labels, or just set up own label?

What does it mean to have something released?
I mean you dont make money from sales anymore anyway,
whats wrong with just someone making music and giving it away for free on a free download website?
if he/she wants to make money, then just DJ, play live.

Im just sick and tired of emailing labels/people, with no responses and stuff.
I dont really care too much what people think anymore.
If i like my music, then its ok, im getting selfish iwth it now, for along time i tried to make music
for the "industry" and the market place, and now i think thats wrong/fake.... now im more making music for myself.

im completing music this year.
so dont really know the next step to shoot for...
- send demos? email labels/people for interest.
- make industry contacts/email/twitter
- make website? free downloads
- pester DJs?

why shouldnt i set up my own label and release my own stuff? i dont understand what "releasing" something means......lol sorry.
i mean its all for free on spotify, torrent sites, youtube etc....
why are we not seeing artists just give away music for free download on their own websites?

can you just set up a label, or even not even do that, and just put stuff on boomket, itunes etc, online retailers..... ?
eg no physical release....jsut digital files...

thanks for any advice.

Been lurkin' for a while and thought I'd pop my head in

first up, a label will 'sign' a track/EP to make money. The label will most likely have more contacts/resources to get a track out into the world (release a track) than a single DJ/producer.
This means more people will hear the release and in turn, more people will buy the release.
Label's happy because of the money, and the producer is happy because their music is being played. It's not rare for a producer to make more money from DJing than music sales, since the label will usually take a higher cut than the artist.

Most people won't 'get signed', it's a lot more common for a single track/EP to be 'signed'. If an artist is signed to a label, everything they produce is owned by the label (unless agreed otherwise) and released by that label.

The reason behind a physical release; the more formats your release is available on - the more people who have access to it (will buy it). Some people like to buy CDs. Vinyl's are usually aimed at DJs/collectors.

cant really be arsed answering every question, use google.

Here are some considerations for you

http://www.dubstepforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=186232