How to start your own music label?

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Posted by Jake Benson on Jan-23-2008 21:10:

How to start your own music label?

Okay I admit I am really f'in dumb. I've been looking all over the net and can't find anything that specifies registering a business for music. Some sites show me generally how, but when I go to the www.sos.ca.gov site (to file with the Scretary of State), it lists a MILLION different kind of businesses and I have no idea which to click on regarding to music. I just want a Sole Proprietorship business license so I can file my music under it. I even called the Cali gov't and they said "we can't answer you. Go see a private counsel."

Anyone have experience starting up a music business, esp in the states (Cali would be best) so that I may LEARN from you?

[edit]

As I'm figuring out answers I'll post them here:

WHAT KIND OF BUSINESS/LABEL SHOULD YOU OPEN UP?

THIS LINK distinguishes between different legal kinds of companies as well as different legal structures.

Posted by djsphere on Jan-23-2008 21:13:

no more labels please

Posted by Jake Benson on Jan-23-2008 21:23:

quote:
Originally posted by djsphere
no more labels please

Ok DJ 3-D circle. Let's say I don't start a label. When I try to put my music online they ask for my label. I have none.

Therefore I need to belong to a label to sell my music online. I would rather own my own label so I can make my own decisions and not wait months for other labels to put me up.

Therefore I would like to start my own label. This is really confusing in the state of California because every person you'd think knows the answer keeps telling me to talk to someone else (or with your advice DJ 3-D circle, is absolutely useless). So that's why I asked here because I figured SOMEONE knows how the process works.

Posted by Zak McKracken on Jan-23-2008 21:27:

just do it, get a website and make some tracks then contact audiojelly etc. its easy and alot of fun eventho people somehow hate small labels. i think oposit, the big labels just suck so much so if it wouldnt be for underground labels i wouldnt listen to music. what djs play just suck. msot of it.

Posted by Jake Benson on Jan-23-2008 21:31:

quote:
Originally posted by palm
just do it.

Yeah...how? There are so many different types of "companies" under the state of California that I have no idea which one applies to me. I don't want to spend $100 to register then have some lethargic chick call me from the office 3 years down the road saying I owe this and that because I registered for the wrong license (believe me it's happened before.)

Posted by kopi_luwak on Jan-23-2008 22:17:

quote:
Originally posted by djsphere
no more labels please

Wize words, please, hear the man, he has a point .

Kopi =o.

Posted by Leniu on Jan-24-2008 00:19:

you guys are so helpful and sooo comical...

Posted by StanVoid on Jan-24-2008 01:21:

dj 3-d circle hahahahahahaha

Posted by Mr Rogers on Jan-24-2008 01:22:

quote:
Originally posted by Jake Benson Ok DJ 3-D circle. Let's say I don't start a label. When I try to put my music online they ask for my label. I have none. Therefore I need to belong to a label to sell my music online. I would rather own my own label so I can make my own decisions and not wait months for other labels to put me up. Therefore I would like to start my own label. This is really confusing in the state of California because every person you'd think knows the answer keeps telling me to talk to someone else (or with your advice DJ 3-D circle, is absolutely useless). So that's why I asked here because I figured SOMEONE knows how the process works.
so is what you are saying is that you currently "do not" have any music released as of yet?

Posted by Jake Benson on Jan-24-2008 01:32:

quote:
Originally posted by Mr Rogers
so is what you are saying is that you currently "do not" have any music released as of yet?

No, I have music released on a few different labels. I'm on iTunes as well. Just for music that I produce (not remix) I would like to release on my own. This includes down tempo and new age, stuff that most dance music labels either don't want to pick up or don't know how to market. Also I don't like how most deals I get with labels are pretty low end. I would much rather work hard at production work and have direct contact with distributors and online websites than go through middle men.

Just fyi I'm not some jock-sniffing agro-ego emo thug that decided one day I'm going to be a producer, start my own label, and gather a harem of chicks to bitch slap everyday. I've been playing the piano since I was four, bought my own synth workstation when I was 15, and have been producing music since then. This is my life-long hobby. Hell music is my fuckin wife AND husband. I figured asking for more info on TA would help since web searches yield mediocre results. :/

AND OH MY GOD THIS ROASTED CHICKEN BURRITO FROM FRESH AND EASY IS SO FUCKING GOOD!

jake

Posted by Jake Benson on Jan-24-2008 01:35:

quote:
Originally posted by kopi_luwak
Wize words, please, hear the man, he has a point .

Kopi =o.

And starting my own music label has a detrimental effect on you how? And don't answer with "makes me spell words incorrectly" because that's clearly your problem to begin with.

Posted by Mr.Mystery on Jan-24-2008 02:45:

Re: How to start your own music label?

quote:
Originally posted by Jake Benson
Okay I admit I am really f'in dumb.

This is the reason you shouldn't do it.

Posted by Jake Benson on Jan-24-2008 03:01:

Re: Re: How to start your own music label?

quote:
Originally posted by Mr.Mystery
This is the reason you shouldn't do it.

Or maybe you just shouldn't post period. It makes you look like a vagina.

Posted by Mr.Mystery on Jan-24-2008 03:02:

Re: Re: Re: How to start your own music label?

quote:
Originally posted by Jake Benson
Or maybe you just shouldn't post period. It makes you look like a vagina.

You shouldn't talk about things you've never seen

Posted by Jake Benson on Jan-24-2008 03:04:

Re: Re: Re: Re: How to start your own music label?

quote:
Originally posted by Mr.Mystery
You shouldn't talk about things you've never seen

That's not offensive at all if I'm gay. You're boring. Go post in someone else's thread.

Posted by Mr.Mystery on Jan-24-2008 03:04:

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: How to start your own music label?

quote:
Originally posted by Jake Benson
That's not offensive at all if I'm gay. You're boring. Go post in someone else's thread.

No.

Posted by Jake Benson on Jan-24-2008 03:06:

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: How to start your own music label?

quote:
Originally posted by Mr.Mystery
No.

Your attention is very flattering, but I'm dating someone right now... kinda.

Posted by Mr.Mystery on Jan-24-2008 03:08:

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: How to start your own music label?

quote:
Originally posted by Jake Benson
Your attention is very flattering, but I'm dating someone right now... kinda.

What do you mean kinda? You either are or aren't.

Posted by Jake Benson on Jan-24-2008 03:11:

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: How to start your own music label?

quote:
Originally posted by Mr.Mystery
What do you mean kinda? You either are or aren't.

Well I'm trying to start a label but you keep hitting on me. What's a gurl gotta do to get anywhere in this world? And btw this isn't the c0r forum. So why are your posts so useless?

Kinda means we haven't seen each other in 3 weeks. Ain't that some bullshit?

Posted by Mr.Mystery on Jan-24-2008 03:14:

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: How to start your own music label?

quote:
Originally posted by Jake Benson
And btw this isn't the c0r forum. So why are your posts so useless?

My opinion was honest (and the same as a few other people's) but you had to get your panties in a bunch over it. Either way, I'll just go now since I have some work to do.

Posted by Jake Benson on Jan-24-2008 03:18:

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: How to start your own music label?

quote:
Originally posted by Mr.Mystery
My opinion was honest (and the same as a few other people's) but you had to get your panties in a bunch over it. Either way, I'll just go now since I have some work to do.

Oh god stop crying already. No one cares that you're leaving.

Posted by sterilis on Jan-24-2008 03:32:

if its for releasing all your own stuff go ahead but if its another label to sign artists who make anything with a kick and a hi-hat dont bother theres too many flooding the industry and 95% of the tracks are shit.

Posted by Jake Benson on Jan-24-2008 03:37:

quote:
Originally posted by sterilis
if its for releasing all your own stuff go ahead but if its another label to sign artists who make anything with a kick and a hi-hat dont bother theres too many flooding the industry and 95% of the tracks are shit.

Thanks for the advice, but I'm trying to figure out how to start my own label. I got some advice (on myspace hahahaahah) that if I start my own company I can always change it to LLC, INC, etc. LA has some weird laws here. Turns out I have to apply for a business tax ID on top of everything. f'n A! =/

Fyi ur music on ur myspace sounds like the 5% of tracks I'd listen to.

Posted by sterilis on Jan-24-2008 03:45:

quote:
Originally posted by Jake Benson
Fyi ur music on ur myspace sounds like the 5% of tracks I'd listen to.

thats cause i made them about 14 months ago

Posted by kopi_luwak on Jan-24-2008 03:57:

quote:
Originally posted by Jake Benson
And starting my own music label has a detrimental effect on you how?

On me? Not at all, only for you, and the poor innocents that could sign up with your "Label" of course .

Kopi =o.

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