Re: Record Label

jrp (James.R.Perrett@soc.soton.ac.uk)
Fri, 23 Aug 96 14:24:59 BST


> Hi,
> I am e-mailing you for some information on setting up a record label. I am
> seriously considering running a small independent, experimentalist label.
> I have got the mastering and pressing sorted; but, as yet, I have no
> artists under any sort of contracts. I was wandering if you could point me
> in the right direction to get on the way to signing some artists. I am not
> looking for any full blown contracts, just a 12" at a time signing with the
> idea that the artist should have as much control as possible. In fact,
> it'll be a fairly laid back affair!
> Should I advertise, or should I attempt to go straight to the artists them
> selves?

The one thing you haven't mentioned is distribution. If you haven't sorted out
some kind of distribution deal with someone like Pinnacle or Southern then
you are very unlikely to get many records into the shops.

Presumably you've got a pretty good idea of what you want to put out - most
people that I know who have started their own label already had something that
they badly wanted other people to hear. Assuming the people you want to work
with aren't already under contract to another label then there is nothing wrong
with approaching them direct. If you don't have a good idea of what you want
to put out then I'd advise you to wait until you hear something that reall
grabs you.

James.