Record companies shouldn't shut the door on talent

[valcor]

With so many styles of music in today's era, many bands & artists are finding it more and more difficult to join others in the already elite group of the music market.



QUESTION:

Are record companies loyal to their talent recruitment policy? And what do
bands/artists need to do more to increase their chances of getting signed

[Reconsiderate]

[LilQueenie]

As my good friend Herb Cohen says, "What Record Industry?"
He started in the 60's managing Frank Zappa, Linda Ronstadt, Tom Waits, Tim Buckley, etc.. oh and us, Fanny. He had a stable of talent. I just spoke with him last year and that was his comment(he still handles George Duke).. he said there are three companies left basically.. big ones.. you know the one's we recognize.. Indie lables have taken over. My best advice to you that I am taking myself is do what you are doing , get on every single music site online today. Tell all your friends, make up biz cards, pass them out, drop them in bathrooms, market in chat rooms in yahoo. Join forums, join yahoo groups. These days recording equip. is so cheap that you can make a pretty killer CD in you bedroom. Start your own label. USE MUSIC FORTE's service . Their distrubution service looks real good. YOU want air play, you need exposure, go play gigs and pass out your MF link to fans. Work on your craft. BE the music. .haha I know sounds like hippie BS. But really , be the thing you want .
If you are a song writer, join BMI or ASCAP. BE the real deal.
Set up your business so that if someone comes knocking you are ready.
There are some great books out there on the how to's of the record biz.
Sign up for TAXI and see if that works for you.
There are just so many places now to create a virtual online existence.. you can do it. Just put the pieces together for yourself.
Good Luck,
ADDIE

[1undread]

Records companies only want to make money off of acts that are already making money.
D.I.Y.

[CMP_Network]

Yup its all about sales, fanclub, identity & Buzz. Major record labels can be a joke if you ask me and the FM Radio Stations are just as bad. Yall keep finding them independent labels and independent FM radio stations and get your music plugged to them.

[LilQueenie]

I Totally agree, there is NO record industry anymore.. it's all of us with our Indie lables and great companies like music forte that help us get the music out there and keep it coming.. God Bless MF!

[CMP_Network]

Yup And Chicago Music Promotions . But yeah Greg @ Music Forte is a cool dude .

[mindp]

this is the problem with the industry today they dont sighn real talent any more.they have goten lazzy and there missing out on billions of dollars in sales because they make everybody sound the same and they still dont pay. if youre an indie artist you get paid even if you just sell ten copys you reap the benifits of ten copys now thats cool at least you can afford the lattest halo game. i grew up in the 70s and 80s when every artist sold records there was so much to choose from fans brouht every ones record .consumers where not just buying they where building a world class record collection from all geners of music. the net work was strong. hip hop was def jam. beastie boys / ll cool j/ run dmc we puchased all of them all. you know why uniqe creativity thats what consumers want nothing has changed i meet people every day thats looking for new and highly professional bands producers and artist.thats why prince and and the old lengendary rockers can come back and hit hard. music baby music. also i dont want to forget about lionel richie who sold 16 million all the time. we have lost the touch. when i hear the radio today i want to cry.where in a time of digital technology recording a alblum is cheap to do. and the lables still dont pay. they dont need a photogrpher any more for album covers we do tha . they dont need a million dollars fore a recording budget we do that for as little as $1200 bucks so why do we need them ? now i get to but the big picture. i cant fell human emotion in the majore label artist any more.you know why? they aint gone thru s*** they dont no what it is to long suffer. look at purpple rain prince when through a lot of s*** thats why he.s so powerful.so did others. then the record industry let them down stealing all the money the net work fell and is still falling .artist and bands have faimilies they have children the have wives you have no integrity any more. i remember when age did not mean anything if you youre good peopple will listen . you got signed some times it takes 30 years to develope solid tallent and some are born with it. i have one more thing to say about the big labels stop sighning bull s*** stop looking at faces and ass its about hearing not seeing porn ? and stop lookinging and artist age and shape and size consummers dont give a s*** about that they want a singer thaty has a testimony they want the old guy that can play the s*** out of that guitar. and you might get one alblum out of him before he dies but it still be favoerd and played for the next 100 years and if the chic is fat with a aretha franklin voise we will love here the same and pay them pay them and maybe just maybe you save your ass for another century