Sending dubs? Here's some help: Dub Etiquette...

[DFRNT]

Great article Alex. Will re-post now.

Much appreciated!

[Trashbat]

thanks a lot for the thread man, really helpful, a lot stuff id never really thought about.

well appreciated!

[kaiten]

Great read. Big ups DFRNT.

[jowellz]

Sweet article, big up for posting!

[Sentinels]

This is a great article but I think the only thing a little misleading about it is that you have chosen quite a few neophyte/musophile types to offer advice. I listen to Martin and Oli's shows and they seem to be obsessive about bringing the finest, brand new music to the masses (why I listen of course.) The same goes for their blogs. But if you look at the playlists of some of the biggest DJs on the road they are drawing from a selection of maybe 20 producers or labels. So I can't imagine the top boys trawling through hours of tunes every week from less known producers in their emails. I find it unsurprising when I hear that New Hot Producer X is a flatmate or school friend of Mr Top DJ or whoever. I think getting your tunes played and breaking through is easier for certain people that it is for others despite how well you label your tunes or even how well produced they are.

Yet perhaps it is the gatekeepers such as the guys mentioned that offer the key to getting greater exposure, working up the chain of course...

[DFRNT]

This is a great article but I think the only thing a little misleading about it is that you have chosen quite a few neophyte/musophile types to offer advice. I listen to Martin and Oli's shows and they seem to be obsessive about bringing the finest, brand new music to the masses (why I listen of course.) The same goes for their blogs. But if you look at the playlists of some of the biggest DJs on the road they are drawing from a selection of maybe 20 producers or labels. So I can't imagine the top boys trawling through hours of tunes every week from less known producers in their emails. I find it unsurprising when I hear that New Hot Producer X is a flatmate or school friend of Mr Top DJ or whoever. I think getting your tunes played and breaking through is easier for certain people that it is for others despite how well you label your tunes or even how well produced they are.

Yet perhaps it is the gatekeepers such as the guys mentioned that offer the key to getting greater exposure, working up the chain of course...

Yeah that's a pretty good point - So much of the music business is about building relationships and the "who you know" attitude. I'd like to believe that if you rmusic is good enough it'll always succeed - but having seen so many amazing producers struggle, I feel it's maybe not the case all the time.

I think it's easy for producers or DJs who don't have time to just check stuff from names they've checked before - so yeah the same producers keep cropping up in their selection, which is understandable, but you do want to make sure that if someone takes a chance on your tracks, they're in a suitable format, and it's easy for anyone to get back in touch with you - because the last thing you need is a big gun taking the time to check a track, and then not being able to get back to you - or wanting to check a track, and not having the access, or ability to hear it etc.

But yeah like you say - people know people, so work your way up, and ajust your dubs list accordingly - keep in with those you know, and be welcome to building relationships with others. You never know who your tunes will get to. You may find you get requests from people you've not heard of, and you find they run a night with a big producer, or that they promote a night that a big DJ has played, and they have the opportunity to pass your stuff to DJs coming through or whatever. It all works, if you keep on top of it.

Bottom line is whoever you send to - make it easy for them. As easy as possible!

Hot tip: ask people how they prefer to be sent dubs. It's a nice introduction, and they will tell you the best thing to do. Then you can be sure you're getting the best from people.

[SYMBL001]

useful stuff!

[tminus]

Good read!

[ekidd91]

Actually ordered the magazine on the strength of this article. Brilliant mag.

[codeStep]

Actually ordered the magazine on the strength of this article. Brilliant mag.

[gen_]

Gold-Dust! Really useful info.

[PhRecs]

Good article.

[dusk governor]

[TrisLaw]

Wonderful info I just registered here and absolutely LOVE this first post i read ;D:D:D favourited.

[Astrobear]

This is a wonderful read! I always second guess myself when sending my stuff to people because I wasn't sure if I was doing it right, it's nice to here about some standardized method so that I can be more confident about the format and method of sending stuff in.

Look out for me, with this information it won't be long 'till I make it

[BestDubstep]

it's very rare to find posts like this. thanks man.

[dopocc]

Great read, useful!

[Thuun]

Thank you DFRNT,
This came at perfect timing, im just now starting to think about releasing my own tunes, better to wait and learn than do it the wrong way!

[ForbiddenFruitRecord]

well written article and good read that.

i tend to do little batch review of promos/demos to avoid getting fatigue of them. One the big things i find when people send stuff is jus how bad the approach is... they either seem to send no info, couple of lines expecting you to check it or some generic blag... all of which make me reach for delete.

Part thr problem it seems to me is people forget common curtisy and people skills. Business be in music or anything else is all down to relationships, and just because its email doesnt mean you do anything different to how you would otherwise. If someones took time to see how they fit label and genuine express what theyre bringing to the table, your always going to check the track...

other biggie is streamable music. no one wants to download 80meg jus to check a track...

[dubloke]

really good read. I have a question, if I wanted to send a dub to a big DJ, how would I send it to them? by that I mean by what means would I contact them? on here? facebook? soundcloud?