Discover Why Starting Your Own Record Company Could be 10 Times
Better Then Signing With a Major Record Label !!!
by Ty Cohen
Published on this site: May 20th, 2006 - See
more articles from this month
One of the greatest changes to take place in the music business
over the past 20 years has been the ease with which an individual
artist can start their own independent (indie) record label. You
do not need to sign with any official organization to start a record
label.
As long as you own all the lyrics, publishing, performance and
recording rights to your music, the only requirement is to make
your own records or CDs and sell them.
All a record label does is to select the songs to publish on the
CD and arrange to collect royalties when they are used by other
people. Most labels also do the majority of the marketing and distribution
for the CDs as well.
It isn't even necessary to do everything yourself. You can hire
the services of professional for burning, marketing, distribution.
However, for your own protection, you should create and register
your record label name so you are recognized as a legitimate business
and can sign contracts as a business entity.
The Big Boys
Ever since the first vinyl record was pressed, a small number
of big record labels have dominated the industry. The first small
record labels were started after World War Two and have become an
important part of the music industry since the 1960s. Even so, the
big boys buy up the indies whenever they get a chance.
In our society, global media has always been about mass marketing
and mass production which means they must appeal to the masses which
unfortunately frequently means appealing to the lowest common denominator.
But big record labels did allow a lot of small local performers
to get world wide exposure. The downside was that they frequently
had to almost sell their soul to the Record Label and in many cases
giving up most of their creative control.
The big record labels still dominate the mass media. To get things
into proper perspective you need to realize that there is a lot
more going on in the music industry than what you see on MTV, radio
one or on the music charts because all of them are dominated by
the big boys.
The Indie Advantage
Independence means starting your own record label and usually,
at least in the beginning, publishing your own original material.
So what does independence mean? Spurning the music industry? No
way!
Independence means being your own boss, making all of the creative
and business decisions which also mean that you will be taking all
of the financial risks as well. There also several levels of independence.
The association of Independent Musicians admits record labels as
long as they have less than 50% major record label control.
There is also a group of indies called DIY which means do-it-yourself.
An independent record label for one artist or a band is often called
DIY but it doesn't mean they actually do everything for themselves.
However, the Internet, home recording and cheap CD duplication
make DIY easy and attractive for the following reasons:
- You work for yourself.
- You have total creative control.
- You decide the recording and release schedules.
- You decide when, where and if you will license your work.
- You own the label, the work and the image you've created.
- You can charge less than the big boys and still make more money
for yourself.
- You get to keep all of the profit if you are successful.
You can't make choices unless you know what the options really
are. If you check out both the pros and the cons of independence,
you usually find that the decision will make itself.
Ty Cohen is the acclaimed author of over a dozen best-selling
music industry "How to" books and courses. Grab a copy
of Ty Cohen's latest book title by visiting http://www.MusicBooksByTy.com
and to learn more about starting or turning your existing record
label into a world wide, profit pulling record label visit: http://www.TheUltimateRecordLabel.com/landing_page.htm
Start a Record Label Today!
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