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Tell me about starting your own label
Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2008 8:13 pm
by string
I would seriously like to do this, yet I have no idea whats actually involved, so I have a few questions...
First off, what amount of cash are we talking to put out at a 12" release? What about 3, 4, or 5?
How do you get a distro involved in your label? Are we talking presentations of artwork/music etc?
What about the actual pressing of the tune? how much? who deals with this?
How do you sign a tune via an artist? What sort of money are we talking to do this?
Much appreciated for any replys, be good to know whats involved and yeah I know theres no money to be made out of this, would be do something productive with life
Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2008 8:24 pm
by sines
Get to talking to label heads,distros and they can pretty much answer alot of these questions.
Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2008 8:53 pm
by sines
lol.
I wasnt being a dick about it.

Re: Tell me about starting your own label
Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2008 8:57 pm
by sines
String wrote:
First off, what amount of cash are we talking to put out at a 12" release? What about 3, 4, or 5?-Depends on what kind of deal you get with the distro..if you are stateside a P&D deal would best suit you.
How do you get a distro involved in your label? Are we talking presentations of artwork/music etc?Basically a general idea of what you want to put out and a plan to do so.
What about the actual pressing of the tune? how much? who deals with this?Usually the distro handles this.
How do you sign a tune via an artist? What sort of money are we talking to do this? You come up with what you want. Its your label so you basically make the ins and outs of your label. Write up a contract and come up with a suitable amount for both parties.
Much appreciated for any replys, be good to know whats involved and yeah I know theres no money to be made out of this, would be do something productive with life
here ya go.
Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2008 8:59 pm
by betamorph recordings
Sines wrote:Get to talking to label heads,distros and they can pretty much answer alot of these questions.
I second that. Well said. Short and sweet. That's a lot of questions to answer. I'd be more than happy to talk to you about what I know....hit me up on aim bruv

Re: Tell me about starting your own label
Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2008 9:14 pm
by betamorph recordings
Sines wrote:String wrote:
First off, what amount of cash are we talking to put out at a 12" release? What about 3, 4, or 5?-Depends on what kind of deal you get with the distro..if you are stateside a P&D deal would best suit you.
How do you get a distro involved in your label? Are we talking presentations of artwork/music etc?Basically a general idea of what you want to put out and a plan to do so.
What about the actual pressing of the tune? how much? who deals with this?Usually the distro handles this.
How do you sign a tune via an artist? What sort of money are we talking to do this? You come up with what you want. Its your label so you basically make the ins and outs of your label. Write up a contract and come up with a suitable amount for both parties.
Much appreciated for any replys, be good to know whats involved and yeah I know theres no money to be made out of this, would be do something productive with life
here ya go.
That was nice of you

Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2008 9:52 pm
by ramadanman
First off, what amount of cash are we talking to put out at a 12" release? What about 3, 4, or 5?
If you're paying for it yourself - you're roughly looking at about 800 pounds to press up 500 records. You could do it cheaper, ie around 500 pounds, but you do get what you pay for to a certain extent. If you press up 1000 it will be cheaper per unit. Most of the costs involved are set up costs. It could be a lot more expensive than 800 though - for example, using an expensive mastering house, having coloured vinyl, individually stamped etc etc
What about the actual pressing of the tune? how much? who deals with this?
You can go to a mastering house, master your tunes, and then take the master lacquers to a pressing plant yourself. But for example Transition will sort pressing out for you - it is easier this way, pressing plants aren't generally interested in dealing with the general public. An alternative option would be to have a P&D (pressing and distribution) deal with your distributor. This means that they press your records as well as distribute them - ie they pay for the manufacturing etc, and deal with a lot of the business aspect.
In terms of getting a distro interested, try giving them a phonecall to explain you'd like to start a label etc and take it from there. Normally a letter explaining your idea, as well as a CD with the music you want to put out.
Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 10:35 am
by string
cheers ranadanman, and sines (i guess

)
ill hit u up at some point Betamorph, just got AIM especially!
Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 6:04 pm
by betamorph recordings
String wrote:cheers ranadanman, and sines (i guess

)
ill hit u up at some point Betamorph, just got AIM especially!
Nice one mate....I'll be waitin

Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 7:02 pm
by __________
be prepared to HASSLE people a LOT.
i've started a little digi label (hopefully physical eventually) and found some killer tunes from local boys, but in my experience, producers are really really slack. they'll forget, misunderstand, ignore or rise above what you have to say; and i've got a feeling that our LP is going to drop a few months late because of this.
you might find it easier if you're signing producers that don't smoke weed though.
Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 7:11 pm
by -dubson-
a digital label i guess is alot cheaper than vinyl, how much does it cost to put out a digital release

Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 8:02 pm
by __________
digital is cheaper.
you'll obviously need to pay for the mastering of the release, and depending on where you're selling your tunes online you may have to pay a sign-up fee, or membership fees for online distribution sites.
then there's promotion. how long is a piece of string?
Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 8:22 pm
by little boh peep
£10 Bag wrote:but in my experience, producers are really really slack. they'll forget, misunderstand, ignore or rise above what you have to say; and i've got a feeling that our LP is going to drop a few months late because of this.
You can't want someone to succeed more than they themselves want to succeed.
Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 8:42 pm
by eshscramble
£10 Bag wrote:be prepared to HASSLE people a LOT.
i've started a little digi label (hopefully physical eventually) and found some killer tunes from local boys, but in my experience, producers are really really slack. they'll forget, misunderstand, ignore or rise above what you have to say; and i've got a feeling that our LP is going to drop a few months late because of this.
you might find it easier if you're signing producers that don't smoke weed though.
you need to hit me up then man, i'll sort shit out faster than you can email - got some wicked tunes hiding atm...

Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 9:41 pm
by __________
You can't want someone to succeed more than they themselves want to succeed.
great point, but a lot of people (like me) need a big kick up the arse to get anything together.
i thought setting up a night & label would be way too much for me to handle and i wouldn't succeed at it.
its mainly thanks to my mates and people that i respect who've motivated, encouraged and complimented me that i got off my arse and put on a successful event...hopefully one of many!
Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 9:52 pm
by dubstepz
£10 Bag wrote:
you might find it easier if you're signing producers that don't smoke weed though.
lol
Do they exist

Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 9:57 pm
by dubstep_warrior
dubstepz wrote:£10 Bag wrote:
you might find it easier if you're signing producers that don't smoke weed though.
lol
Do they exist

haha everyonedoesit.com
Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 10:02 pm
by dusk governor
dubstepz wrote:£10 Bag wrote:
you might find it easier if you're signing producers that don't smoke weed though.
lol
Do they exist

without weed the tunes will surely suck..
Re: Tell me about starting your own label
Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 10:18 pm
by dubstepz
Ok.. on a level you will need to have cash.
As a digital only label without bare funds for promotion you have nothing to offer producers that they can't do themselves.. if they can be fucked but the ones that
can be fucked are the only ones worth working with normally.
Vinyl is a cost. I would press a dubplate first and take it around some vinyl shops and see if they are happy to sell it for you, fuck going through distro's if your starting out + they will prob be happy to tell you what they think before you sink to much cash in it.
If you find a digital only distributor they normally charge a small fee and percentage of your sales. This will vary. You can so direct to digital-tunes.com but to get on itunes, beatport, amazon, napster etc you will need a digital distro.
Here is a list
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/help/custome ... i=77197031
My mate who run's an electro label is using these guy's... not sure how good they are though
http://www.abluentmedia.com/index.html
You will need to register with the ppl (free)
Info and app here
http://www.ppluk.com/en/Record-Companie ... payments1/
Then you basically have a ''label'' (minus the contract's which you can get online, music, website, DJ's on AIM, fanbase etc etc)
But it is all about finding the right music and I think you may find it hard as more producers figure out how to sell their own shit, if you don't have bare funds and contacts to promote it.
Dubstepz