Sending Material to a Label

.klimaxx · Post by **.klimaxx** » Mon Aug 25, 2008 8:29 pm

Okay, so as you may know I'm only 16, so i've not been signed before.. I haven't really seen anything here in terms of tips on how to get signed in the dubstep scene..

my questions are:
- how many songs should you show them?
- how do you find them?
- how do you know if they're ripping you off?

easy,

.klimaxx

DZA · Post by **DZA** » Mon Aug 25, 2008 8:34 pm

if i was you i wouldnt even be think about this yet youve only just made ya first song,think bout making more tunes before you try and get signed

.klimaxx · Post by **.klimaxx** » Mon Aug 25, 2008 8:44 pm

i know.. but i'm planning ahead innit

i'm not asking just for myself - lots of people will be thinking the same thing i'm sure.

it can't hurt to know, and it can't hurt to ask.. so replies such as those are pretty useless to tell the truth..

misk · Post by **misk** » Mon Aug 25, 2008 8:55 pm

doesnt really matter how many songs you send them. It's always nice if you send them a few, i.e. enough for a potential release.

to find them - look for them. meet people, hit them up on msn, aim, or here via PMs. just look for them. google their website... etc...

you dont always know if their ripping you off. Use your best judgement. Theres not much money in this scene at this point in time. You dont want to just jump onto someone's vanity label - but instead focus on some of the more established labels.

make lots of tunes, you'll get better in ways you dont even know, every time you finish a tune. I've got all my music i've made, and then i've got my "new catalog" most of which hasn't been heard, that i consider the only decent music i've made. This is in the past 6 months, and i've been making tunes for years.

hope this helps.

.klimaxx · Post by **.klimaxx** » Mon Aug 25, 2008 9:46 pm

thanks misk, that was much more helpful

i notice the same thing with the whole getting better with every song you make..

i used to play in a rock band when i was 13, and the recordings seem to me to be now unbearably bad! it's true what they say - there's always room for improvement.

kwality · Post by **kwality** » Tue Aug 26, 2008 12:26 am

Dubstep is the best genre for being recognised if your stuff is good, so just concentrate on making good beats and aiming them to people you appreciate/dj's you like/friends. If the stuff is all that it will be noticed, trust.

eshscramble · Post by **eshscramble** » Tue Aug 26, 2008 1:31 am

i'm not sure if i'll be much help, but i can say that one resource that you should always take advantage of is other ears.

i've sent tracks to a lot of people, and more than half the time i feel differently about the song later. there seems to be this period of time after i finish a track that i really like it, because of all of the new techniques i used or referenced while making it. then, after that fades off, i hear something closer to what everyone else hears the first time they hear the tune.

some of the best ways i've made good contacts are not by what labels/djs i sent tracks to, but what labels/djs my friends sent my tracks to. usually people won't recommend tracks that aren't up to par, so make friends with some people here on the forum and get some honest opinions. a lot of people that frequent the forums know of labels that might like your stuff when it gets good enough.

i know there are a few people who send me tracks for opinions, and i send them mine too... it's a good way to catch yourself before you throw out a track to the public and realize later that your mixdown wasn't good anywhere else but your studio, or your bassline is out of phase in the second drop... things i've personally experienced.

these things can keep labels far away.

mostly, keep making tunes. read as much as you can about mixing, eqing, the music industry, synth programming, anything that interests you. sounds like you are getting the obsession. it get's worse

btw getting tracks signed may not be the best goal to set... i like to think that i would be much more excited if my track were the mysterious unsigned track on a big dj mix cd released on a label. or making an amazing catalog of tunes that no label seems to like- then you release it yourself only to find out everyone loves it and you sell a ton... or just winning a medium order of curly fries at jack in the box. who really knows though... for now, sitting down with some oolong and making lofi lead sample packs for myself works just fine.

misk · Post by **misk** » Tue Aug 26, 2008 2:35 am

eshscramble wrote: i like to think that i would be much more excited if my track were the mysterious unsigned track on a big dj mix cd released on a label.

what a loser.

.klimaxx · Post by **.klimaxx** » Tue Aug 26, 2008 7:11 am

lol thnks guys

i'll be sure to keep this all in mind!

legend4ry · Post by **legend4ry** » Tue Aug 26, 2008 7:23 am

eshscramble wrote:i'm not sure if i'll be much help, but i can say that one resource that you should always take advantage of is other ears.

i've sent tracks to a lot of people, and more than half the time i feel differently about the song later. there seems to be this period of time after i finish a track that i really like it, because of all of the new techniques i used or referenced while making it. then, after that fades off, i hear something closer to what everyone else hears the first time they hear the tune.

some of the best ways i've made good contacts are not by what labels/djs i sent tracks to, but what labels/djs my friends sent my tracks to. usually people won't recommend tracks that aren't up to par, so make friends with some people here on the forum and get some honest opinions. a lot of people that frequent the forums know of labels that might like your stuff when it gets good enough.

i know there are a few people who send me tracks for opinions, and i send them mine too... it's a good way to catch yourself before you throw out a track to the public and realize later that your mixdown wasn't good anywhere else but your studio, or your bassline is out of phase in the second drop... things i've personally experienced.
these things can keep labels far away.

mostly, keep making tunes. read as much as you can about mixing, eqing, the music industry, synth programming, anything that interests you. sounds like you are getting the obsession. it get's worse

btw getting tracks signed may not be the best goal to set... i like to think that i would be much more excited if my track were the mysterious unsigned track on a big dj mix cd released on a label. or making an amazing catalog of tunes that no label seems to like- then you release it yourself only to find out everyone loves it and you sell a ton... or just winning a medium order of curly fries at jack in the box. who really knows though... for now, sitting down with some oolong and making lofi lead sample packs for myself works just fine.

Not tryna start beef but you really didn't answer his questions in the most straight forward way and I don't agree with the way you put some stuff so I am going to stress a opinion.

As long as theirs a love for the music, who really cares who is putting it out and who is making the most money or the best way to make the most? I mean everyone has to eat but as long as a signing is fair and it gets out there I'm sure most producers who ain't got people expecting absolute smashers from them every single release, will be happy to get their music out there!

Really the best advice in a simple, straight sentance is to network, get your sounds out there (radio and such) and with a bit of luck, they'll come to you, as said above.

Work at your own pace and it'll come to you if you have a passion for it, not saying I am a big producer at all, I can barely mixdown properly, though that has to do with only having 20pound pair of headphones to produce and mix on but just do what you do

caos · Post by **caos** » Tue Aug 26, 2008 12:21 pm

http://dubstepdirectory.com/labels.html

there are some labels and contact info for anyone who wants to send tracks to them...

sofa_king · Post by **sofa_king** » Tue Aug 26, 2008 9:01 pm

I don't really have much to add but props to klimaxx for asking the question cuz it is something I have wondered a lot, and it's kind of a weird question to ask. I'm relatively just getting started but it is good to know about these things anyway so props to everyone who posted, just wanted to say I think this is an interesting topic.
I hear jack in the box is always looking for new talent.

.klimaxx · Post by **.klimaxx** » Tue Aug 26, 2008 9:35 pm

cheers guys, esp caos for the link!

i knew it can't have just been me that was wondering this kinda stuff..

still - i'm seriously considering not even trying to get signed, and just doing it solo via iTunes etc.

eshscramble · Post by **eshscramble** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 4:07 am

Legendary wrote:
Not tryna start beef but you really didn't answer his questions in the most straight forward way and I don't agree with the way you put some stuff so I am going to stress a opinion.

As long as theirs a love for the music, who really cares who is putting it out and who is making the most money or the best way to make the most? I mean everyone has to eat but as long as a signing is fair and it gets out there I'm sure most producers who ain't got people expecting absolute smashers from them every single release, will be happy to get their music out there!

Really the best advice in a simple, straight sentance is to network, get your sounds out there (radio and such) and with a bit of luck, they'll come to you, as said above.

Work at your own pace and it'll come to you if you have a passion for it, not saying I am a big producer at all, I can barely mixdown properly, though that has to do with only having 20pound pair of headphones to produce and mix on but just do what you do

no man, well said. as for me, don't smoke and type

sofa_king · Post by **sofa_king** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 1:03 pm

I'm not positive but I think artists don't make much money off iTunes (i've heard figures around $0.10 for every $1). I don't think that that's much worse than a major label release situation, but there must be a better way to get rich quick.

FSTZ1 · Post by **FSTZ1** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 4:13 pm

Sofa_King wrote:there must be a better way to get rich quick.

dom · Post by **dom** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 4:21 pm

if you want to send something to a label, its generally better imo to try to give them a CD in person and failing that send them over Via AIM or msn after introducing yourself and possibly chatting for a bit. Im much more likely to check out someones tunes if I have some idea of who they are.

FSTZ1 · Post by **FSTZ1** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 4:42 pm

^^^really??

that seems so "80's"

as the guy who runs a small label, I would be screwed if I waited on people to give me a CD

AIM or email links seem to be the way it's happening nowadays

Sending Material to a Label

Sending Material to a Label

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