As you may or may know, I had a panel this year at CMJ called “Being Your Own Label”. I thought I would apply my panel to one that Chris Schlarb and I went to on Tuesday called “A Full-On Major Pitch Session” where panelist Evan Lipschutz described the concept that is the first half of the this post’s title. However, there will be a whole post devoted to all the topics we discussed in my panel in the next couple days….stay tuned.
The Major Label Boogie is taking a band who sells 50,000 copies and taking them to 100,000+, which is where majors often have excelled in the past. They have the machine behind them to pump out a hit (not as many as in the past though), but a major can’t you from 0 to 50k…they just can’t. Also, please don’t expect a handout from a label because your band is “totally uhhh like Nirvana with a dancebeat” or “Jamiroquoi meets Steely Dan”. Record labels aren’t charities; they are looking for ROI (return on investment) from your music and are taking more from you than in the past to ensure that they get compensated (referring to 360 deals). If you aren’t entrepreneurial-minded, then maybe a major is for you, but it’s not a necessity like it used to be and I’m reeeeeeeally glad that Andrew Keller admitted that on Wednesday afternoon at “So You Want A Major Label Deal?”.
As I’ve always said before, you’re better off building a team (two or more of the following: agent, manager, publicist, lawyer, and possibly some interns) and cultivating a fan base on your own. More importantly, DON’T WAIT for anyone or anything. The world isn’t waiting for you, so you shouldn’t wait for it. Proceed as planned. Keep making good music. Market it in places your fans might be. Give it to them through the medium they want and a price they want to pay. Basically, do the boogie on your own (and on your own terms) if you got the stomach for it.
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CMJ 2009 Part 1: Major Label Boogie or DIY
28 10 2009As you may or may know, I had a panel this year at CMJ called “Being Your Own Label”. I thought I would apply my panel to one that Chris Schlarb and I went to on Tuesday called “A Full-On Major Pitch Session” where panelist Evan Lipschutz described the concept that is the first half of the this post’s title. However, there will be a whole post devoted to all the topics we discussed in my panel in the next couple days….stay tuned.
The Major Label Boogie is taking a band who sells 50,000 copies and taking them to 100,000+, which is where majors often have excelled in the past. They have the machine behind them to pump out a hit (not as many as in the past though), but a major can’t you from 0 to 50k…they just can’t. Also, please don’t expect a handout from a label because your band is “totally uhhh like Nirvana with a dancebeat” or “Jamiroquoi meets Steely Dan”. Record labels aren’t charities; they are looking for ROI (return on investment) from your music and are taking more from you than in the past to ensure that they get compensated (referring to 360 deals). If you aren’t entrepreneurial-minded, then maybe a major is for you, but it’s not a necessity like it used to be and I’m reeeeeeeally glad that Andrew Keller admitted that on Wednesday afternoon at “So You Want A Major Label Deal?”.
As I’ve always said before, you’re better off building a team (two or more of the following: agent, manager, publicist, lawyer, and possibly some interns) and cultivating a fan base on your own. More importantly, DON’T WAIT for anyone or anything. The world isn’t waiting for you, so you shouldn’t wait for it. Proceed as planned. Keep making good music. Market it in places your fans might be. Give it to them through the medium they want and a price they want to pay. Basically, do the boogie on your own (and on your own terms) if you got the stomach for it.
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