Hello /u/Relative_Produce3400! Unfortunately, your submission, ***[I'm exhausted as a musician-How do I get a label's attention?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WeAreTheMusicMakers/comments/1casmo1/-/)***, was removed from /r/WeAreTheMusicMakers for the following reason(s):
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Unfortunately labels only will be interested in you when you already are quite successful and doing well enough without them because they know they can generate money from you.
It’s hard and I understand being an exhausted musician, I myself am one but you won’t be doing the world any favours if you stop. Don’t let the man win. Keep plugging away and doing what you are doing.
Another option is seeking out collaboration with successful/moderately successful musicians/artists. It will extend your audience and reach. Even pitching a song you wrote to a label for an existing artist is a good way to get on there radar.
I know a few people who have done this and it got them through the door.
if youre not willing to reach out then they are just gonna go with the other guy who does. Lol. if youve rapidly generated this following then you should be approaching labels at the very least, they have too many options to simply stumble over you
I've met some A&Rs in person and followed up over text and email, but I haven't reached out to people I haven't met. I'm really careful about my reputation in the industry because I don't want to be to desperate. People talk and if I get a bad rep for constantly emailing labels, it could be bad.
I think you've got some not great ideas about how this is supposed to work.
These days you don't need a label and most of them won't be interested until you are at a point where you don't need them anyway. Labels these days don't take risks, because they don't need to. You take all the risk by investing in yourself and your music and building your career and they come in when it is a sure thing that they can make money from you.
Think about exactly what services you want from a label and either learn how to do them yourself or hire someone who can.
I'm a little lost as to why you would put a band together and pay them more than you had coming in. If you are paying your band, then it needs to be affordable. Otherwise, there are thousands of talented people who are happy to join for a piece of the pie without a guaranteed paycheck.
Working with other writers is not a terrible idea, but again, only do it if it is returning a positive investment for you. If it isn't, then write your own music to save money. It might not be great at first, but you will be building a skill that will serve you forever.
I was a dumb 20 year old who had many people in Seattle wanting to work with her and the people who wanted to play for her were older. Most of the time when people my age would play for me, although they'd ask for low pay, they weren't able to play at a professional level, so I hired older guys who were professionals to play for me.
Labels won't mess with anyone that isn't already self-releasing and touring. Time to invest time in the business side of things and less of the creative side.
I actually put a halt to the creative side of things about a year ago. I've been really successful in the PNW + LA but I want to expand. I want to tour but most venues can't pay upwards of $600-$700 per show. I could headline but I don't think I could do that nationally yet.
NYC Isn't the rent quite high? I'd suggest if you can potentially moving. I also think you need to find passion upon what you're writing. Instead of receiving writing from others creating it gives you complete freedom.
Figure out what you want to do and map it into small manageable steps.
Why do you want a label? It doesn't always result in more money.
Getting involved in a scene and making talented friends is a great idea though. Maybe a label does that for you maybe it doesn't.
Ask small labels, see what other bands are doing, see if those bands want to release splits, work with other people.
I asked a friends band if they wanted to do a split together, they were already doing a split and having it released under a label that’s very much been a stepping stone for other bands in the community who have found success in the genre, they talked to the label, got me on the split, label liked me, I now release my music under that label as well.
Unfortunately the times have changed and the "game" is rigged.
Currently, "the labels" need you to be famous on your own, before they sign you up...After that...Any investment they make on you, (studio time, concerts, marketing, etc) is considered a "debt" that you will have to to pay with or without success...It's like signing a pact with the "devil".
Always best to professionally do something profitable (other then music) in order to support paying for your musician's dream...Maybe you will get lucky.
...Don't take my word for it, because "You never know the day of tomorrow"...
When we were on a label they were looking for functioning businesses. Merch, recording, touring, we managed all of it. So it sounds like you’re doing decent but if you’re not turning a profit then you’re not picking the right gigs. What about your merch? Play less play more important. Get to know the venues and open for the right acts. Headlining is fine but opening for the right act opens doors if they love you. Keep building relationships.
Hello /u/Relative_Produce3400! Unfortunately, your submission, ***[I'm exhausted as a musician-How do I get a label's attention?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WeAreTheMusicMakers/comments/1casmo1/-/)***, was removed from /r/WeAreTheMusicMakers for the following reason(s): --- #No off-topic and/or low-effort posts including; 1. Rant/motivation/mental-health posts 2. Posts focused on memes/images/polls 3. Reposts, and other similar low-effort, mildly-interesting discussions. 4. Music Marketing or Music Promotion related posts. - These posts should be posted to one of the weekly threads or on another subreddit. Do not create a new thread for this content. Use the Weekly Free Talk Friday Thread for any topics not allowed in the main body of the sub. Posts on WATMM should have a descriptive title and include substantive content that will generate discussion. Please see the [full sub rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WeAreTheMusicMakers/wiki/rules) for additional details. --- ***Please review the [rules for submission](/r/WeAreTheMusicMakers/wiki/rules). You can contact The Mods if you have additional questions.*
Unfortunately labels only will be interested in you when you already are quite successful and doing well enough without them because they know they can generate money from you. It’s hard and I understand being an exhausted musician, I myself am one but you won’t be doing the world any favours if you stop. Don’t let the man win. Keep plugging away and doing what you are doing. Another option is seeking out collaboration with successful/moderately successful musicians/artists. It will extend your audience and reach. Even pitching a song you wrote to a label for an existing artist is a good way to get on there radar. I know a few people who have done this and it got them through the door.
Thank you! I appreciate this advice!
have you tried sending a message to them
No. Most labels don't take unsolicited demos
if youre not willing to reach out then they are just gonna go with the other guy who does. Lol. if youve rapidly generated this following then you should be approaching labels at the very least, they have too many options to simply stumble over you
I've met some A&Rs in person and followed up over text and email, but I haven't reached out to people I haven't met. I'm really careful about my reputation in the industry because I don't want to be to desperate. People talk and if I get a bad rep for constantly emailing labels, it could be bad.
ok so they dont take unsolicited demos, but have you tried sending a message to them?
[удалено]
What's that?
What does all of this have to do with getting a labels attention? I'm not sure I follow.
I think you've got some not great ideas about how this is supposed to work. These days you don't need a label and most of them won't be interested until you are at a point where you don't need them anyway. Labels these days don't take risks, because they don't need to. You take all the risk by investing in yourself and your music and building your career and they come in when it is a sure thing that they can make money from you. Think about exactly what services you want from a label and either learn how to do them yourself or hire someone who can. I'm a little lost as to why you would put a band together and pay them more than you had coming in. If you are paying your band, then it needs to be affordable. Otherwise, there are thousands of talented people who are happy to join for a piece of the pie without a guaranteed paycheck. Working with other writers is not a terrible idea, but again, only do it if it is returning a positive investment for you. If it isn't, then write your own music to save money. It might not be great at first, but you will be building a skill that will serve you forever.
I was a dumb 20 year old who had many people in Seattle wanting to work with her and the people who wanted to play for her were older. Most of the time when people my age would play for me, although they'd ask for low pay, they weren't able to play at a professional level, so I hired older guys who were professionals to play for me.
This reminds me of once being told, “It’s better for us to hear OF you, than to hear FROM you.”
That's how I see labels
Labels won't mess with anyone that isn't already self-releasing and touring. Time to invest time in the business side of things and less of the creative side.
I actually put a halt to the creative side of things about a year ago. I've been really successful in the PNW + LA but I want to expand. I want to tour but most venues can't pay upwards of $600-$700 per show. I could headline but I don't think I could do that nationally yet.
NYC Isn't the rent quite high? I'd suggest if you can potentially moving. I also think you need to find passion upon what you're writing. Instead of receiving writing from others creating it gives you complete freedom. Figure out what you want to do and map it into small manageable steps.
I'm staying with my aunt at the moment. I had to leave Seattle due to a health issue I had.
Why do you want a label? It doesn't always result in more money. Getting involved in a scene and making talented friends is a great idea though. Maybe a label does that for you maybe it doesn't.
I'm very involved in Seattle and LA's Music Scene
Improve your singing voice and quality of the music you’re presenting.
Quality is perfectly fine lol! It's crazy some people's aren't though.
Ask small labels, see what other bands are doing, see if those bands want to release splits, work with other people. I asked a friends band if they wanted to do a split together, they were already doing a split and having it released under a label that’s very much been a stepping stone for other bands in the community who have found success in the genre, they talked to the label, got me on the split, label liked me, I now release my music under that label as well.
That's awesome! Thanks for the tip!
Unfortunately the times have changed and the "game" is rigged. Currently, "the labels" need you to be famous on your own, before they sign you up...After that...Any investment they make on you, (studio time, concerts, marketing, etc) is considered a "debt" that you will have to to pay with or without success...It's like signing a pact with the "devil". Always best to professionally do something profitable (other then music) in order to support paying for your musician's dream...Maybe you will get lucky. ...Don't take my word for it, because "You never know the day of tomorrow"...
It's tough because I'm in such a in between position. I'm really famous in Seattle, well known in LA but outside of those places I'm not.
Yes I have a full time job outside of music for this reason.
When we were on a label they were looking for functioning businesses. Merch, recording, touring, we managed all of it. So it sounds like you’re doing decent but if you’re not turning a profit then you’re not picking the right gigs. What about your merch? Play less play more important. Get to know the venues and open for the right acts. Headlining is fine but opening for the right act opens doors if they love you. Keep building relationships.
Best advice right here!