Dave “Davey Boy” Lindsey understands that attracting the attention of a record label is a difficult and necessary step when beginning a professional career in the music industry. Every successful artist started their musical career striving to sign with the label that will further their career. There are many essential factors that you need to consider that will help you get noticed. This critical process is a mixture of talent, branding, and proving that you have strong enough creative chops to continually produce new material. Record labels have to trust you to drive a consistent source of revenue to them and believe in you to uphold their reputation.
Show potential that they can sell your music.
Record labels ultimately want to make money. Provide them with viable samples of your work that showcase your talents and creative abilities. It is important to emphasize that you are able to work from conception to completion, with the end result being a polished piece of music. Even though it is a creative business, you still want to maintain a level of formality, diligence, and professionalism.
Convey that you’re easy to work with.
Prospective labels don’t want to sign difficult artists. Their goal is to make money at the end of the day and they’re looking to hire diligent musicians who are coachable. It is important to understand initially that labels are going to guide your music in the direction they see fit. For the artist, it may be solely about the art, but for the label, it’s simple dollars and cents. Always convey that you are ready to work for the betterment and success of the label.
Cultivate an established fan base and brand.
Utilize your social media pages on Vimeo, YouTube, Instagram, and Soundcloud to cultivate a following. Record labels will definitely want to see how many clicks each of your songs get, the amount of likes your social posts receive, and your overall marketability.
Every successful artist has created a brand to surround their work. Your brand image is equally as important as your music. Try to strike a balance where both can work in tandem together. Network and establish strong relationships with other types of creatives like graphic designers that can help you further your brand. For example, find a designer to create graphics for merchandise like t-shirts, hats, and other inexpensive promotional items.
Perform live.
Live shows are great indicators to determine how well you engage with an audience and if they respond positively to your music. Representatives and talent scouts from labels will frequent shows featuring amateur artists, so try to schedule any sort of gig you can.
Dave “Davey Boy” Lindsey is an award-winning music producer, songwriter, mix engineer, and musical consultant based out of Washington, D.C. At the tender age of two, he cultivated a true passion for music, and has worked towards becoming a world-class musician all of his life. He began composing music for major record labels like Verity, Zomba, RCA, Sony, and many more in 2004 and has been thriving as industry staple ever since. Dave Lindsey is dedicated to motivating new artists and musical acts to reach their full potential. Reach out today and learn how his musical services can help further your career and further hone your craft.