Why sign with a label?
With lots of tools and online resources, you can produce, record and spread your music by yourself. But labels still exist, and they can help you with your career.
I had an interview with Charles, in charge of the tracking radio and public relations at Slam Disques. Also a musician, he answered my questions about the relevance of labels today.
Why is it still worth it to have a label?
The label is here to help the musician with the production, the promotion and the distribution of the artist’s work. Before, it was mostly about the production and artistic direction, but a lot of work was subcontracted, like radio tracking. Today, a lot of companies, like Slam Disques, offer a 360 package: everything is done by the label to provide a coherent work. With a label, you’ll have a team working in different areas of the production of music to help you.
When, in your career, do you have to think about signing a contract with a label?
First, there is no right or wrong moment to do so. You can be an independent artist, to have a manager or a label, or to pass from one another during your career. Of course, at Slam Disques, we prefer to find young talents to help them in starting a music career and to be able to work on the long term.
If you want to know if it is the right moment for you to have a label by your side, just ask yourself if you want to delegate some or most of the production tasks you are doing. If yes, then you can find a label that will take care of a lot of things for you, letting you more time to practice and create.
Today, there is a lot of online tools to help self-production in music. What is the hardest thing to do by yourself when you’re an independent artist?
The label as an experience you don’t necessarily have. The advantage with the label is the professional relations: for example, it can know a place where t-shirts are made for a better price or have affiliations with a radio. They are also eligible for some governmental funds, with which they can support some projects. For the artist, it is hard to have contacts in every area needed. Of course, it is possible to do it by yourself, as many are doing, but it takes times, efforts and a lot of phone calls. Being with a label doesn’t always mean success, but it surely means efficiency.
At Slam Disques, are you asking artists to sign or are they are coming to you?
It is both. We are actively looking for new talents, listening to what is made here and elsewhere, knowing about new trends. If someone talks about a new band, we will listen to it. There is still nothing more efficient than word-of-mouth to be known. We also are meeting artists in events, and some are writing to us. We choose with our heart but first, we make sure that we have the time to take in someone else.
What are the advantages to be with a label?
To delegate, mostly. The label is offering good conditions of work since you can concentrate on composition, practice, and shows, without thinking about the production part. You are also part of a professional network and its a plus to be associated to the work of other artists.
Do you have one tip for a musician who wants to sign with a label?
To have some songs! Labels are looking for new songs to put in their showcase, and they look for good songs. No need to have the priciest gear or to add thousands of effects. A great song is good in its most basic form. So, to have good songs is helpful.
