Real Deal : How to get Signed to a Record Label

by SCHWARTZ, DAYLLE DEANNA

• ISBN13: 9780823084050
• ISBN10: 0823084051
• Edition: Revised
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2002-05-01
• Publisher: Billboard Books

Summary

A music business reference source that offers specific advice to musicians onetting that all-important record deal. This expanded edition features advicerom dozens of managers, record producers, recording artists and publicists.here are step-by-step instructions on preparing a presentation package andontacting record labels. Also included is information on using the Internet.

Author Biography

DAYLLE DEANNA SCHWARTZ is a music industry consultant, self-empowerment counselor, and successful author of many books including I Don’t Need a Record Deal and The Real Deal: How to Get Signed to a Record Label. She has appeared on more than 300 television and radio shows, including Oprah and Howard Stern, and has been quoted in many publications, such as the New York Times and Billboard. Schwartz lives in New York City.

Table of Contents

Introduction	xiii
Part One THE BUSINESS OF MUSIC
Taking Care of Business	1	(15)
Develop a Business Attitude	2	(1)
Let the Deal Come to You	3	(2)
Develop a Marketing Plan	5	(1)
Maintain Product Quality Control	6	(1)
Educate Yourself	7	(1)
Watch Your Ass	8	(1)
Create Your Business Materials	9	(1)
Prepare to Work Your Butt Off	10	(1)
Carry Yourself Like a Winner	10	(1)
Create Your Foundation	11	(1)
The Real Deal about Record Deals	12	(4)
Understanding What It takes to Make It in the Music Business	16	(9)
My Rule of One	17	(1)
Buzz	17	(1)
Patience	18	(1)
Visibility	18	(1)
Relationships	19	(1)
Perseverance	20	(1)
Talent	21	(1)
Belief	22	(1)
Knowledge	22	(1)
Balls	23	(2)
Part Two FINDING THE KEY PLAYERS FOR YOUR CAREER
Seeking the Right Personal Manager at the Right Time	25	(9)
The Role of a Personal Manager	26	(1)
What to Look for in a Personal Manager	27	(2)
Working with an Inexperienced Manager	29	(1)
How to Find a Manager	30	(2)
Signing with a Manager	32	(1)
Paying a Manager	33	(1)
Utilizing the Skills of a Talent Agent	34	(9)
The Role of a Talent Agent	35	(1)
Different Types of Agents	36	(1)
What Do Agents Want?	37	(2)
Acquiring an Agent	39	(2)
Agreeing to Terms with an Agent	41	(1)
Before You Acquire a Talent Agent	41	(2)
Finding the Appropriate Attorney	43	(6)
Reasons for Hiring an Industry Professional	44	(1)
How to Select Your Attorney	45	(1)
Attorneys' Fees	46	(1)
Changing Your Attorney	47	(1)
Put Everything in Writing	47	(2)
Using a Producer to Enhance Your Recording	49	(5)
The Producer as Project Director	50	(1)
The Producer's Role in Preproduction	50	(1)
The Executive Producer's Part in Your Project	51	(1)
Why You Need a Producer	51	(3)
Part Three PREPARING YOUR PRESENTATION
Using Constructive Criticism to Get Where You Want to Go	54	(4)
Where Not to Go for an Objective Critical Evaluation	55	(1)
Where to Go for an Objective Opinion	56	(1)
Leave Your Ego at Home	57	(1)
Preparing a Demo That Gets You Noticed	58	(6)
Recording Your Demo	59	(3)
Packaging Your Demo	62	(2)
Measuring the Marketability of Your Music	64	(6)
Keeping Current with the Music Market	65	(1)
Finding Your Style	65	(1)
What Is a Hit Record?	66	(2)
Learning Which Music Is Marketable	68	(2)
Creating a Winning Image	70	(4)
Image Counts	71	(1)
Developing a Marketable Image	72	(2)
Developing Your Presentation Package	74	(7)
The Elements of a Good Press Kit	75	(3)
Putting It All Together	78	(3)
Part Four DEVELOPING YOUR MUSIC CAREER
Hustling for Media Exposure	81	(8)
Using a Press Release to Attract Attention	81	(1)
Targeting Your Market for Media Exposure	82	(3)
Follow-Up	85	(2)
Tour Support	87	(2)
Grasping the Importance of Performing Live	89	(8)
The Importance of Live Exposure	90	(3)
Booking Gigs	93	(4)
Targeting the College Market	97	(8)
The Power of the College Market	98	(1)
CMJ	99	(1)
College Radio	100	(1)
The Club and Concert Circuit	101	(3)
NACA	104	(1)
Getting the Right Attitude	105	(5)
Don't Join 'Em. Beat 'Em!	106	(1)
What Goes Around Comes Around	107	(1)
To Thine Own Self Be True	108	(1)
Do the Right Thing	108	(2)
Networking for Success	110	(9)
Learning to Ask	111	(2)
Finding Your Initial Contacts	113	(2)
Creating Your Own Support System	115	(1)
Volunteering or Interning	116	(1)
Finding a Mentor	117	(2)
Using Your Songwriting Talents	119	(17)
Making Songwriting Your Business	120	(2)
Craft-Craft-Craft!	122	(1)
Signing with an Established Publishing Company	123	(2)
Writing for Other Artists	125	(1)
Placing Songs in TV and Film	126	(2)
Getting Your Feet Wet	128	(2)
Getting to the Appropriate People	130	(4)
Collaborating	134	(1)
Getting Started on a Songwriting Career	135	(1)
Utilizing Self-Promotion Tools	136	(14)
Pressing Up Your Own Recording	137	(1)
Merchandising	138	(2)
Establishing an Internet Presence	140	(2)
Creating an Electronic Press Kit	142	(1)
Promoting Electronically	143	(2)
E-Communicating with Your Music Community	145	(1)
Getting to Record Labels Electronically	146	(1)
Marketing Regionally	147	(3)
Taking Your Music to the Next Level	150	(23)
Preparing to Tour	151	(2)
Booking Gigs	153	(4)
Supporting Your Tour	157	(2)
Creating a Street Team	159	(1)
Seeking Out Alternative Venues	160	(5)
Touring Europe	165	(5)
Getting into Promotional Campaigns	170	(1)
Hanging in There	171	(2)
Part Five REACHING THE RECORD LABELS
Differentiating the Advantages of Major and India Labels	173	(5)
Weighing the Pros and Cons	174	(2)
Deciding on Which Path to Choose	176	(2)
Finding the All-Important A & R Person	178	(5)
Understanding Why A & R People Are So Important	179	(1)
Building Relationships with A & R People	179	(1)
Figuring Out What Labels Are Looking For	180	(1)
Finding the Right A & R Person	181	(2)
Getting to Record Labels	183	(17)
Sending Unsolicited Material	184	(1)
The Real Deal about Shopping for a Record Deal	184	(2)
Shopping Demos	186	(2)
Getting a Production Deal	188	(2)
Representing Yourself	190	(1)
Preparing to Shop Your Own Deal	190	(1)
Getting Educated about the People in the Music Industry	191	(3)
Getting in the Door to A & R People	194	(2)
Getting Through on the Phone	196	(4)
A & R Form Interviews with the Labels	200	(14)
Part Six GETTING A GOOD DEAL
Contract Commitment: Less can Be More	214	(4)
Term of Commitment: From Number of Years to Number of Albums	215	(1)
Less Is Always More When You're the Artist	215	(1)
More Is Always More When You're the Record Label	216	(2)
Record Royalties: What the Artist Actually Gets	218	(6)
The Recording Contract	219	(1)
Points about Points	220	(1)
All-In Deals	221	(1)
Royalty Payments	222	(2)
Songwriting Royalties: Making the Most of Your Published Options	224	(8)
Music Publishing Defied	225	(2)
Co-Publishing Deals	227	(1)
Sources of Songwriting Royalties	228	(3)
Opening Your Own Publishing Company	231	(1)
Sampling: what It Is and What It can Cost You	232	(4)
Why Sample?	233	(1)
The High Cost of Sampling	233	(1)
Seeking Permission to Sample	234	(2)
Some Final Words	236	(5)
APPENDIX 1 Advice from Recording Artists	241	(4)
APPENDIX 2 Resources	245	(15)
Books	245	(3)
Directories	248	(3)
Music Conferences/Trade Shows	251	(2)
Music-Business-Related Organizations/Associations	253	(3)
Organizations to Protect Your Rights	256	(4)
Index	260