top of page
Writer's pictureHarkos

The Record Label Trap: Why Independence is Your Key to Music Success

“If I could just get signed to a label then I would be good.

My music career would be on the fast track.”


That's what many Independent Artists think because they see all the different aspects of the music business that they don't know and realize that they're in over their head.


I understand that it can be overwhelming, but if you have nothing to bring to the table at a record deal, then you're going to be in a worse situation than you already are as an independent artist.


Many people forget that on a record deal, they own you as an artist.

  • They tell you how many projects they want you to create yearly.

  • They have you submit your stuff to them for approval and potential edits.

  • And most importantly they take a cut of your money, sometimes a very large cut, to do all the business stuff for you.


So what are the perks of signing to a label again?

  • They own your intellectual property and you as an artist.

  • They tell you what to do and what to create.

  • And they take a good amount of your money.


Yeah, you may get a decent size check up front. You may even be doing Nationwide tours and getting well-known.


But are you free?


I know it says it in the name, but being an independent artist means that you have your independence. And while you have the freedom to do as you wish, you also have the negative side of the freedom to fail on your face.


I will say that that is a perk of dealing with a label. They handle all the marketing and promotions so if something fails it's on them. But, since they own you they can just shelve you.


I talked about how artists often get shelved and many other aspects of getting signed to a label in this video right HERE.


But instead of just identifying problems I always like to come up with a greater solution than what the problem is.


Whether or not you want to get signed to a label down the road, you need to work on building yourself as an artist right now.


If you build yourself a solid independent music business, you will have the ability to grow that and stay independent. If you decide that you want to sign to a label, you have a lot more that you bring to the table. Which increases your leverage on the deal so that you can benefit more out of that relationship.


I understand that knowing all the different aspects of the music business is very difficult. But, the art of being an Entertainer is very simple.


Entertain. And when in doubt entertain some more.


That is what the fans want.


The fans don't care about the business end, the fans just want to be entertained.

So as an artist, your #1 goal is to entertain them as often as possible.


That's why I put together my absolutely free, TikTok Style Music Video Course.


It is a great resource to show people how to easily create entertaining video content for their music, and how to do it for free.


Check it out and share the link for this course with every artist that you know.


It is only a little over an hour's worth of video

AND

will show you how to:

  • create 30 days' worth of social media content

  • in as little as 1 day

  • for $0.


I have other courses on the way, but, I put this course out first because it is the most important first step that musicians need to take if they want a real music career.


And of course, after you have checked the course out, reach out to me and let me know what you thought of it.


If you need any help along the way, let me know that as well.


I’m here to help. Book a Zoom and let’s get your fanbase growing.


Comentários


bottom of page