Marketing & PR Firms - Foundations for Starting a Record Label
Saturday, November 23, 2013
Your record label is your brand. It creates a first impression and conveys your essential style. You base your reputation on it. It should be simple, understandable and memorable. Owning your own record label will allow you to control how your music is sold, how much it is sold for and to whom.
Choose a Name
The name of your record label is the is the foundation for your artist's brand, public relations and website. In three words or fewer, choose a simple name for your record label that will represent your business for years to come. The name of your record label should complement the style of music that you are promoting. Once you pick a name, copyright it by publishing it in the local paper or sending it to someone in an email or through the U.S. mail.
Create a Logo
Use a simple yet meaningful image for your logo. The name and the logo image on your record label should compliment each other. The colors, too, should coordinate with the name, logo and style of music being represented. Take, for example, "Apple Records." The record label uses two words, is easy to remember and uses the image of a pale green apple sitting on top of a record. The Apple Records logo style represents music that is wholesome and positive. Your logo should appeal to your audience and promoters. Your logo should allow you room to grow and may need to be updated periodically as your business expands. You can hire a professional designer to create a logo for you, or, if you are an artist, you can make your own.
Recording
Use the most updated versions of free recording software such as Audacity or Goldwave, for example. Recording and editing your own music will increase your profits by reducing your equipment rental and studio fees. Please see Resources for further information.
Packaging Your CDs
Design your own CD labels and covers displaying your logo using free CD label making software programs such as Pressit or New Free Downloads, for example. Sell your CD and record label on your website and other retail outlets such as music stores and bookstores.
Make it Legal
Apply for a business license. Apply for bar codes to sell and inventory your CDs and downloads. If there are other people involved running your business, incorporate it. The advantages of promoting your music through your own record label as a corporate entity is that if, for instance, you were scheduled to perform and had an accident which precluded you from doing so, your label would be sued instead of you personally.
Distribution
Register a website domain name using a free website builder like Wix, Weebly or Doodle Kit, for example. Your domain name should contain your record label name. The imagery on you website should match the logo on your record label. Sell your own CDs displaying your record label logo on your website by adding a PayPal bubble payment option. Visit PayPal and follow the simple directions for tethering your website to PayPal in order to be able accept payments. Visit Record Production for a comprehensive, up-to-date list of record label web links to market your CDs.
Tags:
Marketing, Marketing amp; PR Firms
Choose a Name
The name of your record label is the is the foundation for your artist's brand, public relations and website. In three words or fewer, choose a simple name for your record label that will represent your business for years to come. The name of your record label should complement the style of music that you are promoting. Once you pick a name, copyright it by publishing it in the local paper or sending it to someone in an email or through the U.S. mail.
Create a Logo
Use a simple yet meaningful image for your logo. The name and the logo image on your record label should compliment each other. The colors, too, should coordinate with the name, logo and style of music being represented. Take, for example, "Apple Records." The record label uses two words, is easy to remember and uses the image of a pale green apple sitting on top of a record. The Apple Records logo style represents music that is wholesome and positive. Your logo should appeal to your audience and promoters. Your logo should allow you room to grow and may need to be updated periodically as your business expands. You can hire a professional designer to create a logo for you, or, if you are an artist, you can make your own.
Recording
Use the most updated versions of free recording software such as Audacity or Goldwave, for example. Recording and editing your own music will increase your profits by reducing your equipment rental and studio fees. Please see Resources for further information.
Packaging Your CDs
Design your own CD labels and covers displaying your logo using free CD label making software programs such as Pressit or New Free Downloads, for example. Sell your CD and record label on your website and other retail outlets such as music stores and bookstores.
Make it Legal
Apply for a business license. Apply for bar codes to sell and inventory your CDs and downloads. If there are other people involved running your business, incorporate it. The advantages of promoting your music through your own record label as a corporate entity is that if, for instance, you were scheduled to perform and had an accident which precluded you from doing so, your label would be sued instead of you personally.
Distribution
Register a website domain name using a free website builder like Wix, Weebly or Doodle Kit, for example. Your domain name should contain your record label name. The imagery on you website should match the logo on your record label. Sell your own CDs displaying your record label logo on your website by adding a PayPal bubble payment option. Visit PayPal and follow the simple directions for tethering your website to PayPal in order to be able accept payments. Visit Record Production for a comprehensive, up-to-date list of record label web links to market your CDs.
