Anno Domini’s 6 Ways To Get A Record Deal
How To Get A Record Deal | Editorial by Anno Domini
One thing artists frequently ask me is how they can catch the attention of the major labels and land a record deal. While there is no “magic formula” or fool-proof method, this is my 2 cents on finding success as an artist in the music industry:
1) Grow a fan base locally – book shows, attend open mics and talent showcases, release mixtapes and flood your local streets (get friends and street teams to help you out), get on local radio shows and in local magazines and build your name!
2) Build a professional press kit including all your shows, releases, interviews, bio, articles, awards, achievements, professional photos etc. Use this press kit to send to A&Rs, managers, indie labels, radio stations, clubs, bars etc. to keep getting more exposure and book more shows and events.
3) Get a manager OR learn the business side of the bizz so you can represent yourself and get smart about things like music contract law, royalty collection (you can get paid every time you do a live performance, every time you’re on the radio, every time your songs get streamed or downloaded online etc.) and self-promotion and marketing.
4) Network with website owners, popular social media pages, bloggers, journalists, producers, artists, event organisers, managers, A&Rs etc. The bigger your network is the more opportunities will come your way and the more support you will get. Collaborating with other artists can also be a great way to expand your fan base and network.
5) Keep booking more and bigger events and shows, growing and engaging your fan base (through social media, through an email list which you can ask your fans to subscribe to online and at gigs in exchange for a free digital album for example, through YouTube & SoundCloud the 2 major music platforms today etc.), take advantage of every single publicity and networking event that comes your way, take part in contests online and offline, get out of your house and be proactive!
6) At the same time don’t neglect to develop yourself, get better at recording and writing and get a professional sound and keep improving the quality of your lyrics, delivery, style, flow, even your image and branding! Figure out what makes you stand out?
Eventually you WILL catch the attention of people that matter and as you grow and expand a local fanbase to a national and then international one the big labels will also take note of you. They have dozens of A&Rs whose sole purpose is to monitor social media, go to events, network and find new talent.
So – don’t waste your time sending unsolicited music straight to the major labels. It will go straight in the trash. Work on these points instead and eventually THEY WILL COME TO YOU when you’re ready. Don’t expect to get famous over night though, that doesn’t really happen any more. It’s all about working hard and being persistent and having the will and drive to make it! Then you will succeed.
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