How to Get an Independent Record Deal
"How can I get a record deal?" you ask yourself. You're not aiming for a deal at Island or Sony-that's quite all right, and often a great place to start. What you're looking for is an independent record deal, an indie record company that will take you under its wings and see your unique act for what it is. Good indie record companies are some of the best ways to get your band heard and to find a network of support producers and artists to work with.
Of course, the same advice applies to those seeking an indie record deal as would apply to someone seeking a major record deal. Define your band's sound and image, and learn how to promote your band: play at coffee shops, bars, clubs, and colleges. Design a killer website, MySpace page, and Facebook page. You also need to know how to record a song and create a demo CD. An indie label will look for a unique, ear-catching songs; listen to bands on each label to see the kinds of acts they typically sign. Record your best few songs with whatever equipment you feel will represent you well-lo-fi is often fine for an indie label, as long as your song shines through.
Indie artists can often achieve some success before signing to a label through web promotions, and it never hurts to garner a following before sending your materials to a label-this will make a label want to sign you even more! But being with a label can provide career security and greater promotion, and you want to get a record deal. Luckily, indie labels often provide better avenues to get in touch with A and R representatives, because indie labels tend to be smaller, more tight-knit, and more attentive to artists and potential artists. There may even be email addresses of contacts listed right on the label website-take advantage of these, and see who you can get to know around an indie label. You may be able to find someone who will take a look at your demo.
But many indie labels do not have their information so easily accessible. If your emailing and digging does not turn up the addresses or contacts you hope for, a music contacts database will help you get signed to an indie label. How? These fee-based databases and services provide you with the contacts and addresses to which you will send your demo. These do a good portion of the work for you and save time you would have spent hunting down addresses. You should buy access to one of these if you are looking to get a music record deal.
After you find your contacts, send off your demo with the accompanying materials that the label requests-perhaps a photo, links to web pages, a bio, and press clippings. Follow up your demo a few weeks later with a nice, succinct email introducing yourself and asking if anyone has gotten a chance to look at the demo. With independent record labels , these email addresses may be easier to find; you may also be able to find them in the contacts database.
Try to form a relationship with the agent you are working with-it will better your chances of being signed. After following up a couple times (well spaced out), you may get an email reply from an A and R representative saying that they would like to work with you or see more. Congratulations! You are on your way to achieving an independent record label contract. And if things do not work out the first time keep trying-there are always more indie labels looking for artists.
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