How do I get a record deal?

[Don Juan]

tbh.
You need to start making moves and reaching out to managers & A&Rs.

https://empire.empi.re/

Is taking a lot of indie talent.

You also should definitely make it out here to LA.
I can't hook it up for you but there's definitely a few shows and showcases you can hit.

Don't hit the indie circuit if your goal is to get signed tho.
I highly suggest you immediately focus on and continue to make moves towards
getting your music in front of the right eyes.


Also be prepared for the fukkery and the self absorbed.
Wishing you well on your journey, if we run across each other offline, I'll say what's up.

I almost attended USC, but ended up in Austin instead. Will put LA on the list, thanks.

 

[Don Juan]

Start your own label. Create an LLC and a DBA and copyright and trademark as much as you can. Make good music.

You don't have to whore yourself out to the industry.

Get involved with the live scene if there is one in your community.

Do open mics, concerts, work on your ability to move a crowd and work with other people.

You have to decide if you want to get into business. If you don't want to deal with the ins and outs and ups and downs...just keep music as a hobby.

There is always competition and people that steal your shyt. There are also much more talented people than you that haven't figured out how to get noticed.

If you want to be an artist. You have to treat yourself like a product...to be marketed and consumed. Know how much money you want to make, and know when you have enough of it to buy all of the equipment that you need.

Once you've reached a level of success where don't care about what people think about your music...it's time to stop.

I DJ, so I'm not new to this. I tried to start a record label but my main artist got arrested.

 

[Jean Jacket]

I DJ, so I'm not new to this. I tried to start a record label but my main artist got arrested.

You're a DJ... why are you looking for a deal? This is not 1996. Nobody signs DJs...

You should be looking at events, venues and shows... Making organic money. Under the table money.

Nothing better than show money.

Are you spinning on livestreams?

Just keep networking and pushing your music out.

 

[Don Juan]

You're a DJ... why are you looking for a deal? This is not 1996. Nobody signs DJs...

You should be looking at events, venues and shows... Making organic money. Under the table money.

Nothing better than show money.

Are you spinning on livestreams?

Just keep networking and pushing your music out.

Fair enough, that's why I'm asking the question and giving information.

I could clear $2000-$10000 a month djing if I gave it my all.

 

[Bryan Danielson]

Let @Tony D'Amato measure you, he has BIG connections

Facts……

Also gotta let @RehReh get all your masters and EP credits on a 12 album deal

 

[Westbama Heartthrob]

I DJ, so I'm not new to this. I tried to start a record label but my main artist got arrested.

How much time he facing?

 

[Don Juan]

How much time he facing?

His lawyer got the charges dropped, but it was two felonies.

 

[Rembrandt]

Fair enough, that's why I'm asking the question and giving information.

I could clear $2000-$10000 a month djing if I gave it my all.

Do that and use the money to fund your music career. If you can clear out $24k-120k a month (which is a wild range. you have to scope better imo) then you shouldn't be in any rush to sign.

Spend that money on marketing. Get a site, pay influencers to listen/review your music on YouTube, pay nikkas on tiktok to make a dance for it. If you can't do either of those with your music then your likelihood of getting sign is already low considering those are key engagement points

 

[Don Juan]

Do that and use the money to fund your music career. If you can clear out $24k-120k a month (which is a wild range. you have to scope better imo) then you shouldn't be in any rush to sign.

Spend that money on marketing. Get a site, pay influencers to listen/review your music on YouTube, pay nikkas on tiktok to make a dance for it. If you can't do either of those with your music then your likelihood of getting sign is already low considering those are key engagement points

Okay. This is great advice. Exactly why I came here.

 

[Hood Critic]

You dj in SA or ATX?

 

[Fanservice]

You’re more likely to gain the attention of an artist looking to sign other artists, than an actual A&R from a big record label, if you’re a rapper.

Submit your music to major distributors (Spotify/Apple/you already mentioned YouTube)

Do artist showcases/contests and network at these events. You might start getting booked for other shows and events (free/paid/opening for a bigger artist)

Make 3 posts a day on Instagram and tiktok. You don’t have to do any goofy videos. Just post little clips of you singing or vibing out to your music, do remixes of other people’s clips with your music added, collabs, etc.

Keep making music and grinding. The first 1-2 years don’t expect to make much or any money. Focus on building an audience and networking. You’re very unlikely to gonna go viral on tiktok and get a record deal unless you’re a bad bytch twerking with a simp paying for marketing/ads/big content creators to use your music in their posts

 

[Don Juan]

You dj in SA or ATX?

ATX.

 

[Hood Critic]

ATX.

Do you have a relationship with DJ Casper (out of SA) or DJ J Millie at all?

 

[Don Juan]

Do you have a relationship with DJ Casper (out of SA) or DJ J Millie at all?

No.

 

[Jean Jacket]

I'm worried that the Coli is going to go away as soon as late next year. I'm actually going to try to release some stuff here in the booth that needs to get to some authentic hip hop ears before it goes dark.

I suggest that you don't put your dreams on hold.

You need artistic layers. fashion, musicality, personality, confidence, education, fearlessness, and above all faith in yourself even if you're not where you want to be at the moment.

Artist development is paid by YOU at the label.

Advertising...studio time...this is old school knowledge.

I learned young.

I volunteered some time (short time) when I was 18 as an intern at a major media outlet circa 2000 and I saw dozens of artists in a damn near boot camp/ assembly line for girl groups by major labels. Universal Records was notorious for digging into the crates of every city in America for exploitation.

In about 2 months and quitting...I knew who the pawns were.

shyt has not changed except for

Distribution is not a barrier any more.

You can find artists everywhere.

Try your hand in Afrobeats and get some tools like voclea and fukk around with some sounds.

Collab with some Naija /South African Brehs...they got the most obvious juice for the next wave in music.

You gotta set the table...the artists will come.

You didn't say if you produced...so if you're not able to make music... you're wasting everybody's time.