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Using the Web to replace Record Labels

  • 24-08-2010 12:10AM
    #1
    louloumc89
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 320 ✭✭


    Hey Just wondering if anybody else is using the internet to provide the servies traditionally provided by a label, and if anybody has any other tips about using the internet for bands.

    For example we're using facebook loads, online advert campaigns etc... And the latest is Chipin.com We've raised 45% of the money we need to record ($638 of $1400) in the last few weeks using this website.

    We were very keen to get signed, but really we're able to raise the recording money ourselves, we're able to promo ourselves, we can get our own music videos made for almost nothing. Anybody got any tips for more ways to do the whole DIY thing, or alternatively reasons why DIY is a bad idea as opposed to labels.

    By the way, I'm talking about small national labels as opposed to massive labels which obviously have a lot to offer.


Comments

  • #2
    Waking-Dreams
    Closed Accounts Posts: 506 ✭✭✭Waking-Dreams


    Short answer: the Internet will take you only so far BUT it does depend on what your goals are, and style of music.

    Majors will never be replaced but certainly the indie labels will probably go under as more and more bands decide to bankroll their own ventures and set-up their own record labels -- which in most cases is just a 'Doing Business As' title (to make it look as though the band are legit and not trumpeting their own horn).

    But looking for a small indie label that will, at best, maybe front you a €3,000 - €5,000 advance for your album just isn't a fair trade off given everything you have to grant to them in return IMO. And then some won't even give you anything; you hand them your finished album and they'll take it from there. Obviously a label needs some kind of leverage but to put up a few thousand just isn't much of a fair trade. I do understand they can't really afford to take a bigger risk these days, so the question is...

    ...why are record contracts still horribly outdated, given how much the playing field has changed, and why do some bands want to sign so badly?

    Is it because they can yell, WE'RE SIGNED!?

    I don't know, but I have a feeling that's part of it.

    The label do have an agenda to push your music of course, but the result can only be as good as your music. So if your music is great to begin with, what's holding it back? More promotion? Maybe, but where do people usually find out about new bands? Friends, not magazine or TV ads. Sure, some do but the whole music scene now exists online as well as offline. I mean, if labels are spending advert money online, what does that tell you?

    So remove the label and you're still left with your music, to go viral. If it were me, I'd see how well you can do it alone first (and if anything it will show labels some kind of indication as to your popularity and potential) because they can't predict what will sell.

    Some musicians often say, “10% of a lot is better than 100% of nothing” but this doesn't take into account how poor sales can be with some indie labels. OK, so you might sell a few thousand more records with them but is having your music and artistic freedom tied up in a contract worth it just to earn a few hundred euro in royalties? Because that's what it could be.

    You won't get creative control (that they don't aprove of) with a label either because they have invested in you, so it's a question of...

    ...do you want freedom/your own control or do you want to put your fate in the hands of businessmen (who do love music) that have a corporate responsibility to make profit from you, no matter the cost (to you)?


  • #3
    drumdrum
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 354 ✭✭drumdrum


    I think that you can probably do more with the internet these days that you realise. I agree that Major labels do have a place, but whether their place becomes more of a distribution role is yet to be seen.

    Try to think outside the box, and really be honest with yourself and your music. Id try asking myself a few honest questions such as...

    Is my music "radio-friendly"/commercial?
    There is nothing wrong with it if it isnt, but maybe then you need to think outside Ireland. Irelands niche markets are essentially imported from America and England so maybe you might want to think about promoting abroad. If your song is longer than 3:30 most radio stations will tell you to forget it, especially if you are a new unproven artist. Established artists get more leeway here.

    Is Ireland really the best market for my music? Can I honestly compete?
    Even if your music is radio-friendly, it might not be able to stand up to the competition from imported American/English artists whether that be production wise or musically. Remember, if you are going for Irish radio, you are competing with tracks that were produced in state-of-the-art studios by top engineers. Dont let yourself be intimidated, it can and is done, but your music still needs to be of exceptional quality.

    Is you music honestly and good? Is it what people want to hear?
    This can be a dam tough question to answer properly. There is nothing wrong with being confident in your music and saying yes, but IMO only after you've thought it through. Having a great song, and thinking you have a great song are very different things. People will hear your song and within the first 30 seconds they will decide if they will listen to it all. If they do there is no guarantee that they will like it. The amount of artists I see get told by their close friends and family that they are great when what they need is a good oul boot up the arse is amazing. This then breeds arrogance which blinds the person into not being honest with themselves.
    The best opinion in my view, is that of a stranger. Get a trusted friend to ask strangers at gigs what they honestly thought and get some honest feedback for a change. Im not saying to take everything as the word of God, but if there are general issues such as the singers tuning for example, then this will usually come out.


    As for promoting advice....
    Think smart!! :)
    If you are going to new markets and genres target them first. Dont target an R'n'B online station with a rock song. Podcasters can also be a valuable tool. Target them, send them songs and hope for a bit of luck! Sites such as http://www.musicalley.com/ is where a lot of podcasters get their music from (as its royalty free) and the podcasters will spend time vetting new music and searching for you and artists like you rather than you having to go to them.
    Be generous. Offer your music as a free download from a soundcloud, myspace or a zip file on a server. Word of mouth is the unsigned bands best weapon so if you get one fan who can show your music on his ipod to his friend, then you potentially have two fans. This whole, "but if we give our music away we wont be able to make money" attitude is ridiculous. If you insist on charging potential fans for your music when you arent established, there are plenty of other artists who will offer their music for free and will claim another potential fan.
    I predict that most music will be free anyways by the end of the tennies, so why not get on board early??

    There is tons more I could say on this, but Ive ranted enough!!! :)


  • #4
    mikesmt
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18 ✭mikesmt


    forget labels. if you're a half decent group, by that i mean - professional, tight musically, hard working, good name, good image, good team of people you work with, constantly touring etc the work is half done. a good manager will replace the work labels do these days


  • #5
    louloumc89
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 320 ✭✭louloumc89


    mikesmt wrote: »
    forget labels. if you're a half decent group, by that i mean - professional, tight musically, hard working, good name, good image, good team of people you work with, constantly touring etc the work is half done. a good manager will replace the work labels do these days

    I think I have to agree here. Those are the things I want to be... we already have a good image (if I do say so), we're damn hard working, we have a good name (V.A.G. it stands for Very Angry Girls), we have a good team of people...I think we do need to get tighter, start recording, and then get touring! Every thing else should fall into place then eh!?


  • #6
    mikesmt
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18 ✭mikesmt


    louloumc89 wrote: »
    I think I have to agree here. Those are the things I want to be... we already have a good image (if I do say so), we're damn hard working, we have a good name (V.A.G. it stands for Very Angry Girls), we have a good team of people...I think we do need to get tighter, start recording, and then get touring! Every thing else should fall into place then eh!?

    i like the name, but i imagine people may not take you as seriously as you would like to be taken because of it - i hope you don't take offence to that!

    have you guys lined up a producer/engineer?

    things will fall into place as you go on. just keep working hard :)


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  • #7
    louloumc89
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 320 ✭✭louloumc89


    mikesmt wrote: »
    i like the name, but i imagine people may not take you as seriously as you would like to be taken because of it - i hope you don't take offence to that!

    have you guys lined up a producer/engineer?

    things will fall into place as you go on. just keep working hard :)

    Glad you like the name. Lots of people won't take us seriously to begin with coz we're girls, it's something we've to deal with all the time. But most of those people are idiots.

    We are only together less than a year, and we've played pretty decent venues all over the country so far. Got loads of airplay online, and even on Irish radio like 2fm. We've done tonnes. I'm excited about our second year together. We're recording first proper cd in October, it's a 6 track ep. Haven't lined up the studio, well we have a few ideas, but none for sure. We do have a friend who is sorting out mastering for us though. There's a lot to do really! Sometimes it feels like it would be so much easier to let somebody else do it! But then again you've just got to work at something like this if you really want it don't ya!

    I do understand why bands are keen to sign, it's an expert supposidly isn't it. They know what they're doing, and if you're in a band that's chugging along for five or six years with no rewards then anyone would sign! For now I think we're ok though...although I wouldn't mind taking on a manager!!


  • #8
    mikesmt
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18 ✭mikesmt


    yea you hit the nail on the head there. it's just stress for bands these days though. keep plugging on anyway :) and good luck with it. i play in a few well known limerick bands myself, but i'm in the process of setting up a company with a few media heads from limerick. we'll be basing ourselves around pr/management/media production and a few other bits and pieces! if you ever need a hand with anything give me a shout. would be delighted to help ye out in any way. greatideamedia@gmail.com :)


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