Don’ t be a Dependent Independent Label
The Independent label can be a great business option nowadays because of the advent of the Internet. It requires astute planning and realistic goal setting. Many independent find they’ re opting for the challenge for the wrong reasons. One reason would be to hope for a Major Label to take interest in your independent. There are many myths regarding how a small label has great success and the Major label couldn’ t resist but to make an offer to acquire the independent. Although this can happen, often it does not. Most independent become large enough on their own to be major and then partner with a distributor such as SONY, Warner Bros. or Universal Music Group. What usually happens in my opinion is independent labels start out with the wrong priorities. Many want to achieve radio airplay before obtaining local recognition performing in local venues. Others want to have a lofty video believing it will attract many viewers although it is often as difficult to achieve consistent radio airplay as it is to obtain video airplay on television. What an independent should care about is what has always worked for decades; plan a local tour and build your tour by adding venues and expanding territory. By forging an intimate relationship with a few hundred people at each venue each week, in a couple of years an Independent can gain a strong fan base of up to 50,000 faithful consumers. This translates to over $ 200,000 a year; an independent label can grow from there. Having too many artists is also a problem. Most independent labels sign talent without remorse. Signing an artist is a commitment not to take too lightly. It is as important to sign the right artist for your company. If your company doesn’ t earn much in the beginning it becomes prudent to only sign artist that can create their own music. It is an extra expense to pay producers to create songs. Just as problematic can be signing producers as part of the company because the company sometimes has to spend money to fulfill obligations promised to the producer. However, signing producers is light years better and more economical than outright paying producers for songs. The ideal team would be a self-produced recording artist that is a singer-songwriter, have your own recording and rehearsal studio, do you own marketing to local venues pursuing bookings, but have a plan to expand territory radius. Get heavily involved in internet marketing by using social networking websites, and blogs to post videos and bulletins about upcoming shows. And there’ s more to do, but most important, make sure you have a three year plan. This will make your independent label strive and be truly independent!
Yum yum! Ernest Manigo, Jr.,
The Main Course Staff Writer Ernest Manigo, Jr.,
6 Independent Artist Magazine www. indieartmag. com