Start and Run Your Own Record Label

by SCHWARTZ, DAYLLE DEANNA

• ISBN13: 9780823084333
• ISBN10: 0823084337
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2003-11-01
• Publisher: Billboard Books

Summary

Why suffer the major label blues? An industry insider explains what it takes to be one's own music mogul in this completely revised and expanded edition ofStart and Run Your Own Record Label. It's a brave new world in the recording industry. New and affordable recording technologies have made it easier than ever to record music at home, and sell it online and at performances. As a result, musicians are finding it easier to achieve their musical goals. In this updated and expanded edition, three new chapters address the business end of running a record label, exploring alternative markets for all genres of music, and maximizing the use of the Internet. The revision also includes dozens of new comments by experts on today's music market. Anyone seeking to be the next Ian MacKaye or Sean "P. Diddy" Combs couldn't take a better first step. The only book that focuses specifically on starting, owning, and operating one's own record label Completely rewritten and updated, with three new chapters First edition sold over 31,000 copies

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
1 DECISIONS FOR STARTING A LABEL	8	(17)
Why Start Your Own Label?	9	(4)
The Upside of Opening Your Own Label	13	(4)
The Downside of Starting Your Own Label	17	(3)
Setting Goals and Strategies	20	(5)
Preplanning	20	(1)
Identifying Your Market	21	(1)
A Hit Record Can Be Your Downfall	22	(1)
Brighter Indie Future	23	(2)
2 SETTING UP YOUR RECORD LABEL	25	(14)
Registering Your Company	25
Developing Your Business	20	(11)
Business Resources	20	(1)
Writing a Business Plan	20	(11)
Choosing a Company Name and Logo	31	(1)
Trademarking Your Label's Name and/or Its Logo	32	(1)
Creating the Appearance of a Serious Business	33	(6)
Working Out of Your Home	33	(1)
Creating Successful Image	34	(1)
Having High Standards	35	(1)
Supplies	36	(1)
Developing the Right Attitude	37	(2)
3 ROAD WARRIORS: SUCCESSFUL INDIE LABELS	39	(21)
Artemis Records: Danny Goldberg, Chairman and CEO	39	(2)
Everfine Records: Dave Roberge, President	41	(2)
Bad Dog Records: Jonathan Brooke, owner, recording artist	43	(1)
Victory Records: Tony Brummel, President	44	(1)
New West Records: Jay Woods, Senior Vice President and General Manager	45
Definitive Jux Records: EL-P, co-owner/recording artist Rich Hardesty	40	(10)
Redemption Records: Ryan Kuper, owner	50	(1)
Festival Five Records: Dan Zanes, recording artist, owner	51	(1)
MC Records: Mark Carpentieri, President/owner	52	(2)
GrooveLily: Valerie Vigoda	54	(1)
David M. Bailey	55	(1)
Saddle Creek Records: Robb Nansel, owner	55	(2)
Commuse: Onno Lakeman of Red to Violet	57	(1)
Trout Records: Trout Fishing in America	58	(2)
4 FINANCING YOUR BUSINESS	60
Getting Your Money from Outside Sources	60	(1)
Affiliating with a Larger Label	61
Pressing and Distribution (P&D) Deals	63	(2)
Joint Venture Deals	65	(1)
Production Deals	66
5 THE NUTS & BOLTS 0F KEEPING YOUR LABEL SOLVENT	51
Learn Da Biz	67	(2)
Record Label Cooperatives	69	(2)
Compilations	71	(1)
Develop Your Own Infrastructure	72	(5)
Label Staff/I'm Staff	74	(3)
Planning to Market	77	(2)
Money Matters	79	(3)
Record Keeping	82	(2)
Filing Your Taxes	84	(1)
Preparing for Street Date	84	(4)
Branding Your Label and Artists	88	(1)
Monitoring Product	89
6 GETTING YOUR LEGAL AFFAIRS IN ORDER	02	(99)
Choosing an Attorney	92	(2)
Getting Everything in Writing	94	(1)
Business Affairs Department	94	(1)
Artist Agreements	95	(6)
Important Points of a Good Contract	97	(1)
Owning the Master Copy	97	(1)
Artist Royalties	97	(3)
Paying Royalties	100	(1)
7 COPYRIGHT OND PURLISHINO DECISIONS	101	(10)
Copyright Protection	101	(3)
Getting a Copyright	101	(1)
Protecting the Sound Recording	102	(1)
Compulsory Licenses	103	(1)
Copyright Infringement = Stealing	104	(1)
What Constitutes Infringement?	104	(1)
Should a Label Allow Sampling?	105	(1)
Understanding Publishing	105	(6)
Co-publishing Agreements	105	(2)
Songwriter Royalties	107	(1)
Opening Your Own Publishing Company	108	(1)
Controlled Composition Clause	109	(2)
8 SIGNING ARTISTS TO YOUR LABEL	111	(9)
What to Look for in an Artist	111	(3)
Checking Your Artist's Attitude	114	(1)
Where to Find Artists	115	(2)
Signing Someone under Eighteen	117	(1)
Advances	118	(2)
9 CREATING YOUR PRODUCT	120	(9)
Choosing the First Release	120	(1)
Choosing a Recording Studio	121	(1)
Choosing a Recording Team	122	(3)
Getting the Right Recording Engineer	123	(1)
Using a Producer	124	(1)
In the Studio	125	(4)
Pre-production Planning	125	(2)
Working in the Studio	127	(1)
Getting the Right Mix	127	(2)
10 THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS	129	(11)
Understanding the Manufacturing Process	129	(1)
Deciding What Format(s) to Put Out	129	(2)
Mastering	131	(1)
Packaging	132	(3)
Designing the Artwork	133	(1)
Choosing the Copy	133	(2)
Getting Materials Printed	135	(1)
Bar Codes	135	(1)
The Manufacturer	135	(5)
Manufacturing Costs	135	(2)
Working with Your Manufacturer	137	(1)
Test Copies	138	(1)
How Many?	138	(2)
11 HOW RECORD DISTRIBUTORS OPERATE	140	(8)
How Distributors Operate	140	(1)
Independent Distributors	140	(1)
One-Stops	140	(1)
What Distributors Look for	140	(8)
Who Pays Distributors?	145	(3)
12 CREATING A MARKETING PLAN	148	(15)
Creating Your Foundation	148	(1)
Networking	149	(2)
Evaluating Your Options	151	(8)
Promoting Different Genres	152	(1)
Videos	153	(2)
Charts	155	(1)
Finding Promoters	156	(3)
Planning a Marketing Strategy	159	(4)
Planning Where to Market Your Product	159	(1)
Compiling Retail Stores	160	(1)
Reaching Your Audience	160	(3)
13 GETTING PRODUCT INTO STORES	163	(14)
Getting into Stores	163	(3)
Getting Started with a Distributor	166	(7)
When to Get Distribution	166	(1)
One-sheets	166	(2)
Finding Distribution	168	(4)
Release Dates	172	(1)
Getting Paid	173	(4)
Distributors Aren't Bad Guys	173	(1)
Maximizing Your Chances of Getting Paid	174	(3)
14 THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET	177	(13)
Breaking Down the Overseas Markets	177	(3)
Getting Distribution in International Markets	180	(4)
Overseas Royalties	184	(2)
Licensing	186	(4)
International Conferences	187	(3)
15 MARKETING AND PROMOTING OUTSIDE THE BOX	190	(14)
Finding Alternative Markets	190	(1)
Alternative Venues	191	(3)
Busking	191	(3)
Record Release Parties	194	(2)
Free Music	196
Street Marketing	191	(10)
Street Terms	198	(2)
Alternative Retail Promotion	200	(1)
Licensing Music	201	(1)
Just Darn Creative	202	(2)
16 GETTING PUBLICITY FOR YOUR PRODUCT	204	(22)
Hiring a Music Publicist	204	(2)
Putting Together an Effective Press Kit	206	(4)
Written Material	207	(2)
Photos	209	(1)
Press Kit Presentation	210	(1)
Press Releases	210	(1)
Compiling a Good Media List	210	(1)
Opportunities for Media Coverage	211	(8)
College Newspapers	212	(1)
Newspapers	212	(2)
Magazines	214	(3)
Television and Radio	217	(1)
Fanzines	217	(2)
Approaching the Media	219	(1)
Following Up	220	(4)
Getting a Good System in Order	220	(1)
Making the Calls	221	(3)
Advertising	224	(2)
17 GETTING RADIO PLAY	226	(14)
Commercial Radio	226	(5)
Understanding Commercial Radio	226	(2)
Preparing to Work Commercial Radio	228	(1)
Contacting Commercial Radio Stations	229	(2)
Noncommercial Radio	231	(5)
The Power of College Radio and Public Access Stations	232	(1)
Working College Radio	233	(3)
Satellite Radio	236	(1)
Radio Publications	236	(2)
Getting a Plan of Attack	238	(2)
18 GETTING RETAIL AND CLUB PROMOTION	240	(11)
Working Retail Stores	240	(3)
Getting Visibility in Stores	241	(2)
Merchandising	243	(1)
Dance Clubs	244	(1)
Live Performances	245	(6)
Getting the Act Live Exposure	245	(4)
Getting College Gigs	249	(2)
19 USING THE INTERNET TO PROMOTE AND MARKET YOUR PRODUCT	251	(20)
Internet Reality	252	(1)
Getting Your Own Website	253
Getting a Domain Name	254	(1)
Creating Your Own Website	255
Marketing Your Website	251	(7)
Creating Awareness on the Internet	258	(6)
Networking On-line	259	(1)
Newsgroups and Chat Rooms	259
Developing an On-line Fan Base	251	(13)
On-line Exposure and Resources	264	(3)
Electronic PR Support	254	(1)
On-line Media	255	(12)
Selling Music On-line	267	(4)
20 SOME ADVICE FROM THE PROS	271	(8)
Danny Goldberg, CEO, Artemis Records	271	(1)
EL-P, co-founder/recording artist, Definitive Jux Records	271	(1)
Jay Woods, Senior Vice President and General Manager, New West Records	272	(1)
Jonathan Brooke, owner/recording artist, Bad Dog Records	272	(1)
Damon Dash, founder, Roc-a-Fella Records	272	(1)
Gregg Latterman, President, Aware Records	272	(1)
Dave Roberge, President, Everfine Records	273	(1)
Jonathan Levy, CEO, Moonshine Music	273	(1)
Ryan Kuper, President, Redemption Records	274	(1)
Dedra Tate, President, Flavor Unit Entertainment	274	(1)
Valerie Vigoda, recording artist, GrooveLily	274	(1)
Jane Siberry, CEO/recording artist, Sheeba Records	275	(1)
Michael Hausman, Managing Director, United Musicians/Manager for Aimee Mann	275	(1)
Tony Brummel, President, Victory Records	275	(1)
Mark Carpentieri, President and owner, MC Records	275	(1)
Patrick Am, President, Gotham Records	275	(1)
Cliff Chenfeld, Co-president/Co-founder, Razor & Tie Music	275	(2)
John Szuch, Owner, Deep Elm Records	277	(1)
Edward Chmelewski, President, Blind Pig Records	277	(1)
Brian Surgitz, President, Elementree Records	277	(1)
David M. Bailey, recording artist	277	(1)
Ezra Idlet, recording artist, Trout Fishing in America, Trout Records	278	(1)
Bobbito Garcia, CEO of Fondle 'Em Records	278	(1)
Christopher Appelgren, President, Lookout! Records	278	(1)
INDEX	279