Getting Signed: 9 Mistakes You Have To Avoid When Sending Your Track To Record Labels
- SUMANO
- 20 feb 2016
- 4 minuten om te lezen
You send tons of 'em, but you never get a reply. What am I talking about? Demo's of course!
Last weekend I was able to join a speech by Sebastien Lintz and Mattijs van Welzenis, the labelmanagers of Revealed Recordings, in which they, amongst others, told the best way to send a demo. These tips come straight from industry professionals! (Well, not straight, they come via me, but you get the idea.😊)
Always avoid the following:
1. Putting 1000 labels in the BCC-field
Labels prefer exclusive tracks, and your e-mails have to get their A&R's attention. Say why you like the label (but don't praise them as gods) and why you think your track suits it. Don't put thousand adresses of labels in the BCC-field!
2. Sending unfinished tracks
"Hey look I started this beat today. It doesn't sound very good yet but I will improve it if you sign me." Hahaha. Nope. Labels won't be interested. Send the full track, mixed-down and without any glitches.
3. Uploading your track to Zippyshare (why even?) or sending it as an attachment
Make your track easy to get heard! Zippyshare removes your file after 30 days of inactivity, so this is definately a no-go. Most labels prefer an e-mail with a link to a PRIVATE SoundCloud track with DOWNLOADS ENABLED. This way the person who is listening to your tracks doesn't have to sign up, close ads or wait for a download. Even better: browse their website/SoundCloud description to see how they want their tracks delivered.
4. Not mentioning airplay
If your track is played in an online broadcast, radioshow, club or at a festival, mention it! The A&R manager can look up the comments or the crowds reaction, and for them it's also very important to know how exclusive your track is. Be honest, airplay can work in your advantage but it may also not work.
5. Sending your track if their office is closed
Look up in what city your label is located and find the local working hours. Send your track when the label is listening to new tracks. The A&R team will be fresh and interested in new tracks. Don't EVER submit your demo in December (because of Christmas), on friday evenings (you will be all the way down their inbox next monday) or in the night. The ideal time according to the management of Revealed Recordings: on weekdays from a quarter past ten till noon.
6. Not having any affiliation with the listener
Pro tip from Mattijs and Sebastien! Follow the A&R on Twitter and reply to their tweets every now and then (but don't stalk them). Hopefully, they will recognise your name and be more interested in your track.
7. Not leaving any traces of yourself
Whoohoo! Finally! The A&R listened to your track "finishedtrack.wav" and they want to invite you at their office. But how do they find you back. According to Mattijs and Sebastien, it happened more than once that they wanted to sign a producer, but couldn't find his/her personal information back. Therefore always write your ID3-tags, and name your file the following:
Your Artist Name - Your Track Name (youremail@youremail.com).wav.
8. Giving up if they don't reply
The A&R of a label is often very busy and your track may slip through sometimes. Give them a friendly reminder (Why haven't you listened to my dope beats yet you f*cktard!?) if they haven't replied in two weeks (and include your track again).
9. Sending your autobiography (or no text at all)
The A&R won't be interested in your favorite color, your youth and blood type. They have better things to do then reading how your youth was and how your passion for music grew. On the other hand, don't 'just' send your track (say a few words). See the bottom of this article for a model and an example e-mail.
More tips
Here are some more tips which I mustered from the Internet (so they don't originate from the Revealed A&R.
10. Take care about your social media pages!
Especially if you're not a major artist, you'll have to do a lot of interaction with your fans yourself. Post something every now and then (even if it's just a 'Happy New Year'-wish) and make a flashy profile picture.
11. Send your track to the right record label.
The record label has to 'suit' your track. Universal would be happy to have Kygo, but Protocol Recordings will be less eager to sign his track.
12. Don't be too formal.
A&R managers, especially in the electronic music world, are often twentiers with the same hobbies and interests as you have. Don't start with "Dear Sir/Madam,", a casual "Hi!" is okay.
13. Keep in touch!
If they reply to your e-mail with a few questions or even rejection, don't see it as the end. Send them a new (version of your) track later and put the person's name you had contact before with in the subject line. Loyalty will be rewarded (hopefully).
14. Send your track to some producer/dj friends before sending it to a record label.
They will give you some useful feedback to make your track stand out even more!
Example e-mail
To: demo@label.com
Subject: Artist - Track Name [Demo Submission]
First line: greet the A&R staff (or call him/her by name if you know it)
Hi!
1st paragraph: say why you're mailing them and who you are.
My name is Selin, I'm twenty years old and I started making music five years ago. I wondered if you could listen to my track which you can find by clicking this private SoundCloud link: www.soundcloud.com/artist/trackname
2nd paragraph: tell something about the track, and if you're making emotional music, you could also tell why you made it.
The track is called 'Trackname' and it's a collaboration with my good friend Netraam Krewrov. It's a mellow house track of which I think will suit the style of Label Recordings. I hope you like it.
3rd paragraph: Close down and give your personal information (Phone numbers: mind country codes!).
You can always contact me on phone number +31612345678 or by replying to this e-mail.
All the best,
Selin Rahd-Llewolloh
Greenland
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