i want to start my own record label

[trim]

one day.
not anytime soon. but what would be the first step?
esp. in creating/securing the name of it.
how do you claim a name for a label (or any business i guess)...i didn't think it would be easy like reserving a domain name on the internet, or is it?

[AudioWebs]

To secure a name you need to copyright the name.

A record label must have the following:

1. Recording studio
2. Mastering Stuies
3. Cd Production machines
4. Advertising System
5. Sales locales

You can use someone elses mastering suite and production machines - but the record label must have the other three.

Needless to say you will need well over 25,000 dollars to do this.

Are you prepared?

Here is the best steps.

You need a recording studio - costs at least 10 grand and that's a very cheap studio...probably not gonna get much customers.

You need to have a mastering organization that you can do this through - and you need someone who will produce copies on the scale needed.

You need a high ability to advertise in your location - every radio station locally, every music store, and every place where gigs are.

And you need to be able to negotiate sales and provide places for people to buy CDs.

You also need to have your clients have a fully professional website where orders can come in.

If you wanted to start today, you might go 6 months and not be done actually having a functional label.

If you want more details PM me anytime or ask here.

But really it takes an enormous amount of work - it's a business. And you can't expect to make money from it for quite some time.

You'll need a huge loan too.

Most record labels start out as a music studio - and ad mastering and there own production.

Then they take the extra step and promote and sell the products themselves.

Stepping into a label without years of this experience will get you nowhere....

[trim]

wowee.
luckily i'm independently wealthy


not


well i'm not ready for all that yet.
i just wanna make sure the name of it is mine, before someone else takes it. which would prolly never happen, but i'm restless and giddy about it and would like to feel at ease that the name will always be mine, when i do start it in the future.

must you have all those things in order to copyright the name?

i know nothing of copyrighting.

[AudioWebs]

You can copyright any name at anytime.

I could right now copyright the name "Kill me now industries" whether I even have a business or not.

Copyrighting a name has little to do with what you're using it for.

[AudioWebs]

I could go into more details.

I must ask - you do know what a record label is right? I don't mean that to sound stupid...

..A record label is a label that holds a contract for all production rights of a musician for a certain time period or for a certain amount of products.

The record label stands out from a music studio in the following ways:

1. It owns the rights to the music, and NOT the musician.
2. Record labels promote the album and handle sales. If you can't promote like you're from hell then bands won't join your label

3. A record label must get the album in stores etc...
for your label the two best ways for sales are the bands website and amazon.com

Anyone can put a product on amazon.com and can handle sales themselves. Makes it look professional!

I've never heard of a label that didn't use it's own studio - and you would need a damn good one, spending over 20,000 dollars easily which could be half just for treatement.

A label is a huge organization!! Even a small independant one.

And there is a lot of legal agreements to.....

Getting intoa label without having at least 3 years of a full studio business isn't a good idea.

It'd take you years to set this all up.

I mean a label needs someone who is a master at the equipment.

.....this is like you asking what are the steps in creating a company that builds computers. It's an enormous endeavor.....even if it's a home-run small business

[trim]

sounds like fun!




you seem very knowledgable about all this. thanks for your replies

i understand more now why bands are so desperate to get signed. it's like half the workload can be done (and maybe done better) by the label.

i didn't know the label holds all the rights to the musician/bands songs. that's scandelous!

you mean if i got signed to say.....matador records (i wish) they would own all the rights to my (rad-as-hell) songs??

how dare they.


i think if i ever did this. which would be grand, i would be the head honcho and, uh, hire the experts to perfect the sound for my roster of superstars.
my uncle, ted, for example. he's a soundman, quite a famous one too if i may boast.
i'll hire him

[AudioWebs]

Well, they don't have to own all the rights.

It really depends on the deal - they very alot.

But for instance larger labels own the record, but often they own it alongside the artist.

So it's not like they're gonna steal it from you or something.

yes record labels do alot of work - but remember they take profits too

You'd definetely want to have your own studio for the label.

Not all artists would need to be signed to use the studio too, you can rent it out as well.

You'd wanna get a huge rolodex of connections and contacts in your city:

1. radio stations - go to them to play the local music!
2. local gigs - helping a band get gigs is a good idea, and giving gigs the contacts too
3. put notices at universities
4. amazon.com - set up sales items there
5. websites are very important for small time bands and can help soooo much
6. universities often have their own radio stations which you could talk to as well.

So using phone books and online info to get a huge list of contacts is a very powerful tool

It's alot of work but fan as hell.

No one starts a record label for any other reason than because they damn want to........so it's work but fun work!

[trim]

Originally posted by AudioWebs

2. local gigs - helping a band get gigs is a good idea, and giving gigs the contacts too


isn't this where the booking agency comes in? or is it different when you're a starting/small time label?


It's alot of work but fan as hell.

No one starts a record label for any other reason than because they damn want to........so it's work but fun work!

i wholeheartedly agree.
even as you list this 'work' my heart is like light in my chest with antici---

pation

way way future anticipation. but yeah, future fun

[Phreesoal]

Hey AudioWebs!

I have aspirations to launch my own record label, primarily because I want rights control over all of my music and control over what I earn as an indie artist.

Is all of this actually necessary to have "in house" for me to have a label for the above stated purposes?

A record label must have the following:

1. Recording studio
2. Mastering Stuies
3. Cd Production machines
4. Advertising System
5. Sales locales

I cannot imagine that the many indie artists running their own labels today have all of this in place. Perhaps some of it is contracted out?

Or, does an indie artist even need a self-started label umbrella to come under?

Phree

[AudioWebs]

No, MUST is a harsh word.

A record label technically only needs to take the artists product, promote it and provide sales.

So the band could record the product in another studio, and bring the product to the label to deal with getting the word out etc...

But this is rare.

Record labels (all of the big ones) have the adertising, the sales, AND studios.

Those are the three major components.

One could use an external mastering service, since there are plenty of companies that do this. And one could technically burn all the copies of the album - but if the band is gonna need alot then you'd want to use an external duplication company.

The best real way to start a label, unless you are merely looking to be a kind of Don King for local bands, is to start with a music studio where you charge per project.

Then learn the local scene, and as I said aboe gain a hell of alot of contacts.

Then once you feel confident you can adequatly promote an album via local stuff, and a website, begin as a label.

Also remember that there is alot more legality in a label than in a studio.

If your study was to become profitable, a mastering suite would be nice - but you could surely invest in a CD duplication machine of your own for "mass market".

Hope that helps!

Phreesoal - Much if it is probably contracted out, namely the mastering and the duplication. Of course I would bet alot of indie music is not even mastered at all.

[regebro]

Originally posted by AudioWebs
To secure a name you need to copyright the name.

Well, trademark, rather.

A record label must have the following:

1. Recording studio
2. Mastering Stuies
3. Cd Production machines
4. Advertising System
5. Sales locales

Nope. A record label is just that. A label you put on the records. You need none of this.

What you DO need to ask yourself is *why* do I want a record label? What do I want with it, what is the purpose?

For example: The purpose is to make my demo CD's look more professional.

Well then, make up a record label name, and trademark it! Hey presto, you now have a record label!

Now if you want to make it your life, you need incomes too, and then you need a company that can use this trademark as a label, and you need bands to put on the albums, and you need distribution to sell the albums.

[AudioWebs]

regebro takes a rather unhelpful minimalist approach.

A record label is all of the things I said trim.

Apparently regebro wants to either start an argument are mess with syntax.

Let me say this:

Any record label you've ever heard of has ALL those things ten times over.

If this regebro user slaps a sticker on a CD and tells girls he has a record label, then well, that's his issue

Glad I could provide helpfull advice.

[trim]

*confusssssssssionnnn* ://////


no, i believe you audiowebs.



i think?

hah. in answer to regebro regarding my intentions...i think it would be great if, after i produce and perfect my first album, i could release it on my own label. i've always wanted to be my own boss and run my own show, etc. so yeah, it would really be the whole ball of yarn as the cats say

[AudioWebs]

Sure Trim.

get your label name trademarked - and create some type of CD label template that has the label info around the edges....


.......and you'll hold the name is you build up a label through the methods i said above.

But you might as well start the name off with your own work!

[A Reel Person]

I think I'm almost ready to go into the studio business, with a recording studio, practice room rentals, and a live-sound performing area, combined. Equipment rental and live remotes, too.

I'm studying up on the business, and I hope to be able to eventually find funding [that's not suicidal!]

[ZOWIE!]

It's not semantics. The way Regiebro gave his reply wasn't the most helpful, but he's much more correct than AudioWebs.

There are record labels that own none, or only some of the things AudioWebs listed, and few if any have them "ten times over."

The vast majority of labels don't own CD production machines.

Many labels, including big one, have their mastering done off site by independent contractors -- just check the credits on your CDs.

Many rent recording studios.

Some, like the audiophile reissue labels, never do any recording at all.

Some rely on their distributors for most of the "advertising systems." I'm not even sure what "sales locales" means in this context. Obviously the labels generally don't own the retailers.

Some budget reissue labels do none of those things in house, or at all.

Very little capital needs to be invested at all if you pay as you go for the services you need.

[AudioWebs]

Zowie - I meant, by sales locales - was that a local label would want to be in contact with local indie shops, regular record stores etc... where they could supply the albums in question.

I never said labels HAVE to have all those - you don't need most of them sure - but that's the complete set of a completely independant self-sufficient label.

It depends on whether or not you want to be involved in the recording process, or merely the distribution and advertising etc...

[PsyCoNo]

I agree with regebro... you dont NEED any of this to start a label. However, there are alot of legal issues you will have to deal with. I would recommend getting a good lawyer to help you. Check out www.myrecordlabel.com They will help you do legal stuff and it doesnt cost much to start up.

[c7sus]

A record label can be nothing more than a shell company. Doesn't need ANY of the stuff AW listed beyond a trademark and cash or a line of credit.

You can hire somebody to do any of the steps involved with production, distribution, and advertising.

Like was said earlier, just check the credits on any CD. You'll see that more than likely the record was cut and mastered at two different facilities, neither of which is associated with the label that released the product.

Record producers for the most part are independent as well. They are hired by the label to keep a project moving and fulfill the wishes of the guy paying their wage------ which is in most cases the record company, NOT THE BAND!

[ZOWIE!]

Originally posted by AudioWebs


I never said labels HAVE to have all those - you don't need most of them sure - [. . .]

Take a look at your first post in this thread.

[60's guy]

Interesting read here about labels and the complications with
getting your creations to go where you would like them to go.

Personally, I write and record, copyright, and then give it away
to whoever cares to listen. If someone downstream gets their
hands on it and cares to do something with it, sobeit.

Music is like the air we all breathe. No one charges you for it.

I'm not being sarcastic here at all! The only interest I have is
sharing what I do with everyone.

Life is so complicated. If you want to truly cover yourself, get
an agent and sign with a label.

60's

[A Reel Person]

However, my business aspirations are to have studio-recording venue, live-room venue, practice rooms, storage, Eqp rental and live-mobile recording, all under one roof. That's all. That's not a "label", either.

[DavidK]

C7, Regebro et al are correct.

You don't need anything except for a copyright and some $$. In some cases, you dont even have to have the copyright.

I have played on 55 CDs, some on big labels like Warner Bros. and Deutsche Grammophone. I have NEVER been in a studio that was owned by a record label.

Think about classical music. It is recorded all over the world in Concert halls. If the NY Phil records with DG, they don't go to Berlin, they record at their hall. The label hires a free-lance producer and engineer, then they send it to a mastering suite.

I have friends who on their own labels that dont even own a microphone. They rent a studio, Get some CDs printed, and sell them on their own.

[ZOWIE!]

Another case in point: Folkways. In business for over 40 years, something like over 1000 albums released, which are now a national treasure.

And it was run out of a two room office - INCLUDING the recording studio (with less equipment than many people around here own). For many years the extensive liner notes were typed up and mimeographed and inserted into the record jackets.

If I were to pursue my fantasy of starting a label, Moe Asch would be my model.

[Mike BL]

I'm jumping in, but in the interest of not discouraging anyone from starting a label, it really should be pointed out that, despite taking such an authoratative tone, AudioWebs doesn't seem to know jack shit about how record labels work in the year 2003 -- especially not independent labels.

The first three things on your list are completely laughable. Label don't own studios or mastering houses or manufacturing plants for that matter. I suppose you might be able to find some proof that one of the majors has those things, but it certainly isn't as cut and dry as you make it seem, and creating a business model based on that of the few major labels is a terrible idea.

Here's a more realistic plan:

Recording -- In the world of independent music, it's not always necessary for the label to pay for recording. A lot of times they split it with the bands, and sometimes they don't chip in at all.

Mastering -- For a ten song record, let's say $600.

CD Pressing -- Deals can be foud everywhere. For 1000 discs, which is what most labels start with, you can expect to pay about $1200.

Promotion -- Includes everything from traditional print advertising (in small zines) to sending out copies to writers and magazines for possible coverage. If you handle mailings on your own (which, again, most labels starting out do), you'll only be paying the cost of packaging and postage. As far as advertising goes, there's an ad for every budget. It's possible to design a fairly effective ad campaign for $500 if you look in the right places. For that, you'll get web banners on online magazines, 1/4 page ads in certain smaller music zines, etc.

If you do all those, things, and you slap a logo on the spine, you have a record label -- and you've spent just over $2000 to get it off the ground. Sure, that can increase over time, but don't let any of these folks tell you you need anything more than that when you're starting out. I don't know what kind of music you're into, but for proof that this stripped down business model can work, check out the legendary indie labels out there: Sub Pop (Nirvana, Soundgarden), Touch and Go, Dischord, etc. This is how every single one of them started out, and in all honesty, it's not all that different from how they work today.

Good luck.