A few years back the main thing that any musicians worth his salt was after online was info about how to a recording contract
. But nowadays the more savvy musician realises that you do not want the big bucks a major label can provide to make it online . All you really need is great music and the ability to put up a simple internet site and write one or two mails to your fans.
But while acknowledging that I still think that there's a thing to be expounded for the major labels if they com knocking on your door because they fundamentally provide funding to hire a promoting company to do all the leg work so that you can chill :- )
Here is my five step system for getting a record deal in the current's music biz.
Step 1|- Go to your local record shop and look up the bands that you like most and that you think you sound like.
Step 2 - Open up the sleeve and see what label they're signed to.
Step 3 - Get your executive to contact the AR department of the label and ask for a scout to come down and watch your show. ( ensure the gig is nice and near to the offices and try and book it on a Thursday night as music folks don't enjoy going to gigs on the weekend. )
Step 4 - Get a killer set together that may impress the scout.
Step five - If the AR guy is a fan of your gig he'll need to set up a showcase which is generally a private show where the record company big boys will decide if they are prepared to open their wallets.
If all goes well they're going to offer you an initial deal and then it is going to be up to your manager to make certain that you get what you are worth and a bit of freedom to make the music the way in which you want.
*Note* i would recommend that you use this method with second tier record firms at first and then test your luck with he bigger boys after you've one or two singles and a good sales previous record under you belt.
Most major labels would like to see that you've had some success on your own before taking the risk and offering you a massive advance.
For me the idea of getting a record deal is a massive turn off at the moment...
...and that's typically because i have spent a lot of time learning automatic music marketing techniques, which suggests I can just spend time making music...
Press 2 buttons...
And hey presto...
....all the selling is done and the new fans pore into my website.
Why pay a recording 80% of your CD sales when you can automatically do all of the selling yourself and bypass all of the crap that comes from selling our to delight your label.