I Want To Start A Small Label... Any Suggestions.

[DEEPDOWNINSIDE]

Ok I searched the archives and I have yet found any info on this subject. I would like to start a label that specializes in HOUSE music. I have been producing tracks for about 5 years now and have performed live a few times in Los Angeles and i have been told I have good tracks. So I thought about sending out demos to labels. Unfortunately I keep hearing from others that house labels are notorious for saying they like your stuff but due to time and economics that cant release stuff.

So I have been thinking for sometime that i would love to start my own label. I have so many contacts that i could use to get my stuff out and played. I know a few known Djays and have been in the position to pass of records or whatever to them. For instance I went Miami and ran into a few people I knew from Los Angeles and San Fransisco. Some djays some producers and a few scene writers. They all remembered me and thats how its always been. I've just been "that guy" whos at every cool ass party.
Every now and then I will run across a kid with a killer downtempo track or house track. They got no real way to get it out but I do. So i tell them who would listen to it and who would like it, mostly peeps i know in around the scene.
A friend of mine told me if I lived in Los Angeles still I could be a manager or A&R rep for sure, simply because my ear for good quality music and connections I got. I was always selfish thinking "Yeah I save this info for myself when I get my tracks ready.." But I am getting antsy and I want to start using what i know and who i know to help others out who i think need to be heard.
I decided i must start a label. Honestly I always wanted to have my own business. I have two close friends that have thier own. One runs a successful record store (they sell vinyl!) the other runs a UPS Store franchise. I dont have loads of cash like they do but I have the drive to be as succssesful as they are.

PROBLEM A: MONEY. Well I hear you can get a loan from a bank if you got a well made business plan. Some say even with no collateral. I dont it will take millions to get a small label off. Anyone really know numbers what am i looking at for a small release 500 or less. Will a distributor even touch that if not then what?

PROBLEM B: MATERIAL. I would like to start with a release of my own stuff. That way i can find out whats it all about. I know about mastering and all that. I got a few demos handed to me when I was chilling with some friends at WMC I guess cos they thought I was someone who could do something for them. Most original music what I got was mediocre at best. "Once I listened to some the CDRs I got I thought " WOW, my stuff is better than this." Then again I get here and I must say the alot of the tracks that are on DHP Producers Forum are HOTT!! So I am really humbled. Friends say my stuff is good but will it sell?! Is it good to start with your own track?
PROBLEM C: THE GAME. How long should I wait to hear back from labels? If I release it myself,how do i know I'm not getting the shaft from the distributor, ie money? What kind of money should I expect before letting label take the track? Should I really get a lawyer or manager before a lets say Naked Music,decides to release it? what if a company in the U.K. wants to release it or distribute it? Should I fly there and hammer out a deal?

Sorry for all the questions I just knew this was the best place to start thanks again you all. [img]graemlins/conf44.gif[/img]

[<Paul R>]

you're always gonna need a lawyer in that game i know that much, that's about all i know though!

from what i've researched on labels are big risk so there's no doubt you'll have trouble with the banks, i work at the head office of Virgin Megastore in London and small labels are the worst when it comes to going under quickly, it only stands to reason it would be very hard to get financial backing. And a distributor in London wouldn't touch 500, more like 2-5000 at least, 500 you do your own distributing!

you already know people and people running record shops that's a great advantage alone, you won't be an otherwise unknown

good luck to you but from what i know starting a record label is one of the hardest and high risk ventures there is

[O'love]

why don't you try sending your stuff to other labels first, and see what happens?

[DEEPDOWNINSIDE]

Thanks soo much for the information. You all are both awesome. Hey Olove youre always on point. The thing is that I also have a friend whos stuff is amazing. So far he has had a bit of intrest nothing serrious besides almost landing a production deal with Flyte Time. Anyway that didnt work out and he is busy with family. So I told him to let me take his stuff and see what I can do. I thought to maybe release it on a my own label. Maybe after I had tried my own stuff. Thats the idea anyway. I would love to send off my own to a label and go from there was just thinking it would be cool to start my own.
Thanks guys... Anyone else with anything to add?

[O'love]

Originally posted by DEEPDOWNINSIDE:
Thanks soo much for the information. You all are both awesome. Hey Olove youre always on point. The thing is that I also have a friend whos stuff is amazing. So far he has had a bit of intrest nothing serrious besides almost landing a production deal with Flyte Time. Anyway that didnt work out and he is busy with family. So I told him to let me take his stuff and see what I can do. I thought to maybe release it on a my own label. Maybe after I had tried my own stuff. Thats the idea anyway. I would love to send off my own to a label and go from there was just thinking it would be cool to start my own.
Thanks guys... Anyone else with anything to add?

i feel you because me and a friend did just the same.. our label is www.springcollective.com and we released 3 12"es for now. I can tell you that the current electronic dance-music scene is run by a few big names who sell almost all the records, and the rest gets the scraps. Buyers always look at the same lists of the same few big-name DJ's who mention the same big-name producers again and again... anyway, this means that starting your own label will cost you money, and you will sell around 500 pieces of vinyl worldwide with most releases, and if you're lucky you will reach Break Even point. If you're about to sell more your music has to be a huge hit, and other big-name labels will probably release it anyway. There is always room for quality music, and most "underground" labels still recognise this. I know plenty of examples in the last few years from unknown people with great music who got a release-deal with well-known labels. So if you got money and time to spare, go the DIY approach, but if you just want to have your music out there, just publish it for free on the internet and create a hype from that, and make sure you're building and growing in quality, and keep on sending demo's to the bignames, and network, and you will get your deal

good luck!

Olaf

[DEEPDOWNINSIDE]

First of thanks for the response once again. Its cool to hear from someone who is DOING IT. Well first of all let me just say that I dont have a lot of money to throw at this project, however I have connections and ideas of ways of getting s few key things done for free or very inexpensive. So far I have a friend who is in marketing, i know two record store owners who both sell vinyl one in Miami and the other in Los Angeles. I also know a buyer who also spins out in Los Angeles and he is into alot stuff from Hip Hop to House and has a keen ear for good music. Like I said before I know of a few DJays that are pretty influential in the electronic music scene. So I would say my contacts are highly valuable to the whole idea. Probably most of all that would be the strength of the label at first. 500 release would be fine my expectations are very low, because of all the things I have been hearing from people like you who have done it or currently making it happen with releases. Successs at first for me just getting someone who likes the music to actually purchase a copy after I have pressed them and marketed them as much as I could. Its a dream of mine to do something like this eventualy but yes I would love to release my own on a bigger label. The thing is I hear and read that no artist should get caught up on signing with a major in our case (K7,Defected,MAW,WestEnd) Eventualy would like to be able to quit my day job hahaha! I know thats way off. Its nice to dream though. :D

[macam]

I think you should go ahead. You only have one life so do what you love!

[<Paul R>]

Originally posted by DEEPDOWNINSIDE:
The thing is I hear and read that no artist should get caught up on signing with a major in our case (K7,Defected,MAW,WestEnd) Eventualy would like to be able to quit my day job hahaha! I know thats way off. Its nice to dream though. :D

can you elaborate on that point, out of curiosity?

I know that Defected is a wholly independent label as opposed to a major (EMI, Warner)

i would have thought any producer be loving it to get signed on them you listed...

[O'love]

Originally posted by <Paul R>:

quote:

---

Originally posted by DEEPDOWNINSIDE:
The thing is I hear and read that no artist should get caught up on signing with a major in our case (K7,Defected,MAW,WestEnd) Eventualy would like to be able to quit my day job hahaha! I know thats way off. Its nice to dream though. :D

can you elaborate on that point, out of curiosity?

I know that Defected is a wholly independent label as opposed to a major (EMI, Warner)

i would have thought any producer be loving it to get signed on them you listed... [/QUOTE]i agree, the labels mentioned cannot be compared with the real majors like Sony etc.

Olaf

[DEEPDOWNINSIDE]

I meant those are the top guys I am speaking of. They have thier schedules and release dates so booked and I heard crammed with top tier Producers. The likes of Vega, Chandler, Deep Dish so and so on. the popularity of remixes keeps the NakedMusics of the world quite busy, so I am told. New dudes on the block with "killer tracks" havent paid dues usualy end up on indie startups. So they may be feeling your music but the schedules are just to packed due to economics of the house music/ electronic music scene, labels hands are tied and only put out so many records. Thats what I am up against. So thats why it may come down to myself getting my own stuff out. [img]graemlins/conf44.gif[/img]

[drilla]

in terms of money constraints...

why not put together a top notch website and hook up the digital downloads..find out how to set it up where you can charge money for your music.

then, create a marketing campaign to let cats know about your site and your music. at the same time press up some vinyl and cd's strictly to GIVE AWAY to top dj's and producers..radio too if you can...and get people playing your music. hit up every music hang out..message boards..etc. and tell the people...host a weekly party and call it the name of your record label..have some "named" dj's come through so you can show people that you are down with other cats doing what you do...creat a buzz like that...

just a thought...

[<bytes2wax>]

DEEPDOWNINSIDE,
I read your post and most of the responses and think you've been given some good advice. Here's my 2 cents worth:

Go for it! Start your label. Start small, do everthing yourself and work hard as hell. Use all your contacts to the fullest. Here's one course of action:

Burn some cdrs with 1 or 2 of your best tracks.
Try to get them played by those known djs you know and even the known djs you dont know. Just get it played by as many known djs as you can. Once you do that, get feedback from the djs who played your tracks (its safe to say if they played your tracks they have to like them). From the feedback you should get as sense of how the track would do in the market. If you're tracks are getting rave reviews, you know they're good contenders for commercial release.

I see alot of house labels make what I think are marketing mistakes. 1. They create a buzz for tracks but then don't release them until a few months later. 2. Just generally a lack of good promotion.

Can you post any clips of your tracks so we can judge?

BTW, Drilla gave some excellent advice.

[DEEPDOWNINSIDE]

WOAH Byte2wax and Drilla you both were heavy on the info thanks for the knowledge. Knowledge is power it seems in this game. I will do a bit of each what you all suggested. I will put a track or two once i finish the pre production. I am a serrious hardware producer and getting my tracks to the digital realm is kinda a stretch for me. When all is done I would like to take my tracks and master them and all.
I like the idea about the website I guess that would spare me having to push my limited run vinyl or CDs on a distributor.
However the club night would be cool and quite intresting too. I have some idea places but I dont know about booking deejays. So i guess I would have to investigate. Wow thanks again I can use all the help I can get. [img]hail.gif[/img]

[macam]

All hardware? I just read in the Essential synth for producing house thread that you use reason? Am I going crazy?

[img]graemlins/conf44.gif[/img]

[DEEPDOWNINSIDE]

I use Reason very saprringly. I hardly use it cos I am new to the game in that arena. Most of my stuff is all on two AKAI MPC's so I sample alot of kicks snares and what not. I had friends in to hip hop and when I decided to start making music they told me go Akai MPC route so I did and I never looked back. Plus alot of deep house producers I am into swear by Akai MPC's. I own 2 synths one is extremely old ensoniq and the other is a roland synth from the early 90's. I think my newest gear is my iBook. I am not sold on sole recording at home so my sketches are done at home now. Then to the studio for mix and mastering. I guess I should start recording at home to save money for the label.

[socratez]

ill suggest you pospone the label managing bizz and work on your music. Managing a label alone is very time consuming and that wont improve your music because the time yould otherwise spend in making music you have to spend on other stuff.
Maybe its better to whait, make better tracks, pass some of your tracks to dj's ask them how the crowd reacts. Post tracks on this board and ask for pointers.


Personaly is see a lot of label owners looking for talent. Its hard to keep on releasing new stuff with only 7 top producers around( CHandler, Trent, Maw, DennisF, Clausell etc)
There are much more labels then there are cream of the crop producers. And when you have good tracks there will always be a label somewhere releasing your stuff.

Just keep on sending stuff around, keep on improving your tracks, keep on hooking up with other producers and djs, and youre time will come.

BTw:
A few months ago, some guy posted here on this board looking for new talent for his label,,, have you send him anything???

good luck my man

[ October 12, 2005, 07:34 PM: Message edited by: socratez ]

[<Paul R>]

if your music's good enough you could get a P&D deal with a distributor, Essential Direct in the UK are supposed to be quite good at giving a fair cop to new talent, and I've heard they are quite good

[socratez]

Essential Direct is that a distributer or a label??

[<Paul R>]

they are a distributor

http://www.essentialdirect.co.uk/

[Murryells]

Yes, sign me.

;)

[<bumpin>]

I would encourage you to go the digital download route as stated above. They hay day (or is it heyday?) for House was the 90s. Your chances of making any money are slim and none. If your stuff is THAT good people will find you. The music industry is small, the House music industry is much smaller than that. The people who make money are the ones making the remixes and getting the club dates...... but the whole Dance genre is in a valley right now.

A variation on the download path: Set up a page with free downloads and put a paypal donation link.

[<Socratez>]

Originally posted by <bumpin>:
Your chances of making any money are slim and none. If your stuff is THAT good people will find you. The music industry is small, the House music industry is much smaller than that. The people who make money are the ones making the remixes and getting the club dates...... but the whole Dance genre is in a valley right now.

:( [img]graemlins/mecry.gif[/img]

noone makes a living by selling records only these day,, you need to spin, or play an instrument.

But im more optimistic then you bumping, even now 100s of records are released every week, and most of them will sell.

[DEEPDOWNINSIDE]

Wow you guys are scarring me hear. What about all the hoopla over WMC? I heard MTV and and other music media is covering it in 2006. Doesnt that mean ALOT of people are making money just not the few.

You make it sound like I have a better chance releasing a pop or gangsta rap album.

[O'love]

Originally posted by DEEPDOWNINSIDE:
Wow you guys are scarring me hear. What about all the hoopla over WMC? I heard MTV and and other music media is covering it in 2006. Doesnt that mean ALOT of people are making money just not the few.

You make it sound like I have a better chance releasing a pop or gangsta rap album.

on another house-music forum Jay J just confessed that if it wasn't for his DJ gigs he had to move in with his parents again to survive..and this is from one of the better producers around..

Olaf

[<Paul R>]

hmm I have a feeling Defected would have something to say about that...

in London, House music doesn't seem to be in any kind of decline, if compilations, releases and club nights are anything to go by