Music Industry Discussion

I have a band MADSIDE.And I know they deserve a record contract,right now.I just don't see how the industry can pass on bands like MADSIDE.They have their own style,(which is addicting,once you listen to them.)Their song AMMUNITION finished in 2nd place at OURSTAGE.COM 1st time entering them.So,can anyone tell me what the deal is.you can e-mail me at nixpix1@pacbell.net
thank you,
NICK PALUMBO

The deal is you need to do something controversial to get noticed. No matter how good your music is in today's superficial market you need to do something outrageous. Maybe you could take advantage of the ultimate fighting craze and beat each other up between sets. That would be a MADSIDE thing to do. Maybe create some sort of artificial animosity between band members and get free publicity. The Who gained significant notoriety by destroying their instruments after their live shows. Think of something friggin crazy and hopefully you'll get signed, or better yet be an indie recording artist and utilize all guerilla marketing tactics to achieve your own success. Screw the record labels. If they won't sign you based on your music, then promote yourself. Later...

Mr Bob has a good point Gents, The music ya'll have up is as good or better than most of that which gets air time. Same could be said for any number of bands and musicians on this site alone. But the man aint going to come and bow at your metal alter, you will have to drag his ass kicking and screamin all the way. It is a sick but true point, you almost have to have a gimmic of some sort.
Give em hell!

OR...don't waste your time with "getting signed" at all.
Today, you have the power and resources at your call to do everything YOURSELF and keep 100% of your profits.
You can even get European distribution on your own.
The day of "getting signed" in order to record, market, distribute and tour is becoming a thing of the past.
You can do all of this on your own now.

Just a thought.

I thought getting signed was reserved only for American Idol contestants now?

The problems with getting signed is that if your 2nd release can't beat the first, you end up in hoc to the label, and they WILL bankrupt you and walk away, leaving you broke and helpless.

DIY indy style is the only way these days.

Wasn't MADSIDE on American Idol?

Simon hated them. lol

I know of 100's of acts here in the UK that are awesome and look great and sound terrific...alas not signed.
Half the time the A&R men think they know whats best for the general public but they FORGET it only THIER opinion!!
Look at the 1000's of self made CD's now on independent labels on the racks in the music store doing tours and small gigs.
Some of the A&R mens choice soon fizzle out.
The Roling Stones and the Beatles were both pushed to one side by the record companies in the begining and look what happened to them!!!!!!

I'm beginning to think it's a matter of dumbass luck why anybody is anywhere...

hey I'm a dumbass.......does that mean I'm in?

OR...don't waste your time with "getting signed" at all.
Today, you have the power and resources at your call to do everything YOURSELF and keep 100% of your profits.
You can even get European distribution on your own.
The day of "getting signed" in order to record, market, distribute and tour is becoming a thing of the past.
You can do all of this on your own now.

Just a thought.

But a very good thought, Chris
I have two songs on vinyl, one having received local airplay and one national (but very far from charting in Billboard) That was possible "back in the day") but we have evolved into a new age and it seems that Chris has a handle on it.
Great music abounds and is more distributable and assessable then ever. That's a good thing.
Howlin'

Gotta agree with Chris on this one...these days you can do everything yourself if you don't mind doing the work. Lots of bands are lazy and don't want to do what is involved in getting out there in the public eye, playing is a small part of the business. Promotion is a bitch and can be very time consuming and thankless at times. The upside to a label is distribution, which is cool and all but you can build these relationships yourself if,like i said before; you're willing to do the work.

I live by one rule promoting my band.

Dont ever assume anyone is going to do anything for you, grab the bull by the horns and do everything to make everything you do be a success.

If you play a gig DON'T rely on the club for promotions because most clubs will only do so much, they have a million other bands to promote as well.

Also DON"T leave promoting your CD up to the stores you have selling it, they could care less about you or your CD.

Ultimately you can be great musicians, but if people don't see or hear you
it doesn't matter. The internet makes alot of the "see me hear me" possible, so use it to its full extent!

In order to attract the attention of any label, one must show a large number of products sold and keep an accurate record of sales. Any band who can sell from their garage or the trunk of their car and sell volumes is attractive to labels who want a piece of the action, can broaden the scope of sales, and do not have to do very much work to do so. Whether the band sounds great, is mediocre, or stinks is secondary to the amount of products sold. Good luck in your pursuit and maintain accurate sales records.

thanks for the info

The truth of the matter is Labels don't care how great you or your music sounds ... they want to see how big your fan base is at real live venues (not on the internet), how many states that fan base is in and how big is it, how many CD's & how much merch you can sell. It's all about the money.

Then with all the prior things in place like good CD sales, 500+ soldout shows touring in 3 or 4 states and the band is making money then "LUCK" comes into play where you have to be at the right place with the right song in front of the right person.

Ron

I have to disagree.
I believe that there are still people in the industry that will recognise the value of incredibly good music, and that a fan base is created by "just that music" if they deliver it to the people...ie, Nirvana
nobody knew who they were, and their few thousand fans didn't do a thing in bringing their success. the masses that were given a chance to hear them did!