Cyanide-Depende
New member
dirtyp said:
djhead said:
I can help out with boston/central mass, KYF releases the new Cyanide-Dependency CD in June, if you guys want to trade some copied of your CDs I can hlep you get in stores up here too
-C$
I can help out with boston/central mass, KYF releases the new Cyanide-Dependency CD in June, if you guys want to trade some copied of your CDs I can hlep you get in stores up here too
-C$
gullyjewelz
New member
I Dont Mean Any Harm - Na Dyes Im Still Willin To Get Cds In The One Store I Know Of In My Area That Will Take Indies . . .
My Question However Is,
What Kinds Of Promos Are We (any Of Us Individually Or Collectively) Willing Or Able To Do?
I Ask Because
In My Experience, Just Having A Cd On The Shelf In A Particular Store - Especially When It Is Sitting In The "indie" Or "local" Section -
Who Is Gonna Know? Are You Only "banking" On The Walk Ins ? Thats Quite A Small Bank
Again, Im Just Pointin It Out As A Topic To Discuss . . Im Still Willin To Help - In Fact, I Think, To Some Extent - At Least To The Stores You Go To - If You Go To Them The "right Way" They May Consider You More Serious - If You Go In Like - "i Am A Indie Record Label Promoter - I Have 5 Acts Of Various Genres I Would Like To Have In Your Store" . . .
(hell, It Could Back Fire To) But . . .
My Question However Is,
What Kinds Of Promos Are We (any Of Us Individually Or Collectively) Willing Or Able To Do?
I Ask Because
In My Experience, Just Having A Cd On The Shelf In A Particular Store - Especially When It Is Sitting In The "indie" Or "local" Section -
Who Is Gonna Know? Are You Only "banking" On The Walk Ins ? Thats Quite A Small Bank
Again, Im Just Pointin It Out As A Topic To Discuss . . Im Still Willin To Help - In Fact, I Think, To Some Extent - At Least To The Stores You Go To - If You Go To Them The "right Way" They May Consider You More Serious - If You Go In Like - "i Am A Indie Record Label Promoter - I Have 5 Acts Of Various Genres I Would Like To Have In Your Store" . . .
(hell, It Could Back Fire To) But . . .
U
Upper_Cutt
New member
Good thing I plan on staying on the production side of things. My only job is to network with as many people as possible (artists, managers, small labels.) If you can't even find a niche in your own town why bother???
If it is only about staying true, making good music and telling your story -- radio play, paying fans, etc wouldnt matter-- Give away your music for free.
If it is only about staying true, making good music and telling your story -- radio play, paying fans, etc wouldnt matter-- Give away your music for free.
Cyanide-Depende
New member
gullyjewelz said:
Well, part of exchanging CD's is to send along a release one-sheet with the cd's, Also, having some extra CD's you know you wont get $$ 4 and wont get back which will be sent to radio stations. Here in the Boston area, we have 3 or 4 major stations (clearchannel, viacom, infinity brodcasting) that play unmsigned music, sometimes during the day if the dj likes it, and there are also radio shows dedicated to underground music. Touruing to support you album, thats your joob, but i can help with clubs if you want.
-C$
dirtyp
New member
Just the fact of going into stores and asking helps... Most music store employes and owners are music heads and some are willing to help musicains... Say you go into a store with cds get shot down, then a few months later they see there distribiter has it they may be more willing to order them.... Another point is if you have 5 cds instead of one they may take you more serious........ I personaly think we should just go to clubs and other places and help each other sell them... I cant count how many times I talked to someone willing to buy a cd from a different genre then mine, meaning they didnt want rap but wanted rock....
gullyjewelz
New member
i agree with what everything being said - i just want to have us talk about our expectations, so we do this with open eyes . . .
for instance, i plan on having a "public appearance" show on May 13. At my table I dont mind having other people's cd's up there. For instance, I might say: Buy My CD and get X for free -- if, of course. that is what you had in mind. If not, let me know!!!
for instance, i plan on having a "public appearance" show on May 13. At my table I dont mind having other people's cd's up there. For instance, I might say: Buy My CD and get X for free -- if, of course. that is what you had in mind. If not, let me know!!!
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djhead
Military Intelligence
You know where a great place to have this chat face to face is? JAMFEST!!!!! 
Cyanide-Depende
New member
when and where is that?djhead said:You know where a great place to have this chat face to face is? JAMFEST!!!!!
-C$
gullyjewelz
New member
I Got A Sneaky Feeling Its Somewhere In Or Near . . . Georgia . . . A Whole 13 Hours Away From Me!!!
She-it!!!
She-it!!!
C
Cluric
New member
I work with an EBM label and it's a lot harder than most people suspect. Not only to start, but to stay on top of things and continue running it. The biggest problem facing any inde label is distro.
All in all it is a catch 22. In order to get on to the bigger distro lists you have to provide strong Soundscan numbers, but unless you are on a major distro, you can't get the numbers. So unless you have major backing you're SOL.
Our scene is much larger in Europe and in order to find either a marketting or licensing partner you have to shop individual CD's to them instead of your whole catalogue. As a US firm with limited resources it is hard to break into the Euro market.
Don't try to do it all, you will burn yourself out. Alex was for a while doing everything from merc to mastering and trying to find time for his wife on top of his actual job. It's easy to burn yourself out. So have all your mates pitch in. Pay them in beer and they will work.
If you sell a 1000 copys your first go, don't be discouraged! This is about typical for debut attempt from a small inde label. Actually, the biggest names in our genre of music do good to sell 40-50k cds.
You're best bet for releases and keep the overhead down until you get established is digital releases. I know having a physical cd in your paws feels good, but there is a strong shift towards the digital market.
Infact, all the artist we've had to this point has moved on to Metropolis records, so sometimes it's nice to be a stepping stone if you love the music. Sometimes having support from a smaller label will get the recognision of the larger labels, and if you truly love the music you will encourage it. I joke around sometimes saying we are the Sun Records of EBM.
In the end it's a long hard road and will put strain on your personal and financial life. But if you stick in there the rewards are tremendous.
All in all it is a catch 22. In order to get on to the bigger distro lists you have to provide strong Soundscan numbers, but unless you are on a major distro, you can't get the numbers. So unless you have major backing you're SOL.
Our scene is much larger in Europe and in order to find either a marketting or licensing partner you have to shop individual CD's to them instead of your whole catalogue. As a US firm with limited resources it is hard to break into the Euro market.
Don't try to do it all, you will burn yourself out. Alex was for a while doing everything from merc to mastering and trying to find time for his wife on top of his actual job. It's easy to burn yourself out. So have all your mates pitch in. Pay them in beer and they will work.
If you sell a 1000 copys your first go, don't be discouraged! This is about typical for debut attempt from a small inde label. Actually, the biggest names in our genre of music do good to sell 40-50k cds.
You're best bet for releases and keep the overhead down until you get established is digital releases. I know having a physical cd in your paws feels good, but there is a strong shift towards the digital market.
Infact, all the artist we've had to this point has moved on to Metropolis records, so sometimes it's nice to be a stepping stone if you love the music. Sometimes having support from a smaller label will get the recognision of the larger labels, and if you truly love the music you will encourage it. I joke around sometimes saying we are the Sun Records of EBM.
In the end it's a long hard road and will put strain on your personal and financial life. But if you stick in there the rewards are tremendous.
R
raywon
Studio 1784
Me and a co-worker started a label
I brought a 8 track fostex multitrack recorder 2 yrs. ago until my co-worker Carla came over and laid down some banging beats on the keyboard and wrote a few songs and laid them on the track recorder, we decided to team up and start a label which is called Kyn Folk Entertainment Group we also have publishing through ASCAP. Please check her cd out on www.cdbaby.com/cd/carlab
please leave review and check Carla's homepage at
www.myspace.com/carlabradley
We completed two cd's one is on cdbaby.com
I brought a 8 track fostex multitrack recorder 2 yrs. ago until my co-worker Carla came over and laid down some banging beats on the keyboard and wrote a few songs and laid them on the track recorder, we decided to team up and start a label which is called Kyn Folk Entertainment Group we also have publishing through ASCAP. Please check her cd out on www.cdbaby.com/cd/carlab
please leave review and check Carla's homepage at
www.myspace.com/carlabradley
We completed two cd's one is on cdbaby.com
DavidK
New member
lanterns said:
Sorry, but I find this hilarious. Basically in your mind, anybody in the music biz is evil.
Trust me:
99.999999% of all "indie" people would take a decent redord deal in a heartbeat. Talk is cheap, a lot of people throw around words like "artistic intregity" when they record a bunch of garbage.
I
Ironklad Audio
New member
for some odd reason, that's sort of hard to believe
K
KonradG
Medicated Member
A couple years ago (when this thread started), a label might have been rather necessary. CDs sold largely in hard copy is a concept of the past. With new breakthroughs such as yahoo music, napster, ITUNES, and burnlounge, it makes it easier to put music online.
So my question is, why should i pay all these fees to start a label when i can just record my album, get on the local radio program and sell cd's off itunes makin 50 cents on the dollar?
Indy music stores are dying. hell, music stores in general are getting thin. I'm in a music hotbed (gainesville) and even here its rare when you see someone playing something on their ipod that they didnt pirate or itune.
So my question is, why should i pay all these fees to start a label when i can just record my album, get on the local radio program and sell cd's off itunes makin 50 cents on the dollar?
Indy music stores are dying. hell, music stores in general are getting thin. I'm in a music hotbed (gainesville) and even here its rare when you see someone playing something on their ipod that they didnt pirate or itune.