There are a variety of ways to get a good music record deal. But, you have to put in a great deal of time and effort to be successful at landing one. Competition to get those music record deals are fierce though. Everybody “and their mama” want to become a big rock star, a rapper, or a famous country singer. Some of them are actually pretty good. And the record labels are flooded with requests, demos, and promotional packages from a lot of these people that are trying to get a music record deal. You will have to do whatever it takes to stand out among the sea of “wannabees” and gifted singers alike.
Make sure you got your stage performance and productions down packed before you even think about getting a music record deal. Work on your stage presence. Try to make it a habit of getting the crowd to participate in your performances. You can get them to clap, wave their hands from side to side, pump their fists, or “raise the roof”. It all depends on the mood of your music and the right timing. As you become more adept at doing this, you will discover that your growing number of fans will enjoy the charisma that you bring to the stage. They will be more excited about going to your shows and buying your music. This will increase your chances to getting a music record deal if record executive are in attendance when you perform in this manner. Also, make sure your music is professionally mastered and highly competitive.
Okay! Back to the question. What are the steps to getting a record deal? Well, these are some of the methods you need to know on how to get signed.
1. Promote yourself on the Internet. Set up a MySpace page and an official website of you or your band. You should definitely do this if you haven’t done so already. Provide a bio of yourself, a schedule of dates and places where you will be performing (if you have any gigs), and a few pictures in different settings. You should also set up a widget that will allow people to listen to some of your music. Once you have gotten all of that done, invite people to your website and MySpace page. MySpace is very convenient as it gives you the ability to grow a large list of friends that can become potential fans. You will probably find other people trying to land a music record deal just like you. Maybe you can collaborate or share knowledge to each other on the process of getting a music record deal.
2. Post on networking sites and music related forums. There are a variety of sites that you can post on that can create a buzz on what you are doing. You should join networking sites that cater to artists looking for a record deal. You can even join DJ sites and network with the DJs that play your kind of music. DJs play a very important role in your chances of getting a record deal. Experiment with as many sites as you can to see which ones give you the best results. You have Facebook, Twitter, My Page, and Ning just to name a few. My ultimate favorite is the Ning networking sites. This is a goldmine of many different forums that are available. Make sure you create and use a hyperlinked signature to link to your MySpace page or website with every discussion that you participate in. Doing this will increase the exposure and popularity of your name, MySpace page, and website. You will get better results if you post in the sites that cater to your particular genre of music.
3. Start booking performances. Look for talent shows and contests that you can enter. Blow your competition out of the water using the charisma that you have been perfecting over time. Show the audience you deserve to win and that you are worthy of a music record deal. Search for local venues and clubs that book local and unsigned artists. See if you can perform at those clubs for free. Book gigs at parties, weddings; anywhere that people will be able to hear your music. Get people to come to your show. Tell your family and relatives to come. Tell your friends. Tell your friends to tell their friends. Get the word out about your gigs. Word of mouth is very contagious if you’re a good performer. People will be proud to say, “I knew this person before he/she got a record deal”. Make sure you have some business cards and Cds to sell or give away.
4. Get some significant sells under your belt. This a very important step to getting a record deal. You should try to sell at least 10,000 to 15,000 units in order to get noticed by record labels. There are plenty of artists that got signed just because they sold around 15,000 Cds from the trunk of their car, at shows, or on the streets. They proved to the labels that they are marketable and have the potential to create wealth with their music. Selling 10,000-15,000 Cds or downloads would be in your best interest. This is how to get signed. Make sure your record sales are officially documented and your songs are copyrighted.
There is an e-book that you should check out that will greatly increase your chances of getting a good legitimate music record deal. This e-book is called, "The Easy Record Deal-The Ultimate Guide To Getting A Record Deal". It tells you everything you need to know and do in order to get a music record deal. It gives you thorough information on legal issues, contracts, how to correctly create your press kits, and much more. These are secrets straight from the record executives. By reading and applying the proven methods from The Easy Record Deal, you will be able to get ahead of the game. You will be more prepared than you're competition in landing that music record deal. To learn more about "The Easy Record Deal-The Ultimate guide to Getting A Record Deal", click here.
Keywords: record deal, music record deal, getting a record deal, the easy record deal, the ultimate guide to getting a record deal, landing a record deal,good music record deal, pursuing a music record deal, legitimate record deal
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Friday, May 1, 2009
What Are The Steps To Getting A Record Deal? Part II
After you have promoted yourself on the internet, performed in a few shows, and sold at least 15,000 units of your songs, there are additional steps that you should know on how to get signed.
5. Create a promotional Package or press kit. Make a brief, professional looking and very interesting bio about yourself. Write about what your goals are and what you can “bring to the table” of any record label that gives you the opportunity to get a music record deal. Add several pictures with the swagger of your type of music, a few business cards, and a copy of your best singles. Record executives will only listen to each song briefly, so make sure your songs have the potential to impress them during the first 15 to 30 seconds. And, make sure your package will stand out with loud colors, images, or anything else that will grab the executive’s attention over any other package. Keep it clean and professional though.
6. Find the appropriate record labels that sell your kind of music. Send your package only to the labels that deal with the type or genre of music that you make. These are the labels that will already have a market of potential fans in place that you can tap into. Go for the independent labels. You will get more response and better results from them than you would a major record company. That is unless you are another Madonna or Michael Jackson of course.
7. A label responds. Contact a&r of that company. Set up an appointment and be prepared for the interview. Do research on that company. Make sure the label has a good reputation. There’s nothing worse than a shady long shark record label that kills an innocent person’s dreams. When you get ready for you’re interview, you have to look the part. Display the image. Leave the right impression. That means if you’re a rock band, dress like one. Don’t show up at the interview in a three-piece suite looking like you’re going to Sunday service.
8. The interview goes well, but don’t stop. It may take a while for them to call you back. Keep in contact with that label while sending packages to other labels. Contact a&r of other companies and set up interviews with them. Make more options available and avoid disappointment.
9. Getting signed. Okay! You’ve found the label that you believe will make you rich and famous. Make sure you know what you are getting yourself into. Read the contract before signing on the line; especially the fine print. A two or three album music record deal may be cool. But, something like a ten album deal may not be a good idea. You’re obligated to record those ten albums which could take a very long time. That may sound sweet now, but you might be stuck in a bad deal for years making less money than you are worth. You should try to get legal representation to advise you during the deal.
10. Signed. AWESOME!! When you finally sign to a good music record deal, you won’t be relaxing yet. Now, the real work is about to start. You have to do promotions on a grander scale now. There will be more performances and interviews. You will have a busy work schedule every single day for the next few months before the record sells and royalties start to kick in. And the record label will want you to do plenty of concerts because that is really where the money is during these times in the music industry. Make sure you know what percentage the label is entitled to from your concerts.
Getting a music record deal is easier said than done. It could take months or even years to get the attention of record labels. I believe 99.9% of us aren’t lucky enough to get a record deal and have overnight success. We have to work long and hard for it. There is an e-book called “The Easy Record Deal: The Ultimate Guide To Getting a Record Deal” that has thorough info on everything you need to know and do in order to get a legitimate record deal. It has contact information for many of the top independent and major labels. It’s something worth checking out. This e-book can show you what are the steps to getting a record deal.
5. Create a promotional Package or press kit. Make a brief, professional looking and very interesting bio about yourself. Write about what your goals are and what you can “bring to the table” of any record label that gives you the opportunity to get a music record deal. Add several pictures with the swagger of your type of music, a few business cards, and a copy of your best singles. Record executives will only listen to each song briefly, so make sure your songs have the potential to impress them during the first 15 to 30 seconds. And, make sure your package will stand out with loud colors, images, or anything else that will grab the executive’s attention over any other package. Keep it clean and professional though.
6. Find the appropriate record labels that sell your kind of music. Send your package only to the labels that deal with the type or genre of music that you make. These are the labels that will already have a market of potential fans in place that you can tap into. Go for the independent labels. You will get more response and better results from them than you would a major record company. That is unless you are another Madonna or Michael Jackson of course.
7. A label responds. Contact a&r of that company. Set up an appointment and be prepared for the interview. Do research on that company. Make sure the label has a good reputation. There’s nothing worse than a shady long shark record label that kills an innocent person’s dreams. When you get ready for you’re interview, you have to look the part. Display the image. Leave the right impression. That means if you’re a rock band, dress like one. Don’t show up at the interview in a three-piece suite looking like you’re going to Sunday service.
8. The interview goes well, but don’t stop. It may take a while for them to call you back. Keep in contact with that label while sending packages to other labels. Contact a&r of other companies and set up interviews with them. Make more options available and avoid disappointment.
9. Getting signed. Okay! You’ve found the label that you believe will make you rich and famous. Make sure you know what you are getting yourself into. Read the contract before signing on the line; especially the fine print. A two or three album music record deal may be cool. But, something like a ten album deal may not be a good idea. You’re obligated to record those ten albums which could take a very long time. That may sound sweet now, but you might be stuck in a bad deal for years making less money than you are worth. You should try to get legal representation to advise you during the deal.
10. Signed. AWESOME!! When you finally sign to a good music record deal, you won’t be relaxing yet. Now, the real work is about to start. You have to do promotions on a grander scale now. There will be more performances and interviews. You will have a busy work schedule every single day for the next few months before the record sells and royalties start to kick in. And the record label will want you to do plenty of concerts because that is really where the money is during these times in the music industry. Make sure you know what percentage the label is entitled to from your concerts.
Getting a music record deal is easier said than done. It could take months or even years to get the attention of record labels. I believe 99.9% of us aren’t lucky enough to get a record deal and have overnight success. We have to work long and hard for it. There is an e-book called “The Easy Record Deal: The Ultimate Guide To Getting a Record Deal” that has thorough info on everything you need to know and do in order to get a legitimate record deal. It has contact information for many of the top independent and major labels. It’s something worth checking out. This e-book can show you what are the steps to getting a record deal.
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