It seems like I've seen fewer and fewer discussions about submitting songs to labels in the last few years. They used to be commonplace on TA and every other production forum, but now I rarely see anybody talking about submitting tracks to labels, or labels looking for new talent, etc. Are you guys still submitting and signing tracks to labels, taking a DIY approach, or something else?

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Yes.

I sent a demo off to 2 labels just in the past week in a half. My only reason for sending demos is to get something signed to a label people have heard for marketing purposes. Known labels can get promo's to most of the big DJs which translates to building a following.

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Sure. There are always labels looking for new and existing talent, so I don't see why not. As long as you're trying your best and think it might be release-worty, why not? With so many net labels in existence, it's possible to release virtually anything these days, but if you've made something decent that's received decent feedback, why not send it out to labels you like?

A few times I simply shared my Soundcloud page with a few labels/people and got some tracks released. Sometimes labels also prefer to release tracks you didn't care much for, while overlooking your personal favorites.

I had good luck with my first release but nobody else wanted to give me money after that so I got tired of trying to whore myself out. I'm only interested in signing to a label unless there's an advance or vinyl pressing, neither of which are likely unless I spend a fuck-load of time and energy building a brand around music i don't really give a shit about anymore



EDIT: I agree with what looney used to say about the days of sending out demos being over.

quote:

Originally posted by meriter I'm only interested in signing to a label unless there's an advance or vinyl pressing...

Pretty much. If you're making Trance or ambient/experimental, there are hardly any vinyls being put out in this genre nowadays, so you should try to actually send to known net labels where you can hopefully get some publicity or profit from it.

If you're making Techno or stuff that's still regularly being released on wax, then you should probly try and save it for that or, again, maybe a respected net label if you're looking for publicity, etc. But sending something that you've put a great deal of effort in - and something that received good feedback - to some obscure net label just for the sake of a release might not be the best idea, especially if you're trying to get recognized, etc. Most net labels seem to remain in oblivion, it seems.

Sort of, I usually get approached for originals / remixes these days. I dont really have time for either anymore though.

So, maybe I'm just seeing a trend where guys like many of us who have been signed already know the ropes, so there's not much to discuss??? But, doesn't it seem like there are fewer people talking about submitting their tracks to labels, getting signed, living the dream, etc., particularly amongst the newer producers? Maybe it's just me.

quote:

Originally posted by meriter I had good luck with my first release but nobody else wanted to give me money after that so I got tired of trying to whore myself out.

I can somewhat relate to that. I've never been one to submit many songs and most of my signings have come about by the label approaching me. That's mostly because I'm a combination of lazy, impatient, somewhat untrusting of labels, old, and quite happy with my non-music career. I've had more than a few labels sign my track and do little more than put it on iTunes and a post or two on their Facebook page. It's like, shit, I could've done that. If they aren't going to get the track in the hands of some known DJs, as Trancelover03591 mentioned, then what's the point?! But, I digress.

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Better question is, what do you want for yourself in terms of releasing and your musical career. Ofcoure there is still opportunity.

quote:

Originally posted by MSZ Sort of, I usually get approached for originals / remixes these days. I dont really have time for either anymore though.

Not really, it is very easy to get confuse with so many of them on the market looking for some talent (at least some good idea) so they can release it.

In my case I would just push my work to my local Radio Station and if is likable (on the air) then good things will/start happening.

Darek

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Last edited by TranceLover007 on Dec-10-2014 at 05:11

quote:

Originally posted by MSZ Better question is, what do you want for yourself in terms of releasing and your musical career. Ofcoure there is still opportunity.

Good question. For me personally, getting my music signed is a low priority since it's just something I do for fun in my spare time. On the other hand, I'm working with one singer on an album right now and it would be nice to sell enough copies to at least break even. But, we're primarily doing this for the sake of personal achievement and neither of us is looking for or expecting to make a career change. I've spent enough of my life in the music industry already and I much prefer my cushy non-music day job.

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Nope, not yet.

Anyone here start their own label and have any insight into distribution? There's a great interview with Rob Garza from thievery corporation where he talks about landing a distribution deal where they made a fuckload of money (like hundreds of thousands) from their first album but that was back in the 90's when people still bought music

Last edited by meriter on Dec-10-2014 at 01:54