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Free release : Good or bad idea ?

Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2011 4:43 pm
by Darj
Hey :)

I'd like to make a free release, but i've got a few questions.

1st one : Good / Bad idea ? choose one ;)

2nd : Do you know any labels interested by producer giving away tunes ?

3rd : I've already contact soooo many labels, never had any answer. Do that mean my tracks are shit ? Any tips to get in contact with them ?


Thanks :)

Re: Free release : Good or bad idea ?

Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2011 4:45 pm
by Darj
Got lot of internet issues, sorry for the double post Wub ;)

Re: Free release : Good or bad idea ?

Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2011 5:01 pm
by legend4ry
Good; my free releases have done nothing but good for me.

Theres a few net labels about; just have a look around..

20/twelve and Rub The Ego are decent !

Re: Free release : Good or bad idea ?

Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2011 5:05 pm
by Volatile Psycle
I hate to say it but if they haven't been back in touch then your tunes are probably,as you put it,"shit"

Not always a bad idea though as it can help you get noticed/airtime/fans etc but as long as the labels is of good enough quality.
you don't want to dirty your name putting your music out on sub-standard labels.

Re: Free release : Good or bad idea ?

Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2011 5:14 pm
by -[2]DAY_-
it doesn't mean its shit. It might also mean its two or three .wav's in a pile of 300,000 and they just can't get to them all. Or maybe its good, but the lablels you approached aren't interested in your style of music. Not too many unknown dubstep artists sell loads of units, so even if you're good, you're useless to a label. Labels are brands, so you should make sure you research the labels and submit to ones where your tunes would fit in.

Free releases is actually exactly what you need to do. Give out your tunes, promote them and see if you can get some dj's to spin it, if people love your sound or it has anything new to offer, labels will contact you wanting to release your tunes.

you can't just make good tunes and expect to get signed. you have to be somebody first

Caski gave away a whole bunch of amazing tracks and now he's got a release on Ghost with El B
Mostly because his music is really good and he's been around for ages networking, but also because he's developed a buzz with the material he put out on his own

Re: Free release : Good or bad idea ?

Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2011 5:32 pm
by deadly_habit
legend4ry wrote:Good; my free releases have done nothing but good for me.

Theres a few net labels about; just have a look around..

20/twelve and Rub The Ego are decent !
:z:
i got my initial following in dnb from free releases
done a few on 20twelve as well and a new one on cosmology
the thing is even if a free label is free, make sure it has quality control as that's how they get a following and you as well in turn
because lets face it anyone can post free tunes nowadays

Re: Free release : Good or bad idea ?

Posted: Sat Dec 24, 2011 5:36 am
by ketamine
This was a really encouraging thread... :D Ive got albums rotting on my HD, but now I'm going to save up, have them mastered, and self released!

Re: Free release : Good or bad idea ?

Posted: Sat Dec 24, 2011 2:38 pm
by mr_knotoo
Yeah got one in the works now. But really there's so much free music online I wonder how quickly free releases get buried. The unknown shapes releases generated buzz but it seemed like that buzz happened mostly at the initial time of the release.

Re: Free release : Good or bad idea ?

Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2011 12:58 am
by Darj
Thx @ Legend4ry & Deadly habit for sharing experience :>

The thing is that i'm already spin by djs in France, UK, Holland, Romania and even in New Zealand. Some signed french producer are trying to promote my tunes in their labels. They gave me some people to contact, but still no f***ing answer. I've get a couple features on blogs, and a lot of ppl are talking about my tunes ( check the one on my sig, and it's free to DL :> ). Maybe should I be more patient. I'm a bit stuck tbh. i don't know what to do think.

Anyway, merry xmas everyone. This forum is really helpfull.

PS : i'm a bit drunk, but the freaky thing is that my seems much better.

Re: Free release : Good or bad idea ?

Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2011 1:28 am
by Basic A
deadly habit wrote:
legend4ry wrote:Good; my free releases have done nothing but good for me.

Theres a few net labels about; just have a look around..

20/twelve and Rub The Ego are decent !
:z:
i got my initial following in dnb from free releases
done a few on 20twelve as well and a new one on cosmology
the thing is even if a free label is free, make sure it has quality control as that's how they get a following and you as well in turn
because lets face it anyone can post free tunes nowadays
Ill give that a x2, quality control is everything, a label should have focus, inspire comradery amongst its members, ect... Thats not a lot to ask even if giving out for free...

Id also like to note your best bet with free releases is to kinda lay it all on the line and just be yourself... focus on productions standards, ect... but one of the first things I stress to anyone Im bringing on board to Cosmology is to save your commercial grade 'hits' for whoever happens to find you THROUGH us, when Im bringing people on based on freebies or donations I want to try to get the stuff that the artist has faith in or a connection to, we're not looking for huge mass appeal, we try to take one fiathful, inspired listener over 10 randoms because in the end, its those core markets who connect with you that promote the hardest in your name... with quality production showing through to anyone who would potentially take interest from there, its on you to deliver something that really shows what your about to get the most potential from a free release... if you come to a netlabel and give them your most commercially viable material, youll have fuck all to deliver once you get that exposure and have paying offers on the table...

Passion and personality over numbers, dedicated listeners who are gonna show all their friends over one random play click/download, and overall the potential to make connections... these are the factors should go into determining what you release for free, from there, its only a question of indie or netlabel.

Re: Free release : Good or bad idea ?

Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2011 9:42 am
by wub
Releasing music is not the issue, it's never the issue. Getting your stuff heard is easier than ever IMO.


Releasing GOOD music, however, that's the issue.

Re: Free release : Good or bad idea ?

Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2011 12:54 am
by ShangoMass
-[2]DAY_- wrote:
Free releases is actually exactly what you need to do.

Re: Free release : Good or bad idea ?

Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2011 1:30 am
by hasezwei
i don't trust free music. i expect it to be shit, and i'm certain many people think so.

Re: Free release : Good or bad idea ?

Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2011 1:58 am
by Basic A
hasezwei wrote:i don't trust free music. i expect it to be shit, and i'm certain many people think so.
Youve never seen IDMF's netlabel have you?

Re: Free release : Good or bad idea ?

Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2011 8:37 am
by accordionfan
hasezwei wrote:i don't trust free music. i expect it to be shit, and i'm certain many people think so.
oh yeah???

Re: Free release : Good or bad idea ?

Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2011 10:33 am
by ultraspatial
Darj wrote:Thx @ Legend4ry & Deadly habit for sharing experience :>

The thing is that i'm already spin by djs in France, UK, Holland, Romania and even in New Zealand. Some signed french producer are trying to promote my tunes in their labels. They gave me some people to contact, but still no f***ing answer. I've get a couple features on blogs, and a lot of ppl are talking about my tunes ( check the one on my sig, and it's free to DL :> ). Maybe should I be more patient. I'm a bit stuck tbh. i don't know what to do think.

Anyway, merry xmas everyone. This forum is really helpfull.

PS : i'm a bit drunk, but the freaky thing is that my seems much better.
who played out your tunes in romania?
btw that in the dusk tune is mad :4:

Re: Free release : Good or bad idea ?

Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2011 1:07 am
by sunny_b_uk
wub wrote:Releasing music is not the issue, it's never the issue. Getting your stuff heard is easier than ever IMO.


Releasing GOOD music, however, that's the issue.
thats such a good post, good music just speaks for itself really
if something is that amazing then it will just get passed around no matter what.
its the same with everything, for example fail videos on youtube.
some end up being viral in just a few days of uploading just because of how funny the video was.

Re: Free release : Good or bad idea ?

Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2011 5:36 pm
by Darj
@Ultraspacial : A guy named Tav Acab or something like that.

Anyway, i've received a mail yesterday about giving away a tune for a free compilation. Maybe more news soon ;)

Re: Free release : Good or bad idea ?

Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2011 5:50 pm
by hutyluty
your songs are really good!

Re: Free release : Good or bad idea ?

Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2012 11:00 pm
by Darj
Ok People, got to give news about this.

Re-loading this thread to announce you that i've signed on a track on a free net label. Thanks to the people who answered to this post, and thanks everyone on DSF to give so many tips in production, learned so much lurking on this forum :)

Here's the track ! Out on 20 Fev FOR FREE
Hope you gonna like it ;)

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