The odds for the average aspiring recording artist or band to get signed to a good record deal has become increasingly lower every year. But, it is most likely not your shortcomings as an artist that keeps you from getting signed. You are probably the hottest new act the world has to offer, but the record labels won’t immediately know that. They want a full-packaged deal. They would rather see that you have a proven track record of marketability, a desirable image, and volume of record sales. In other words, they want you to do the initial job of promoting yourself before they step in with an offer. It is after all just business to them.
A few factors you have to deal with that makes it hard to get signed is the unpredictable economy and the constantly changing music industry. With the increased popularity of music downloads, less people are buying albums and CDs. This is causing a few record labels to go defunct. They can’t afford to sign an artist or band with raw talent and develop that person or band from scratch only to result in the whole project going bust. This is why the record labels are so picky on who they give a record deal to.
There are other alternative methods you can implement to achieving your dreams of being that famous rock star or rapper. More and more artists are bypassing the record deal in favor of the power of the Internet. These artists are selling their own music online. Even the established artists rely heavily on the world wide web to sell their music via downloads, CDs, and ring-tones.
If you decide to bypass the record deal, you will probably have significantly less record sells without the support and expertise of a record label, yet you will receive more percentage of the profits. If you have some success with only downloads and ring-tones, you can eliminate the need to manufacture and distribute albums and CDs. You will lose an avenue to make sales in the CD format, but you will have cut down on a large part of your expenses. Of course, you still need to make some promotional CDs to give to the radio stations and clubs.
If you decide to pursue a record deal, you need unwavering dedication and constant practice. You will need a lot of patience. It’s going to take some time. You should know what you are getting yourself into. There is no time for playing games while promoting yourself or your band.
Have you ever heard of the term, “The music industry is 90% business and 10% talent”? Well this term is true on many levels of the music industry. You will have to become a businessman (or woman) at the beginning of your music career. You will have to convince people that you or your band are worth listening to.
You should expect constant rejection and ridicule. A lot of people will not take you seriously. Also, there will be some criticism. Don’t take it personal. Use the criticism as a way to improve yourself. Improve your strengths and work on your weaknesses whether its your singing, music playing abilities, or stage presence. Remember….practice, practice, and more practice. There can never be enough practice. You have to hone your skills almost “to perfection”. This, along with perseverance, is the key to success.
Record your music so that you can listen to it. Make this a practice recording to analyze your music. Find the mistakes that can be improved. You have to make sure you are ready for the big time. Your music and performance have to be able to “wow” potential fans. Strive to be better than the talent that’s currently out. Don’t be just like them. Also, your music has to be an “ear catcher” during the first 30 seconds. This is especially necessary when you are presenting your music to the representatives of the record labels.
Once you have your performance down packed, its time for some music production. This time everything has to be perfect. You will be doing an official recording of your music. It is best to do most of the production at home if you, a friend, or someone in your band have a home studio. Doing your recording in a professional studio can be quite expensive so it would help a lot to do your pre-production at home to keep your expenses down. You should play and arrange as many of your tracks as you can at the home studio. You may need to use a professional studio to lay down the vocals and drum tracks if you’re using a conventional drum set.
Make sure your songs are professionally mixed and mastered. This is mandatory. The quality of the production may be the difference between you getting signed or your CD being thrown into a pile of junk CDs that will eventually be trashed.
Okay! You have your music productions sounding powerful and crystal clear. Its now time to start the grueling process of doing promotions to make yourself attractive to potential fans and record labels alike. It won’t happen overnight, but it will eventually happen with a lot of perseverance. There is an e-zine that reveals tips and secrets that will help you on your endeavor to getting signed. Its called, “The Easy Record Deal: The Ultimate Guide To Getting a Record Deal”, which can be found atBeat Maker Club101. This is something worth reading to help make your goals a lot easier and possibly quicker. Keep trying. Have fun. And good luck.
