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How To Get A Record Deal
By Joshua Jenkins
how to get a record deal
Playing music is a hugely rewarding thing to do. For many people the feeling of creating music is one that should be shared, the best way to do this is by releasing and album. To release an album you need a record deal, and these can be fairly hard to come by. A record deal entails a written and signed agreement between and artist and a production or record company, it is legally binding. Getting a record deal is hard work, it takes time and patience and most importantly: a lot of live shows.
The purpose of a record deal is to provide the company with the rights to use or sell the artists music, which is then licensed to the record company. The most important thing to be doing is playing music live. There are always label reps following local music and so it is a perfect place to be heard and recognised. Getting a record deal is hard enough when you are playing regular gigs, without doing this there is very little chance of you getting a record deal.
Hundreds of bands' demos find their way to the desks of record companies every day and thus it is very difficult for an artist to get recognised. Have a think about which record companies would be suited to distribute your type of music, it may be that certain venues are more often frequented by company representatives and so you should aim to play at these places. Let the companies know about upcoming gigs, this will provide the opportunity for future discussions and ensure that the right people are aware of what you are doing. You may not hear back for a while after the show (if at all) but don't be disheartened because some of the most famous musicians were rejected by labels before their success. Persistence is key when trying to get a record deal, but don't get too pushy or desperate. How to balance the right amount of persistence is a hard thing to do, only experience will let you know how.
If a representative contacts you it will most likely be for more material, this means you provide a cd with some songs, make sure you send it as quickly as possible, getting a record deal is not just about the music, the right attitude will also help. From this point you should also provide the representative with a list of upcoming shows, make sure you put them on the door as well. From here you may or may not be requested to have a meeting. The company may ask you some more personal questions, such as your influences, career motives and any other relevant stuff. Then there will probably be a personal listen, whether at a venue or a practice room is up to the company but either way this is your chance to really display talent.
Depending on what happens next, negotiations will begin. How to deal with the company is up to the artist but getting a lawyer, manager or both would be a good step in trying to get a record deal. Your lawyer or manager will inform other labels about the possible signing and then they too may be interested. It will be a matter of time before a contract suits you but be very careful because a contract will affect everything from this point onwards. It is important to choose the record deal that allows you the most flexibility and creative control, you should always be on the same wavelength as your record company.
If you get to this stage in the process you have already done the hard yards and are aware of the massive effort it takes to achieve a record deal. Regular shows and practice will ensure you keep moving in the direction of a record deal, and if your music is of a high quality there is every chance of achieving your goals. Now that you know hot to get a record deal, go out and do it!
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