Tag: Getting signed

Categories
Artist Advice Editorials Industry News News

Who Really NEEDS A Record Label in 2021? [VIDEO]

Record Label Deals

Getting an offer from a record label was once the dream of every musician, but today’s artists recognize other ways to get ahead.

The music industry is in a constant state of evolution. That has always been true, but technology has hastened the speed of change. Marketing today looks nothing like it did a decade ago, which itself felt far removed from the marketing efforts of the late 1990s. That is one of the countless examples of how the industry is evolving, and change won’t be stopping anytime soon.

Record labels were once the height of an artist’s aspirations. “If only I can get the attention of a label,” many musicians thought, “then the world will notice me.”

But time has taught us that isn’t true. There are many musicians with record deals who face the same fate as those without. These artists may get the resources that labels offer, but no amount of money or corporate planning can guarantee success.

The truth is that the consumer always dictates who is and is not successful. Major label money can do a lot, but so can a teenager with 4-million TikTok followers who love to watch them dance.

That brings us to a question that seems to come up every year: Do you need a record label? After all, is the debt artists accept for a shot at success worth the risk of nobody listening to their creative output? Is trusting yourself and your team the smarter and more fiscally responsible path?

In the latest Music Biz video, host James Shotwell investigates the necessity of record labels in 2021. He shares the questions every artist should ask before entertaining any recording contract offers and warns of the drawbacks to staying independent. He even shares an example of one musician who ignored major label money and had a better career as a result.

Music Biz is brought to you by Haulix, the music industry’s leading promotional distribution platform. Start your one-month free trial today and gain instant access to the same promotional tools used by BMG, Concord, Rise Records, Pure Noise Records, and hundreds more. Visit http://haulix.com/signup for details.

Categories
News

How To Reach A&R And Get Signed In 2020

The latest episode of Music Biz answers a timeless question: How do I get the attention of the music industry and make my dreams a reality?

AC/DC has a lot of songs with honest messages. Some of those sentiments may be a little lewd, such as “You Shook Me All Night Long,” but the takeaway is not up for debate. She was the best damn woman that he’d ever seen.

No song in all of music history has a more accurate depiction of life in the entertainment business than AC/DC’s “It’s A Long Way To The Top.” The 1975 single tells listeners that the only way to get ahead in rock is to put in the work. Success does not come to those who wish for it, but rather those that wake up every day and fight for it. There is no other way ahead. At least, no way that truly matters.

Still, every week, industry professionals everywhere are asked how an artist gets ahead. Everyone wants to know who they need to call or email to get a deal, and once if they learn of someone in a position to make such an offer, they then want their contact information.

That idea comes from a traditional vision of the music business that no longer exists. A&R professionals are no longer a group of mysteries strangers hiding away in the back of rock clubs seeking the next band that will go platinum. Today’s A&R careers are data-driven efforts that rely on social media follower counts and various music charts to prove an artist’s value.

The notion that anyone in a position of power is taking a chance on someone who has yet to prove their ability to make people click on stuff is foolish. It’s silly to imagine a high-ranking music professional rolling the metaphorical dice because a band played one great set when analytics exist. The talent that getts signed today achieves that feat by positioning themselves for success before the industry gives them the slightlest consideration. It’s all about forward momentum, and that generating that movement is the job of the artist.

On this episode of Music Biz, host James Shotwell breaks down the secret to getting noticed in music today. It’s not about cold-calling professionals or shooting emails into inboxes where they will never be read. Success today is only possible through one thing, and James is going to tell you what that is in the video below:

Categories
Haulix Industry News News

How To Get A Record Deal in 2019 [VIDEO]

With the music industry changing faster than ever, record labels are being more particular about the artists they offer deals.

Last week, the Haulix team traveled to Los Angeles for a series of meetings with some of our favorite labels and industry professionals. We met with Hopeless Records, Pure Noise Records, Metal Blade Records, Prosthetic Records, and more. We covered a number of topics related to the music business, but there was one question we asked everyone:

What does it take to get a record deal in 2019?

We expected different answers from different labels, as they each have a specific niche of music they cater to, but the responses were mostly universal. Everyone agrees that you need talent above all else, but they believe talent alone is not enough. In the age of the internet, writing good songs and getting people to listen to them is the bare minimum an artist should be able to accomplish on their own. That kind of work ethic will start to create a conversation around your music, but again, that alone is not enough to get signed.

So, what does it take?

The music business is changing, and so is the type of artists who get signed. Labels are no longer able to take risks on everyone who creates a viral hit or knows how to write catchy songs. To stand out from the competition today, musicians need more than talent. Much more, in fact, and in this episode of Music Biz 101, host James Shotwell reveals what the biggest labels in music are looking for in the musicians they sign.


Exit mobile version