Sending Demos to Record Labels

For Record Labels, Who You Know Matters!

You’ll probably come up with a list of between 20 and 100 record labels. If that seems to many, start narrowing them down by location again. Once you’ve got your list, all you’ve got to do is start putting together press packs and send them to all the labels you’ve identified.

It’s important to note that you’re in the business of music, where who you know counts for a whole lot. In the end, taking the time to find and utilize just ONE good contact at a record label is seriously a better use of your resources than sending 25 unsolicited demos to record labels. Since you play music, you most likely have friends who also play music or are in bands. How are they approaching the record label issue? Are they signed onto an indie label, or do they have any friends who work at labels?

Maybe you actually have music acquaintences who run an indie label. In that case, don’t be a nuisance to them but definitely take any opportunitity to have them listen to your music seriously. Even if your music is not a fit on their label they may be friends with another label who IS into your genre of music. When you go to parties where there are a lot of indie music people, make sure to talk up the fact that you are in a band. No need to brag, but it doesn’t hurt to mention it. Chances are that idle talk can lead to meeting more music people or musicians.

Yep, good old networking will often trump demos sent to labels randomly.

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