There was a time not that long ago when the vast majority of musicians believed the only way to get anywhere in the entertainment business was with the help of a record label. This was before the digital age we live in now, of course, back when record labels were viewed as gatekeepers to the world at large because, frankly, they were. Their influence meant everything in relation to a band’s potential for international exposure, and their distribution deals were every artist’s ticket to substantial album sales. That isn’t the case today, or at least it doesn’t always appear that way, and in the latest episode of Metal Injection’s On The Record video series a group of industry professionals finally sit down to debate whether artists today should seek a record deal or focus instead on being the best DIY band in the world.
Sometime I think life was better in the day before it took less than 10 minutes for someone to record a sound, upload it to the internet, and then share that recently created material with everyone in their various social media circles. As a label owner, as well as seasoned music writer who cut his teeth during the rise of social media I have seen the abundance of bands and labels vying for attention increase tenfold over the last few years. There are so many labels operating in equally numerous ways that the question of whether or not to sign is never as easy or obvious as it might have been twenty or thirty years ago. At the same time, I have witnessed many great bands choose a DIY approach over working with a label only to see their career peak at a point of influence and attention far below what everyone believed they were capable of achieving.
The reason I say all this is because the video below actually finds a way to cut through the noise and create an easy-to-follow narrative that shines a lot of light on the realities of DIY culture, record label culture, album sales, distribution, and fan engagement in the 21st century. It also features a ton of people who rely on or engage with Haulix on a regular basis, which admittedly makes us pretty happy.
Whether you’re an artist wondering what course to follow with your own career or you’re an aspiring industry professional dreaming of starting your own label, this video should not be missed.
