Distribution, Record labels etc.

[Cappy]

I was thinking about doing a course/degree/something as a means of getting into record distribution etc.

I know for a record label it's not essential to have any qualifications but as a general question what do the the men behind the music have in terms of qualifications (if any)

Also lastly anyone here have unexpected jobs in the industry, or find themselves within the industry by an accidental/unexpected route.

Here's a tune as it's a pretty mundane thread, loefah will save it

[Mr Hyde]

Loefah has got letters after his name....not sure what for.

But no, I wouldn't bother with any course to get into record distribution/labels....unless its a course you are interested in. All about being the work experience tea bitch or DIY.

[Cappy]

Fixed the link,

That's the point, i am interested. I wouldn't be looking into educating myself in that field if i wasn't interested. I know a lot of people don't have any formal training, but the whole point of the thread is to get some opinions from people who know about the qualifications.

Looking towards the older heads and those in the business, not just punters. I might have to shoot Blackdown an e-mail or something and try to find out from the people who i think probably know what's up.


I'm pretty confident i know the bones of starting a label but i know relatively little about the distribution side of things and i'm intrigued.

[Mr Hyde]

...nah I mean Loefah BSc or somesuch.

[Alistairr]

u can distribute by urself through bandcamp, that is a good starting point, then when u have a regualr customer base, u need to pitch ur label to a distributor i think as im no expert on it, but i did look into it a while back briefly and found a few distributors who offer deals etc. its a business though, so u gotta have details like predicted profit, how many releases a year, how are u going to promote the music, all these kinds of things and then maybe u get a deal I THINK!

this is of course assuming u have a rota of artists who are a) decent b) prepared to potentially give away their music for free, which is the problem, cause most decent artists wont want to do that and if their decent they will know that. so my advice is dont start a record label unless u really feel passionate about it, secondly do it with ur friends to start off with, people u trust, then u wont have to worry about contracts and the lark and build from there.

[Soulstep]

Personally a wouldn’t take/pay for any course related to music in this day and age.

The near future of physical and digital music is the net

Distributors are not really needed anymore, why sell your music via distributors when you can sell them through your own shop (bandcamp) and make up to 60% more.
If the price wasn’t a factor, what would be the difference from buying music on red-eye,juno or bandcamp especially for mp3’s

Sorry to go off topic

[Be-1ne]

if you want to work in record distribution there are a few jobs: order picker and packer, warehouse manager, tele-sales, accounts. Find the names of some distributors and see if they have any going or would let you do some kind of internship. You generally find accounting jobs to do with music distribution available and most physical distributors have been around a while and have a work force which has been there for years.

Going to study anything is a good start as in its basic form teaches you to be self motivated and organised. People who think you can find out everything to do with music on the net are donuts. I have never found anything remotely useful in running a label online, it has all been through dealing with people or speaking with tutors or lecturers I've had.

Hope that helps in some way shape or form.