With over 20 years of experience in the music business as an A&R, manager, and publisher, I can tell you one thing for certain.... there are no rules, there is no handbook. Especially in the digital era, the landscape of the music business has changed more dramatically and faster then ever before. The one constant is that it ultimately always comes down to the relationship between the artists and the fans. If there is no demand for the music, it can not survive.
So you want a record deal? Well, maybe one day you'll get one, but a 'record deal' does not mean what it used to. The ball is in your court even more so now as an artist who is trying to break through the clutter. The means of production have become so inexpensive, that most artist are now capable of recording their own music, building their own websites, and even shooting their own music videos. Platforms like Pledgemusic and Kickstarter are even making it possible for them to fund their own tours, or put together a marketing and promotional budget.
In years past, this is what you went to a record label for. Now, a label expects you have taken these steps before they'd even consider offering you a deal. Record labels can be great strategic partner for mass market impact, utilizing key relationships with radio and TV outlets, but the heavy lifting now falls on the artist and their management team. So first, you've gotta become your own record label.
Below is the simplest breakdown of how to get started on 'getting a record deal' (or whatever that means in today's world). I hope this inspires some of you to get started, and if so, please drop me a line in the contact section. A big part of what has drive me in music over the past 20 years is giving people the inspiration and confident to create. I hope you picked up a little bit of that here today. Good luck!
Create.
With the emergence of the ADD internet culture, it is so important to relase music, video, and additional content frequently and consistently. That being said, don't sacrifice the quality of your content just to get something out there! It's a delicate balance that you will have to learn over time, but never forget, quality trumps quantity!
Market Yourself
Whether it's networking, publicity, advertising, it's important that you're constantly growing. Get out there and go to shows; meet people in the inudstry. It's so important to be out there in the mix, reaching out to press contacts and developing relationships, and when you can, spending the right advertising money to promote your upcoming shows and releases. Although music is an art, it's still a business and should be marketed the same way!
Build an audience!
My success as an independent manager was based entirely off of the relationship with my artists and their fans. I grew several artists to the top of the social media charts, strictly by focusing on that relationship. Develop your social media channels, listen to your fans, and give them what they want!
Have fun
This is a tough business. It can be so frustrating, and downright exhausting. It's important to surround yourself with great people, and always remember to enjoy yourself. It's a longhaul and it's so difficult to stay motivated if you're not in it for the right reasons. Enjoy yourself and don't forget to appreciate even the smallest of victories along the way.
