subject: Step by Step Guide How to Start a Record Label [print this page] Step by Step Guide How to Start a Record Label
Step No.1. Make your plans: Make an estimate of what you would be selling and how much you would charge for it. If you are going to employ outside artistes, how much are you going to pay them? After payment to them and estimated costs, what is it that you are going to make for each CD that you sell? Estimate these figures.
Step No.2. Budget your venture: How much money is needed to start your record label and where are you going to find that money? Can you use other people's money rather than put in your own? How do you get other people's money for this purpose? Think of your contacts and whether they would be interested in investing in your venture. Can you approach a bank? What other sources are available to you? If you were to invest your own money, do you have it ready?
Step No.3 - The recording process: How and where are you going to manage the recording? Find out the avenues that are available to you in your area. You can set up your own small studio with a minimum of investment. You can buy software to record, edit, convert and analyze your music at a fairly low price. See what other cheap avenues are available for recording the music without compromising on quality.
Step No.4 - Distributing your music: What arrangements are you going to make for distributing your music? See whether you can enter into agreements with existing music companies. Decide the amount of money that you would be paying them and also the royalty that you would pay your artists.
Step No.5 - Naming your label: select a name for your recoding company that would be attractive and attention catching.
Step No.6 - Promoting you label: This is the most important and crucial step in the whole process. Find out the people who matter in this industry and meet them. Strike deals with major record companies, radio stations, promoters and distributors. Remember this may not happen overnight - you will have to persevere, but then if you do, at the end you're going to come out the winner.
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