My own label

[BrettB]

Hi all,

Just came to tell you I am excited: My own label "The MAdra Conspiracy" is offical since today, I went to the trades court (sorry, don't know the right translation).

My first release is expected for July.

I keep my fingers crossed!

[ChristopherM]

Originally posted by BrettB
Hi all,

Just came to tell you I am excited: My own label "The MAdra Conspiracy" is offical since today, I went to the trades court (sorry, don't know the right translation).

My first release is expected for July.

I keep my fingers crossed!

Congrats! I wish you all the best!

[stonepiano]

Hey Brett.


that's great. How do you plan on distributing?

Do have strategic partnerships for old fashioned in store distribution?

Do you have some smart online distribution system planned?

Are you doing radio promo? Are you planning press tours?


I'm guessing a lot of guys and gals in here have thought about doing this themselves but there is so much to learn that it seems a bit daunting.

Tell us more about how you officially set it up!

Congrats again!

[ChristopherM]

Originally posted by stonepiano
Hey Brett.


that's great. How do you plan on distributing?

Do have strategic partnerships for old fashioned in store distribution?

Do you have some smart online distribution system planned?

Are you doing radio promo? Are you planning press tours?


I'm guessing a lot of guys and gals in here have thought about doing this themselves but there is so much to learn that it seems a bit daunting.

Tell us more about how you officially set it up!

Congrats again!

Here's another vote for a "how to" explanation.

I know you're in Belgium, but the info would probably be useful in the US, UK, OZ, etc...

[BrettB]

Hi,

In my excitement, I forgot to give you guys more details.

About the official site, here in Belgium my label is now registered as some sort of 'non profit organisation'(called a vzw in Dutch). That may sound funny but I know also other labels in Belgium that use that form. It doesn't mean you can not make profit, in the contrary, it is allowed to make profit. Profit just isn't your main goal, you have to have a 'purpose that benefits society' and mine is distributing and helping young pop/rock musicians.

As an advantage, Your label is a legal person (which means the financial problems of the organisation are not related to you as a person, so you can't get in trouble personally when you are in some kind of debts) and you don't need official starting money.

For the rest it is a very small DIY label to begin with. I have recorded a first EP (8songs) of my own band, and I am about to release it in July. I know it isn't the greatest month to do a release, but due to other reasons there were no other possibilities.

A month before the release I am going to make promo singles just for the radiostations. Over here rock music can be made or forgotten by good airplay.

The release will be held in July, with several guys, end lots of promo. I start off with a very small amount of 500 pressed Cd's. 200 of them are promo, going to all the music press, and the 300 others are going to be sold among the early friends and fans, which isn't going to be much of a problem.

I have several contacts with distributors, but with the bad condition and the small country Belgium is, they are tending to wait what the reactions on the single will be. So if we get airplay and the reactions of the press are ok, I have a few distributors who are willing to help. If I can't get a deal with a distributor, the loss won't be too big: I did the recording and professional mastering at a very good price.

Having such a small area as Belgium as your terrain has that disadvantage: one big rock station and a few magazines really dictate what is great rock and what is not in their eyes, so their reactions are capital.

I also 'discovered' another great band in Belgium that are interested in cooperating. I'm going to use the same method on them in Septembre.

There is great music, a good team to work with and a small but workable budget. I am really optimistic.

Any questions are always welcome


cheers!
Brett

[Drummer4Life05]

Wow. Thanks a lot for the great explanation, Brett!
That is something I definatley want to look into after college, and I have some ideas now!

Thanks again, and here's to nothing but the best to you and your label! Good luck!

- Justin -

[BrettB]

Originally posted by Drummer4Life05
Wow. Thanks a lot for the great explanation, Brett!
That is something I definatley want to look into after college, and I have some ideas now!

Thanks again, and here's to nothing but the best to you and your label! Good luck!

- Justin -

thx for the support

I will keeop you guys up to date when some new stuff happens. I have had kind of a small music industry course by the legal and business guy from EMI Belgium, but it is the first time I try something like this, so I will keep you posted with every evolution. I hope to learn a lot with this experience.

I am just glad a great part of the legal mambo jambo is finally finiashed!