Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

 i am looking to start a record label. does any one know of any good informational web sites that i can refer too or where i can get help on how too start?

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J Herman

One day i really hope to have my own record label, With a few bands signed. The only problem is i have no idea where to begin, and not much to start with. Any advice? Even a shove in the right direction would be helpful.

I`d suggest you start by managing the bands, then consider the label. With modern recording technology as inexpensive as it is, the BIG problem is the engineer and mixing. If you have an ear for mixing and recording, that`ll be a huge start toward the label.

Your competition is the increasing, not decreasing, trend toward self-distribution across the Web. Then there are places like iTunes and whatever new ones. Artists want more of the profit, not to be getting only 6% of a tune.

Most musicians (I did it professionally for 15 years) have almost no sense of business. They don`t know how to promote themselves, get jobs, find a decent agent, or even understand the general market. They`re wrapped up in playing, and believe everyone listens to every single note they play, then marvel at the technical proficiency. Bovine feces!

So if you can be a manager, knowing what it is a good manager does, that`s your first step. Then, align with or partner with an excellent recording engineer, and cover that post-recording mixing thing. Provide the studio for little-talent garage bands, but keep an ear out for that unique sound.

AFTER you`ve found one band offering something really interesting, really different, and who`s members offer a vague semblance of having their heads screwed on loosely, then sign them to a management contract, say for 1 year. Set promises for both sides, and take a 15-20% commission on their bookings. If you come through, they`ll work more. Then they`ll be interested in recording.

Be sure they`re original. In the old days, a label had the A&R department, and it was their job to babysit the bands (or single artist). They did the business. It`s that they were so one-sided, the created the catastrophe of modern music business. Unless you get a total idiot, you`ll likely have an uphill battle against cultural paranoia.

My thought, anyway.... :-)

Record Labels, Record Labels,
I guess nothing has changed!..
pynnej,
How much do you know about music? Are you part of the music scene? or is this something that you thought of while watching MTV?
The truth of the fact is that, owning a record label is very tedious and complex if you never been exposed to the recording studio, production, and recruiting scene. There are various factors, that you need to have experience in:

• Copyrighting
• Production
• Marketing
• Mixing
• ASCAP

If you can relate to any of the above, then you are in good shape, if you can`t I would suggest hanging around recording studios. At one point in my life I was a producer, and produced my own beats and tracks. One of the categories that most record labels can`t be successful is the price of the equipment. you Need, Vocal Booths, MIDI Sequencers, Keyboards, Mixing Consoles, A-DAT`s, Multi-channel recorders, Quality Microphones (starting price is $1,245) for a good mic, Then if you are into electronica you need: Samplers, Beat Machines, Harmonizers, Digital Mixing Consoles, and the software!! You have Cubase VST, Cakewalk- Sonar, or Pro-tools for MAC, Pro-tools can run for about 5K for the software, not including the Console which is about 7K.
Think about it before you decide to go into it..
If you ever want to buy gear, I can walk you through...

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Edgar Monroy
Web Developer / Owner / Consultant
When starting your own business the need to "know-how" is greater than money!
http://www.nuevolution.net

A good way to start off would be with a netlabel (ie free mp3 downloads) involving Creative Commons licenses.  Find your niche and make the leap to a `real` label when your netlabel has a following.

Of course, the industry has been turned upside down over the past few years, so pay attention to what`s going on.


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arp laszlo | www.inkwire.net | web design, development, marketing

i run 2 record labels, and just helped a friend start a 3rd.

the internet has spawned something called the `netlabel` which can operate for little or no overhead, cdr buisness model until you can get going.

netlabels.org

book: starting a record label by dd schwartz