Getting signed
Thursday 16 April 2009
n2k follows singer-songwriter Theo Bard in his quest to get signed - watch the video.
Theo Bard
Theo is a young and up and coming artist who lives and works in London. He’s influenced by all things folk and is already known for his catchy acoustic songs.
He supported Natty during his album launch last year and already has a busy summer ahead of him with performances at Glasto and Secret Garden Party.
Getting signed
Step 1 – Finish off the album
An album is a collection of songs, and showcases the musical style of an artist. Record labels are able to get more of a feel for the music if an artist sends them a full album.
However, some artists create an extended play (EP), which as Theo explains is, "more than a single, but not quite an album."
Step 2 – Promotion
The internet is full of possibilities! Artists like Lily Allen and Kate Nash were discovered on MySpace. If you're an artist and you use MySpace try to give enough information on yourself, your music, and places where you'll be performing. Posting links on message boards are also helpful too.
Some artists may choose to promote their albums themselves to get the word out. This is a good way to create an image and build a fan base, but takes a lot of work.
Sending off demos to record labels isn’t always a sure fire way of getting heard. Labels receive demos all the time and could just be one of a massive pile. If you're an artist that has sent off their demo, try a follow up call to see if they've listened to it.
Step 3 – Performing
Playing gigs, whether they’re small or packed out, helps to create a buzz, and this is sure to get the attention of Artists & Repertoire Representatives (A&R) whose job it is to find the next big thing. Creating enough of a following will mean it will be hard for A&R reps to ignore those artists.
If you want gigs why not start your own night? It can be a little pricey but it's a good chance to get some music contacts - and if the night turns out to be a success then you’ll definitely turn some heads.
Step 4 – Create artwork
Getting professional studio pictures made can be quite expensive. A good camera and a friend who knows how to use it might just do the trick.
However, creating album artwork isn’t always as hard as it sounds. If you want to do this yourself and if you've got Photoshop on your computer it’s pretty fun. Adjust the canvas size by 4.78 x 4.78 inches and just start designing.
Many artists create hand made limited edition CD covers too.
Step 5 – Sign the contract
Before getting signed by a label, new artists will probably have to sign many other contracts. One of these will be a publishing contract which gives music promoters the right to play the songs through different media such as the internet and radio stations.
Theo’s business consultant, Gershom Martin, explains, “It’s important to understand your rights…the recording belongs to the studio, the whole thing can be sold to a multitude of things…they collect the money for you and then they disperse it to you.”
Contracts are filled with lots of small print and can be quite boring to read. However, it is an important part of the process and artists need to know exactly what they're giving away.
Step 6 - Seek business advice
A business consultant advises an artists about the pros and cons of a contract.
Step 7 - Go on tour
Touring a number of small gigs is a good way to get heard - it may not a world tour, but it's a start! If you do get gigs a small tour will give you a taste of what your future could be like.
