How to get signed to a label

I don’t know how many times I will write about this. I feel like a parrot, but since I still encounter the problem so frequently, I can write about it again.

No, your goal should not be to be signed by record label. Unfortunately, I meet so many bands that their sole goal is that they want to get signed by record label. The problem today is that record labels really don’t invest in new artists. They don’t have to. With the new tools, they can follow you and when it hit off, they just go for it. The major complaint I get from record labels is that it’s more expensive to sign artists today since they are further in their careers.

Another thing that has become a reality is that labels more just want to build a catalogue. If you have a large catalog even if a song just draws one dollar a year if you have a million songs with one dollar it is still making a million dollars. This is the reason why the headline last week was that they majors actually get a one million dollar each hour out of streaming. My guess is that 95% of that is back catalog that they have bought in. Not many of the new things they they had developed are part of that number. And you have to think that Taylor Swift is actually a DIY artist and not counting.

The backside of that, of course, is that they don’t want to invest. And they don’t need to. Either they own a studio and make you record there. Really not much cost for them. Or they just put that cost over on your side and force you to come with a ready product. And the cost of recording nowadays can be very low.  And since the song really doesn’t matter if they go that high with the song, they really don’t spend money on marketing either until the song starts to move. More or less they threw it against the wall and see if it sticks. Many of the new contracts I have seen is the artist is signed for giving out 10 to 20 singles in one year. It’s impossible to do proper marketing on a project like that. The singles will interrupt each other. This is a good sign that the label just hunts catalog and will try the stick to the wall tactic. Most of the time if it sticks it’s actually work done by the artist or their management. That is free labor for them.

Yes, management is the new risktaker. Here you find people believe in the artist and their music. Their job is to build it up. The problem right now is when you build it so far that the labels come around, you already have built up a venture that is generating money so split that income with a label that mainly wants to build catalog is not that lucrative. Lately, we have seen many of the bigger new stars just saying no to the label at this point. Also, the managers have become more aware that if they put these things over to the label the whole enterprise might just fade away because it’s built upon the management contacts, not the labels contacts.

The problem is that just this week I had over five conversations with mangers that getting crazy about artist nagging that they should be signed. It’s like the artist thinks that the signing makes things magically happening. I usually just say, they get signed with my label if it’s just the name and paper. Then it crawls out that they want to be signed to a major label that invests in them. That is just like believing in Santa Claus. Since all your numbers are out there, there is a good reason why the major hasn’t knocked on your door. The hard-cold fact is that you are not ready yet and haven’t done the homework. Now it’s more the label finds you; you don’t find the label. Especially not a deal where it says they going to spend money on you, then you really must have a good steady cash flow. In fact, if a label really wanted to invest it’s much safer to build a boyband that they control everything. But in the same way why should they? It’s a lot of work and risk and with the tools of today, they don’t need it.

Right now, many labels go for older artists that had hits twenty years ago. Why? Because it’s safe. Their songs will be streamed somewhat because they are a name. And it builds the catalog. An upcoming artist with mediocre numbers, they can easily see is just a cost.

My guess the main reason why the artist is nagging around it is that they are tried to take the cost for their own career. Yes, today it takes a longer time and you must have the stamina. Don’t waste your budget on one nice video. It’s better to do ten low budget ones. Yes, it’s not that flashy but you know what if you just in for the flashy and be famous you have an easier job to be a Youtuber. The ones that will make it are the ones that keep pushing their thing and just finds the money. The 80:s will not be back when the labels signed mediocre artists for tax cuts. You need to be in this business because you want to work with music and entertain people.

Do you really want to get signed?

8) The Goal Is Not To Get Signed The Goal Is To Make a Living Doing What You Love

“How do you get a record deal? Don’t try to get signed. Try to become popular first.” – Avery Lipman, President of Universal Republic Records

You know how cool it is to say you just signed a record deal with Warner records is? Kinda cool. But that coolness wears off very quickly. You know what is less cool? Three years down the line still signed to Warner with only one song released to your name and no tours, no growth and no money to speak of. But hey, you’re signed to Warner! Sometimes record deals can help tremendously. Sometimes they can hurt. Sometimes they’re right for an artist. Sometimes they’re not.

If your goal is to get signed, then you’re going to miss. If after building your career on your own to a level where labels are begging to work with you, then, and only then, should you decide if it’s the best move for you.

The red part is from an article in Digital music news, here is a link to the whole article.


https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2017/07/27/millennial-musicians/

This I think is the biggest mistake that artist is doing. I meet so many that only work only to get signed. The rest of audience songs and other shit should just come automatically after you signed that paper. The worst cases also only go for the majors, a major deal is an ultimate goal.

Today that is no option. In the 80:s and 90:s sometimes it was, but now that window is totally gone. Today the device is we find you you don't find us. You have to build up a presence so the companies start to look at you.

I have worked on that theme for the past 15 years. I develop my artists so there is a platform where the labels are interested to step in and work WITH us. Yes, the labels are more like an extra engine for all the things we do. A label is a really hard time to just take an artist and build it up to be a star. It takes to a long time and is too risky so these projects are so rare.

The things people believe is that the labels are doing the job Musichelp is doing. You can't be more wrong. The labels have not a chance to be close to all the things that an artist development company can throw in. That is why they have started to rely on us as new artist providers. Also, the artist developers work in all fields the record labels only try to present the music to listeners.

Yes, you have to be built on all levels not just on a level. We are back to the team, you need the right team.

Another problem we have is that the artist that hunt record labels doesn't get what they are doing and why they are doing it. A good example was a guy that I had on the development side. Every time it became slow the solution was to get a record label. If a single wasn't played on the radio the fault was that it was not a record label behind it. Sure we were looking for a label that could join our team. The problem was that the band wasn't doing shows enough and was horrible to pick up fans and social media was an unknown word for them. In the end, the lines were right and I found a bigger indie that could do some really good things.

Here started the downfall. The band really thought that the label would do the work so they literally put their fat asses on the sofa doing nothing. The label became frustrated before at least some things happened now nothing happens. Also, the label wanted them to produce tracks that fitted the PR. The band had their deal so they thought they could do a strange album that was totally insane. We left the ship, and later I heard the label left them and the band split up.

I have hundreds of stories where bands writers on facebook in the big capital letters that they are signed. And I just think to my self
- Poor bastards, what should they do with a label in that stage.

and in 99% of the cases, nothing happens with the band. Then years later when you meet them you think they have learned their lesson. No hell no then they think it was something wrong on that label and are hunting another label that will do the same to them.

And in the most cases is that the band is doing noth9ing waiting for the label, and the label is waiting for the artist.

I usually say the hard work starts when you sign with a label. In the end, you don't need a label you need a team and do the things that are needed to be done.