Record Deals | Independent VS Record Labels
You might be asking yourself how you can make it in the music industry without a label backing you. That's a very good question when it comes to planning how to go about your music career if you choose to go the independent route. It doesn't matter whether you rap, sing, write songs, or any other profession in music... you need a solid plan.
Obviously, the first step is to create good music. This requires great lyrics, a dope beat, and great production. If you need a place to buy beats, CacciBeats.com is here to help! Here, you can find the perfect beat for your new song(s).
Alright, let's get into the meat of this article!
Record Labels = Stress
Sure, labels help artists with everything from production, distribution, marketing, and promotions. They can make the artist's life easy and help develop them from a nobody into a household name. But, you don't NEED a record label to create a lane for yourself in the music industry.
There are plenty of big names that have been able to make it independently: Tech N9ne, Chance the Rapper, The Weeknd, Macklemore, and Adele to name a few.
The truth is, record labels come with a lot of stress, ranging from fees, bad deals, and mismanagement. If they drop you, it can be devastating if not completely end your career. Most record label make sure to retain the right to drop artists at their will.
You and the label are also taking a huge financial risk if they give you an advance. An advance is basically a big loan that you are expected to pay back with the money you make off of you music. Some record deals are actually written to allow the label to take money from other sources besides your music to pay back this loan.
The final point I want to talk about is ownership. When you sign to a record label, you're signing away some or all of your ownership to your music. This means that when your music generates royalties, you don't get to keep all of them for yourself. The labels usually get the majority share of these.
Networking
No matter what, you will have to work with various people in the music industry. This is where you need to figure out what you're good at. Do you write songs? Can you sing? What do you have to offer? Networking can seem pretty intimidating at first and it can definitely seem hectic but if you keep at it, you can build a solid network of people that can help you with everything from production, engineers, songwriting, and promoting your music. The right network can take you further than any record label could ever do.
Promote Online
The downside to not having a record label to promote your music for you is that it may be hard to cut through the noise and get your music heard. The best place to start promoting is online. You can create your own website and engage with your fans there to increase your fan base. Don't forget to utilize social media to get the word out. If you stay consistent, you'll find your music being heard by a lot of people really fast. There is a lot of preparation and effort that goes into establishing your brand and running a business but the rewards outweigh working for someone else. Once you make this part a habit, it will be easier to focus more time on your craft.
Conclusion
Making the decision to go independent without a record label is a clear sign of self reliance that should not be taken lightly. You have to make sure you are in the right mind set for everything else to fall into place. Keep your focus on making quality music with the help of good beats and production like that offered at CacciBeats.com and strive to be the best independent artist you can be. Cut out all distractions and focus on reaching your full potential. Nobody will believe in you they way you believe in yourself. It's up to you to prove them wrong.