I just started one
I just started one to promote my latest release "personal Belongings".
I set up a site:
www.decemberrecords.com
I registered my name. I didn't incorporate.
Made some business cards, bio everything has the Decemberrecords logo on it and then I set up a couple of accounts at
www.cdbaby.com
I did this with no money at all. Actually just a few dollars.
What's great is that all my music expenses including the new AW16g i want to buy and all the money I spent on mailing out cds, and internet connection it's all tax deductable.
The distributors, radio stations and music stores that you a little more seriously when you're set up.
Learn about making a ONE SHEET. This is very important if you want to get into stores. If you live in canada you should check out
www.indiepool.com you can actually get your cds in RETAIL locations of your choice and all they charge is a small fee.
I'm starting VERY small and will try and make a compilation with some artists and give it out for free to music stores and hopefully they'll order the full lenght cd from my "LABEL". Start in your local area with local stores and make everything coincide. So if you're going send a cd to a radio station in Toronto no use in getting a review in a Montreal paper and a gig in Ottawa. Try and make everything happen at one. Local radio, local papers, local gigs and then grow from there.
Anyway that's my 3 cents worth.
Good luck,
MArio