i have written songs whats the best way to market them or approach a record label?

Answer 1

I was a professional musician for 4 years, and I can tell you that getting a label's attention is not the path to fame, fortune, and success in music. There are millions of bands and artists out there trying to get discovered, and to a label you are just one more. The sad fact is, the most talented folks aren't always the ones who get discovered. The faster the path to success in music, the more fleeting the moment will be. Understand that labels don't exist to help you or make you money, they exist to make money for themselves. Everything else is just baggage.

That being said, here is my advice if you really want to pursue music. First, understand that many successful acts struggle for 7 years or more before they are "discovered" by a label, so be patient, this kind of stuff rarely happens overnight. Second, play out as much as possible. The best way to get attention from a label, even a small one (do your research and know who you are talking to when you are approached by labels), is to show success in a smaller market on your own. With Soundtrack technology, the industry can track even regionally sold albums and independently produced work. Find a reasonably-priced and well equipped recording studio. You should expect to spend about $8-10,000 dollars for a well-done, properly produced and mastered EP of 6 to 8 songs. Get it reproduced by a respectable company (our local producer was Crystal Clear Records in Dallas), and talk to local music retail stores about selling it. CD Warehouse and other smaller-type stores are good avenues.

Third, get yourself out in the local music scene and spend the time playing live shows, developing a following, definitely sell your CDs/t-shirts/etc. at your shows, network with other local acts (especially the more successful ones. Get in with established local bands, open for them when you can, and expose your music to their following. When you are a presence in the local scene, local labels will start looking at you. Be very careful about what you sign with local labels, many will try to pin you down to a 3-album or more record deal that will hold your musical future in permanent local-band status.

This process takes years, that's why so many acts spend so much time in the business before getting "discovered." If you believe in your music, and you think there is a market for it, go for it. Remeber, be patient, work hard, don't get caught up in the trappings of local success, avoid the drugs and hard-core alcohol consumption that plagues successful local bands (and keeps them local), do your research/homework, and remember who you are. Don't sell your soul for a minute of success. That minute will end, and all you will have nothing to show for it.

Another key point ... we made more money selling our own CDs than any label was willing to pay us. You get 100% of you CD sales when you sell your independently-produced work. You might get $0.65 per CD when they are sold through a label. Like I said, do your homework, don't get suckered into the kind of bad deals that so many other acts have found themselves at the bottom of.

Finally, set a timeline for yourself and have a fallback plan. You'll hear some artists say that if you go to college or some occupational training that you have weak commitment or you don't believe in your music. That's crap. The truth is, fewer than 0.5% of all artists ever even get a grazing of success in this business. To think you are different is naive. The people who tell you otherwise are doing you a disservice. I am now married, with three kids, and a successful career as a military officer (thanks to my college education). Music was fun while it lasted, and paid for my bachelors degree. All I am saying is, have a plan. Know when to call it a day and move on to your adult life, it won't be fun to be a 35-year old musician still trying to make it in a scene full of 22-year olds. I've seen too many of those folks to count, and it's sad. Go into this with strong sense of self and direction for where you want it to go, and be realistic. If you achieve more than you set out for, that's great, but be realistic about the industry you are pursuing.

Answer 2

Hey, sorry, however im no longer gunna reply your query, due to the fact that you did not reply mine. Go again to while I requested if any person would record all of Justin Biebers interviews. Now, you'll be able to recognise what im speakme approximately. And have you learnt what I suppose isn't reasonable? That you maintain hating on a child that didn't do ANYTHING to you. No, no im no longer seeking to steer my lifestyles so it would be like his, I truthfully laughed while I learn that. Im INTERESTED within the man, thats all. No ought to make all of it difficult so that you can faux your the neatest individual on the earth. Yes, I do desire to emerge as an actor, due to the fact that I have a PASSION for it, like im certain you have got a ardour in your band. I simply desired to peer whats it is like, to be interviewed, and what Justin Bieber is like effortlessly due to the fact that im concerned about him. And you without doubt haven't any proper to begin pronouncing that he makes use of stuff to make his voice larger, all he has to do is appear well. Guess what? He has a REAL voice. If you have not spotted, he has over 15 million fans on twitter, everyone that love him and feel in him, due to the fact that he adopted his dream, and has a GREAT voice. Would he be popular if it was once just a few vehicle tuned crap? Well, it is not. Give the man RESPECT. He broke his leg on level and carried on by way of the complete tune. Have you EVER even listened to wish? God is aware of he merits recognize, and right here you're, most of the time jealous of him, so that you desire to take out whatever on him? Now THAT'S no longer reasonable. Oh, and well good fortune together with your band.

Answer 3

Myspace is becoming a great marketing medium for bands at the moment who want to get their stuff heard. The site is totally free and you get to upload four of your songs. It's also a good networking tool. I'd try there also

Good Luck
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Answer 4

move to nashville, may of the artists there are talentless frauds with nothing but the look so in order to keep feeding the masses they must rely on talented creative people like yourself to feed the sheep good luck

Answer 5

Go Indie - do it yourself, record companies are all rip off jews