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Indie By ChoiceHow To Get A Record Contract
There was a time when the idea of releasing your own record was for
rich or crazy people (or both!). Times have changed A LOT since then
but depending on your goals there are still many valid reasons to seek
a record contract.
The other very important thing to bear in mind is that the nature of the music business hasn't just changed at the Independent end, the major labels look at things very differently these days as well.
With the shrinking nature of the global music industry over the last few years, the majors now have a far more pessimistic outlook when it come to signing and promoting new acts.
In this depressed commercial climate, the emphasis for the average A+R representative is not about signing the next revolutionary act (it probably never was but it has gotten a lot worse).
They all want to sign acts that are almost guaranteed to sell a lot of records. It doesn't really matter if the music is any good or not because all they are concerned with is how to avoid losing their job!
So, in light of the this information, what acts are they signing?
Well, there will always be good music that will somehow manage to wriggle through the traps and find it's way into the light of day but I will deal with the 99% and not the few exceptions that prove the rule. Right then, there are others but the two quickest ways to get a recording contract are:
1. Win a television talent show (like American Idol)
2. Go Indie first and prove you can sell records on your own!
I know that sounds like a fairly cynical point of view and it is not meant to be but I am just trying to illustrate the best way to go about things. Every year a very small number of very musical artists make it beyond local acclaim and onto the International scene but the trouble is that when you look at the percentages the numbers are really against that kind of success.
The other thing is if you look closer at the acts that seem to have beaten the odds, you will find that most of them did some version of what I am suggesting.
Ok, the idea of winning American Idol or something like it is not realistic so let's concentrate on idea number two.
We'll start by looking at from the point of view of the A+R representative, his primary goal is to keep his job. How does he do that? Easy, sign acts that sell lots of records. How does he know which acts to sign? Aha! That's where it gets tricky. He gets recommendations from contacts, he listens to CDs, he goes to showcase gigs and there are several bands and solo acts he likes. Problem is, he's a bit nervy these days so he doesn't know what to do. Then he hears another band he likes the sound of and signs wants to sign a deal straight away. The band is not so keen and hold out for a better deal. The band eventually sign after getting a better deal.
Why did he want this band so badly compared to the other bands that he liked?
The answer is simple. This band had sold thousands of Cds on their own. One question pounds over and over in the A+R rep's head. If that band can do that with no marketing budget then how many units could they sell with the full weight of a label behind them?
As far as he is concerned they are a tested entity that works! The band will do well, he will keep his job and they will always live happily ever after.
The moral of the story? Sell CDs (lots of them) independently first and if you still want to go down the road of getting a deal with a major you will find it A LOT easier to generate interest!
.
The other very important thing to bear in mind is that the nature of the music business hasn't just changed at the Independent end, the major labels look at things very differently these days as well.
With the shrinking nature of the global music industry over the last few years, the majors now have a far more pessimistic outlook when it come to signing and promoting new acts.
In this depressed commercial climate, the emphasis for the average A+R representative is not about signing the next revolutionary act (it probably never was but it has gotten a lot worse).
They all want to sign acts that are almost guaranteed to sell a lot of records. It doesn't really matter if the music is any good or not because all they are concerned with is how to avoid losing their job!
So, in light of the this information, what acts are they signing?
Well, there will always be good music that will somehow manage to wriggle through the traps and find it's way into the light of day but I will deal with the 99% and not the few exceptions that prove the rule. Right then, there are others but the two quickest ways to get a recording contract are:
1. Win a television talent show (like American Idol)
2. Go Indie first and prove you can sell records on your own!
I know that sounds like a fairly cynical point of view and it is not meant to be but I am just trying to illustrate the best way to go about things. Every year a very small number of very musical artists make it beyond local acclaim and onto the International scene but the trouble is that when you look at the percentages the numbers are really against that kind of success.
The other thing is if you look closer at the acts that seem to have beaten the odds, you will find that most of them did some version of what I am suggesting.
Ok, the idea of winning American Idol or something like it is not realistic so let's concentrate on idea number two.
We'll start by looking at from the point of view of the A+R representative, his primary goal is to keep his job. How does he do that? Easy, sign acts that sell lots of records. How does he know which acts to sign? Aha! That's where it gets tricky. He gets recommendations from contacts, he listens to CDs, he goes to showcase gigs and there are several bands and solo acts he likes. Problem is, he's a bit nervy these days so he doesn't know what to do. Then he hears another band he likes the sound of and signs wants to sign a deal straight away. The band is not so keen and hold out for a better deal. The band eventually sign after getting a better deal.
Why did he want this band so badly compared to the other bands that he liked?
The answer is simple. This band had sold thousands of Cds on their own. One question pounds over and over in the A+R rep's head. If that band can do that with no marketing budget then how many units could they sell with the full weight of a label behind them?
As far as he is concerned they are a tested entity that works! The band will do well, he will keep his job and they will always live happily ever after.
The moral of the story? Sell CDs (lots of them) independently first and if you still want to go down the road of getting a deal with a major you will find it A LOT easier to generate interest!
.