Dubstep Forum Co-operative Label

[auralassassin]

Yea, thats right. It's not a big profit unless you are selling 10,000 or 100,000 like trance and techno labels.

I'd be happy just to make the money back and get a few of those 100 records that you were talking about

Or even just to get a few of the records

[ramadanman]

yep my way of looking at it was extrememly simplified. the 8,000£ or whatever it was was not including distribution etc. well at least we're starting to get somewhere.

probs best not to get too carried away though, cos right now its just like 4-5 of us discussing what probably a lot more would be interested in .

[cede]

Well,

I still go for it, given how little money there is in it. I just enjoy getting good music out there - especially on vinyl.

and aural - if you are really serious and do have that sort of money to invest, i am sure something could be worked out to where we can get this moving along and you do see your money returned. I would just say that you should only be involved if the focus is not on profit, because there really wont be much if any.

[cede]

I mean we dont necessarily need a distributor.

If we are doing 1,500 to 2,00 its not that large of a run. Especially if most of the vinyl will be spoken for by members of this forum.

We could possibly just get a distributor involved to handle a few hundred copies, whatever was left over after everyone involved got their wax.

[ramadanman]

what so you're saying like you give 50 records to someone in leeds to go and spread them around shops up there, and like 100 to some of us in london?

if we don't have a distributor, how do they get to all the outlets?

[elgato]

I mean we dont necessarily need a distributor.

If we are doing 1,500 to 2,00 its not that large of a run. Especially if most of the vinyl will be spoken for by members of this forum.

We could possibly just get a distributor involved to handle a few hundred copies, whatever was left over after everyone involved got their wax.

thats it, thats the potential beauty of this idea is that we might be able to cut out some of the middle men, especially if those involved in the grafting aint looking for more than covering their costs (and maybe the costs of a little of their time if successful). I know of a number of guys who have run this kind of thing with small leftfield dnb labels which have worked reasonably well. This is why the subscription idea seems appealing to me...

[cede]

what so you're saying like you give 50 records to someone in leeds to go and spread them around shops up there, and like 100 to some of us in london?

if we don't have a distributor, how do they get to all the outlets?

Right now we shoudl consider this very forum a sizable outlet. If we do get most of the people here interested and they buy copies, we could sell out of the run just here alone. Or maybe 1,100 copies or so.

Then you have 300 copies left in this scenario. If we do in fact have distro connections from members here, a distro could perhaps take the remaining copies and get them out there.

Or, we could just go direct, almost act like a distro ourselves. Send one sheets and info to shops. Drop off orders directly.

DIY.

[cede]

Well, I see a good compromise between the initial investors and doing a subscription service.

Let's say we go ahead with a release now. It goes into production for around 6 weeks (mastering plus manufacture).

We need need an initial investment for that, around 2,500 (1,355 p) or so. And we could get that from the members who have a larger amount to contribute right away.

We make the records, and then maybe a week or two before they come back from the press we announce the whole subscription thing and allow people to place their orders at the stabalized price.

At this time, if enough people subscribe the investors could then get their money recouped.

Then the record comes out, the costs are stabalized. everyone gets their record, or their record and their dough back.

everyone is happy right?

[ramadanman]

but expecting 1000 forum members to be prepared to buy the record? i really can't see that many people on this board would buy it. maybe a couple of hundred at the most.

[marsyas]

Well, I see a good compromise between the initial investors and doing a subscription service.

Let's say we go ahead with a release now. It goes into production for around 6 weeks (mastering plus manufacture).

We need need an initial investment for that, around 2,500 (1,355 p) or so. And we could get that from the members who have a larger amount to contribute right away.

We make the records, and then maybe a week or two before they come back from the press we announce the whole subscription thing and allow people to place their orders at the stabalized price.

At this time, if enough people subscribe the investors could then get their money recouped.

Then the record comes out, the costs are stabalized. everyone gets their record, or their record and their dough back.

everyone is happy right?

i am down....dowwwwn....depends what tunes though really.

[cede]

but expecting 1000 forum members to be prepared to buy the record? i really can't see that many people on this board would buy it. maybe a couple of hundred at the most.

Well, even if a couple hundred buy the record immediately and we are going direct. It would seem that the majority, if not all, of the initial costs would get covered.

Let's say it costs 2,500 to do it. We would need about 400 people to buy direct on the forum at 5.99 to make the money back.

And I think it could very well work if we figure out a good formula for the label. A theme if you will, one that would get potentially lost tunes out and help the growing scene at the same time.

A great method would be:

CO-OP release 1

A. Known Producer - Track 1
AA. Unknown Producer - Track 1

[ramadanman]

A theme if you will, one that would get potentially lost tunes out and help the growing scene at the same time.

definitely feeling this mentality.

there's this irish guy called Code who runs a label called subtle audio. he gets people to pay before, then presses up when he has enough orders. might be worth speaking to him .

[cede]

Yeah, I know Code.

I speak to him on and off on the Subvert Forum. He is a nice guy and seems to have a good approach to what he is doing.

[auralassassin]

haha, I vote for the label to be called "Communist Party Records"

Communist, for our communal nature being a co-op... and party records because thats what we put out...

[cede]

Hmm, how about...

Speak?

or Speak CO-OP - it would tie it to the forum, but without the cheese of calling it FORUM CO-OP RECORDS.

[ramadanman]

i think we should wait till dubway or whoever opens a forum for this co-op, then we can vote etc on names, and strategy.

[8bitwonder]

sounds like a really good idea

im finding out tommorow how much its gunna cost me to put ''monstaz'' out on my own-

then i may be able to come back ad share info on the cost of one release

[auralassassin]

i think we should wait till dubway or whoever opens a forum for this co-op, then we can vote etc on names, and strategy.

Does Dubway know that Dubway is going to be doing that? Perhaps we had better let dubway know what dubway is doing

[8bitwonder]

been an intresting crusade that will continue 2mora-good nite all

[8bitwonder]

been an intresting crusade that will continue 2mora-good nite all