Music Biz Resource

These days, starting your own record label is the way to go. Every single day, more and more independent record labels are sprouting up all across the country (and even the world). Some of those “little” indie labels will eventually grow to become a major player in the music industry. And if you start your own record label and do things the right way, you could be a part of those “little” labels that blow up.

I’ll be honest with you – Starting a record label isn’t easy. Ok, well the ACTUAL part of starting the label (preparing and filing business papers in your state to say you officially own a record label) is easy. It’s everything that follows that makes it hard being a new, fresh start-up indie label. But while it can be a challenge, breaking into the music industry is a feat in itself, and by having your own record label behind you, it can make that feat more easily accomplished.

Having your own record label has its benefits. It’ll make people take you more serious and will show your level of professionalism when it comes to your music. Even though people may not know much about your label, it gives off the appearance that you’re doing something right. There are also some tax breaks you may receive from having your own business as well. It can also help you land certain deals that an independent artist could not on their own (such as distribution). But while there are many benefits, you need to find some solid ground and have a business and marketing plan mapped out to help you grow your label into something worthwhile. Promoting your label will be no different than promoting yourself as an artist.

Before starting your own record label, you need to have a good understanding about the music business. You also should consult with an entertainment attorney or business attorney who can help you prepare and file your business papers. It would also be a wise decision to consult with an accountant as well, just so you’re aware of the tax laws of your new-found business.

Like I mentioned above, starting a record label requires work. You’ll need to promote your tail off to establish an image that people will start to become aware of. Another thing to think about is the future of the label and its goals. Are you starting a record label just to promote yourself as the only artist or are you looking to add other artists to the roster immediately or in the future? Do you have a marketing plan in place for any projects you plan to release on the label? Will you hire any employees or create various departments to help you with certain tasks or will you do these all on your own (publicity, A&R, radio, etc.)? These are all questions you should know the answer to before you begin the process of starting a record label.

After you figure it all out, it’s easy to get things rolling. Owning your own record label gives you the freedom to do whatever you want, according to your own terms. It can be a fun way to get started in the music industry. And, the more you know, the better off you’ll be.

If you need to learn more about the music industry or starting your own record label, you should check out this book, Start and Run Your Own Record Label,. This is an amazingly written book by a successful record label entrepreneur, Daylle Deanna Schwartz. This book will help you from A to Z, and covers everything imaginable when it comes to starting your own record label.

Ok – So you’re an independent artist who has just finished up your new album. Great! Now comes the hard part – Where are you going to promote it? HOW are you going to promote it? Finishing an album and placing a few links on the internet and telling a few friends isn’t going to get it out there or put money in your pocket. In other words, it just won’t “sell itself”.

When you’re faced with somthing like this, you need to have two plans – One plan outlining the work you can do yourself, and one that you can have others do for you. That’s where MusicSubmit comes into play.

MusicSubmit is a service for independent musicians that will do some of the most important grunt work for you. Various record labels, radio stations, magazines, blogs and more work with MusicSubmit to find new artists to offer radio play, music reviews, performances and other opportunities. And the best thing about them is that they send out your information to various sources in your genre, helping you target the people, publications and radio stations that you NEED to target!

The process is simple and easy to do. Just visit MusicSubmit, select a package, upload your best music, your bio and other information about yourself or your band, and MusicSubmit does the rest! You can do a one-time campaign, or if you’re looking for something more consistent and long-term, you can sign up for a monthly service, where they will send out your Press Kit to an “x” amount of sources.

When you’re selected by a source that wants to work with you, MusicSubmit sends you all of their information to contact them to move forward with the next step. They serve as an excellent middleman to get you connected with some amazing opportunties that you may not have known of otherwise.

MusicSubmit is cost-effective and perfect for independents and all artists alike. Take it from an artist who has actually USED their services, and I can tell you that it works. It’s something that all artists out there should add to their arsenal.

So what are you waiting for? Check out MusicSubmit and watch your possibilities grow!

The music business is a beast within itself. It’s been known to chew up and spit out artists day in and day out. That’s probably what contributes to the reason that many artists don’t understand much of the business itself (either because they do not want to or they’ve never really been informed with how things work on the inside). If you’re one of those artists who doesn’t understand the “business” for one reason or another, I’m here to tell you that you need to change that – QUICKLY!

The business of music can be complicated (especially once you start getting into publishing, royalties, licensing, etc) and it’s also not something that one should expect to learn overnight, either. It can take some time to grasp overall, all artists should understand at least the very minimal basics of the music business and how the industry works. Knowing this information is absolutely critical, especially if you’re an independent artist. While you should always seek the advice of an excellent legal professional when it comes to big contracts and other deals, knowing the industry “jargon” will help you identify who is trying to screw you over and who is trying to help you out.

Many artists overlook the business side of music, as they would prefer to not lose their focus or have their creativity interfered with. I think those who think this way are doing themselves a huge disservice. Artists that know and understand the music business are 10 steps ahead of the average guy who doesn’t know squat about it. Wouldn’t you want to get an edge on your competition?

Like I mentioned above, you don’t have to learn the business overnight. It’s all about taking baby steps. Whether it be studying the music business for an hour a day, week or month, taking the initiative is what will help you get to where you need to be. Without taking initiative, you’ll be stuck at the same place doing the same thing.

There are some excellent books that I would recommend you take a look at. They are perfect for those of you who are looking to start your own record label or just learn the basics of the music business and how it works. They get into more depth and detail than I do here, and they should. If I were to write about every detail of the music business, we’d have a 400 page book on our hands.

Check out these books below:

All You Need to Know About the Music Business: Seventh Edition
This Business of Music, 10th Edition
Start and Run Your Own Record Label, Third Edition
Guerrilla Music Marketing Handbook: 201 Self-Promotion Ideas

A major label record deal – The dream that millions of musicians chase every day, praying for the moment when a major label exec will come and sweep them from the bottom and launch them into stardom. The sad and harsh reality is that only a small percentage (and I meanVERY small) will get signed to a major label deal. Not only that, but out of that small percentage, an even SMALLER percentage go on to becoming a superstar. I hate to say it, but it’s reality – a reality that many musicians just don’t understand or grasp, unfortunately. BUT – This doesn’t mean you should give up your music career. In fact, that would be foolish of you. Why? Because you can make it on your own!

When I say making it “on your own”, I’m talking about going the independent route with your music. With the digital age we live in, getting your music distributed digitally across the internet has become easier than ever, not to mention cost effective. Think about it – Would a record label give you a considerable advantage with promotion and marketing on a massive scale? Absolutely. However, after all of the expenses you have to recoup, how much money do you think you would see from your album sales? Either very little or absolutely nothing. As an independent artist selling your own music and representing yourself, after a few minor expenses, you earn 100% of your album sales. And you don’t have to worry about selling thousands of copies to “break even” or worry about recouping costs. In fact, you could sell 10,000 copies of an album and probably come out better than the other guy on a major label who just sold 500,000.

I think you already know where I’m heading with this, but I’m going to give you 3 quick reasons on why I think independent is the way to go:

1) You are your own boss

I think this is truly one of the most important things when it comes to your music. You don’t have to create the music labels force you to create. You get to build your brand the way that YOU want to. When it comes to your music and your marketing approach, you only need to answer to yourself.

2) You can make more money distributing music yourself

Like I said above – one of the greatest advantages of being signed on a major label is getting exposure on a massive scale, but that doesn’t always translate to more money in your pocket. By being an independent artist, you make 100% of what you sell (minus any small expenses that you put in). Nowadays, record labels are doing more “360 deals”, which means rather than just taking money from album sales, they are taking percentages of your live shows, merchandise, ringtones and more! By doing everything yourself, while not the easiest path traveled, you can put a lot more money in your pocket.

3) You can act fast on any level

Major labels can’t adjust to change as quick as an indie label or indie artist. They have to go through various people and contracts in order to for certain changes to take effect. As an independent artist, you can adjust to changes quickly, which works to your advantage. This not only saves you time and hassle, but also saves you some extra coin in the long run.

Remember this: Having those dreams of becoming a superstar isn’t something you should quit thinking about. You CAN become a superstar – it doesn’t take a major label to make it happen. There are so many artists out there who started out independently and grew to become some of the biggest acts in the world. And if you ever come to a point someday where you are one of those few who get offered a major label deal, your success as an independent act will help you negotiate a better deal, if you so decide to take it (although some acts realize that they don’t need any major label deal or label backing once they reach a certain level of success).

This is the age of the independent artist. There is no substitute for hard work. Put in the work and you WILL see results!

It’s all in the title. With the independent music game gaining more and more ground each and every day, it’s evident that many musicians out there are “learning the ropes” of the music industry and how it operates. The problem is, many independent (or beginning musicians) don’t have a solid path to follow. They are told one thing and turn around to be told something different. This makes it tough for the independent artist to even stand a chance, let alone make a solid impact and stand out beyond the crowd with their music.

That’s why we’re here. MusicBizResource.com is here to offer something that most music business information sites lack – Information all in ONE place. While we are only in the beginning stages of development, I can promise you that this site will give you all of the tools you’ll need to succeed. From learning the basics of the business to how to develop a full-fledged record label, you’ll learn it all.

This IS the real deal. It’s 2010 for crying out loud! The old ways of doing business have been replaced by new, creative ways that make it even easier for you to be successful as an independent artist. And MusicBizResource.com will give you nothing but the most up-to-date, cutting edge advice that will help you advance your career in the music industry (but ONLY if you apply this information – it doesn’t just magically “happen” – there is much work involved).

So there you have it. When it comes to the latest information and tips on how to advance your music career, know that you can count on MusicBizResource.com!