Record Labels and MySpace

  • Thread starter Thread starter Michael O'Regan
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Michael O'Regan

Michael O'Regan

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So, do the labels A&R people check MySpace out for new talent occasionally?
 
I've heard stories of them doing so but i doubt that many people get discovered over myspace but hey who knows.
 
Some people say that Myspace is victim of its success so they are to many people, too many bands and then, those kind of stories don't happen anymore...

The question is what is the next Myspace?
 
It rarely happens these days. A&R's will follow up if they hear something around. But as for searching themselves, thats pretty much gone. I can't say that no industry player goes on myspace, as I keep in contact with many people on there. IE Jessica Barton is usually herself, Devin The Dude is in the flesh. Can't say to many names, other wise people will flood.

I just found some talent on myspace myself, and negotiating contracts. She's a pretty great R&B singer. Love her voice
 
Did you find that singer just browsing MySpace, or were you following up a lead?

-Mike
 
I heard the only person to get famous off of Myspace was Tila Tequila and she's not a musician. he he he, i'm not sure what she is!!! (besides hot :D )
 
In the UK apparently Lily Allen got her break through MySpace.

-Mike
 
Michael O'Regan said:
Did you find that singer just browsing MySpace, or were you following up a lead?

-Mike
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I have a message box flooded with "hear my demo's", and while deleting, I saw one of them that caught my eye ;) and went to her profile & took a listen. Good professional image, good talent = less development work lol
 
A&R people look for a buzz in the locale. If they hear people talking about a band and describe them as good, they investigate. If you're packing clubs, you're going to get noticed. In the 1970s you could create a buzz on the live scene and get scouted. In the 1980s you often (but not always) needed to 'shop' a demo tape to an A&R departement to get someone to your show and they would then have to see a packed club and a great band.

Now just about everyone has a recording that they shop, usually digitally perfect, but it is really hard to fill clubs. Few bands can to do it because people aren't as captivated by the spectacle of a live band anymore. It may also be that people are just bored with guitar bands. Far less money is available for labels to market a band since the advent of online downloading. Rising above the crowd is harder than ever.

You could say that the music matters, or the show matters, or the ability to play the instrument matters, or the looks matter, or the gimmick or whatever, but the truth is that all of it matters. And you have to get noticed and talked about. It is an industry that is more treacherous and perilous than ever before. Very difficult to rise above the crowd.
 
1 said:
A&R people look for a buzz in the locale. If they hear people talking about a band and describe them as good, they investigate. If you're packing clubs, you're going to get noticed. In the 1970s you could create a buzz on the live scene and get scouted. In the 1980s you often (but not always) needed to 'shop' a demo tape to an A&R departement to get someone to your show and they would then have to see a packed club and a great band.

Now just about everyone has a recording that they shop, usually digitally perfect, but it is really hard to fill clubs. Few bands can to do it because people aren't as captivated by the spectacle of a live band anymore. It may also be that people are just bored with guitar bands. Far less money is available for labels to market a band since the advent of online downloading. Rising above the crowd is harder than ever.

You could say that the music matters, or the show matters, or the ability to play the instrument matters, or the looks matter, or the gimmick or whatever, but the truth is that all of it matters. And you have to get noticed and talked about. It is an industry that is more treacherous and perilous than ever before. Very difficult to rise above the crowd.
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I think you got it.

I have a pretty popular myspace but it doesnt even send hits to my websites. The myspacers are kids and spammers. Almost everyone automated I offer reviews of albums and what not with free promotion. And I get 20 messages a day "check my shit out one" or "I got beats or email blast for sale" lol I have full instructions on how to approach me for promo.

Fuck A&R's, Labels go for proven sales and a proven product. If your not dropping 20,000 every 6 months or so your wasting your time. They want to take you finished cd and spread it to different regions if you already tried that. That hurts you even more.

My friends band sells out locally they have a root vibe live instruments and all. So they get to play everywhere rock or rap clubs. Last I knew they had 400,000 myspace hits. It takes much more then myspace but my point is there on the road everyday and there no closer then they were 5 years ago. More fans thats it. There doing fine for themselves but there far away from BET.
 
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dirtyp said:
I think you got it.

I have a pretty popular myspace but it doesnt even send hits to my websites. The myspacers are kids and spammers. Almost everyone automated I offer reviews of albums and what not with free promotion. And I get 20 messages a day "check my shit out one" or "I got beats or email blast for sale" lol I have full instructions on how to approach me for promo.

Fuck A&R's, Labels go for proven sales and a proven product. If your not dropping 20,000 every 6 months or so your wasting your time. They want to take you finished cd and spread it to different regions if you already tried that. That hurts you even more.

My friends band sells out locally they have a root vibe live instruments and all. So they get to play everywhere rock or rap clubs. Last I knew they had 400,000 myspace hits. It takes much more then myspace but my point is there on the road everyday and there no closer then they were 5 years ago. More fans thats it. There doing fine for themselves but there far away from BET.
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I know exactly what you're saying here. Although your friends band is well on their way if they're always playing and gaining more fans. Alot closer than alot of bands are.

My band is only at the point where we're just starting to gain a strong local following. Now's the time to break out into other cities but it's hard.. our last gig was in toronto in front of maybe a couple dozen people at most (most of which where there other bands playing)
It's a very different atmosphere than playing to a packed club at home.

I don't think we brought anyone from myspace.

Someone mentioned that myspace is just kids and spammers and that's exactly right.. although it can be a useful tool it's not something i'd ever want to rely on.
 
Depends on the label. I've never heard of a major label signing someone over myspace. But indie labels (e.g.: Ferret Music, Rise Records, etc.) most definitely check myspace. Not only do they listen to the music but they read your comments to see fan response! The bigger the crowd response over myspace, the more interested they become the better chance you have of them sending an A&R. Normally they'll send an A&R rep to go out and see the band live and decide!

-RageD
 
a bit like believing in Santa Clause or the famous fable "send a demo CD to a record company and they'll sign you" (which ends up in the trash-can without them even listening to it :rolleyes:) The music business works principally thru connections, hence it's not WHAT you know, it's WHO you know. The worst thing one can do is start making music thinking "hey, I wanna be a star!" Make music for yourself first, work hard, gig till you drop (keep a sane mind...:D) and connect to "important" people. Try gigging with known bands, too.

But hey, nothing wrong with having a Myspace site, it's fun....;)
 
MySpace comp. CD

The one thing that really got me heated was in '05 when MySpace released a compilation CD of bands on MySpace and it only had the Pop radio Top 40s bands on it. Not a single track on it was one from an unknown. That's when I knew there was no way to get "famous" through MySpace. I just use it now to keep in contact with friends (people I actually know) and other bands I know.
 
My Findings

This blog has proven my point. playfor the fun of it. You'll make a little money along the way, but more important you have memories. I'm 55 and been gigging since the 5th grade of school. This group I'm in has been going for 10 years with a few different members. We play the type of music we love and do our own bookings. Actually I do them. Also we have increased how much we perform by remebering the economy and the state it is can see some in. I have friends who are in the big time . One plays with Saving Jane,another with Allen Jackson and another who wrote Honky Tonk Attitude with Joe Diffie and played lead guitar. I sleep in my own bed they sleep on the road. Sure I have to have a day job but I'm doing ok. By the way we don't advertise cds for sale but folks come up and ask for them. With a record company it's strictly business. It's not to put blame but more a fact. You can see our site at myspace it has gotten us jobs by useing it and youtube as online demos. We also have a site at wetpaint with the link on myspace . Fom there you can see some of our videos. So yea it works for gigs not getting a record deal. They want let me post so do the www and myspace then sid53
 
I work A&R for a label and am in the process of setting up a new label, transonicrecords.com. I'll always put in extra legwork to find exciting new stuff on Myspace and some companies will ask to see a myspace site if you have one (I know Transoncirecords and Kitchenware ask to see myspace as a way of getting a feel for a band's music and personality)
 
transonic said:
I work A&R for a label and am in the process of setting up a new label, transonicrecords.com. I'll always put in extra legwork to find exciting new stuff on Myspace and some companies will ask to see a myspace site if you have one (I know Transoncirecords and Kitchenware ask to see myspace as a way of getting a feel for a band's music and personality)
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Hi Transonic, welcome to the site. I sent you a PM. You can go to your User CP to read it. Thanks.
 
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