TOOLBOX
STARTING A RECORD LABEL WITH BOB BRAZILL OF MONOMYTH RECORDS
Starting a record label can be tough. Without any form of guidance, help or financial support the task can feel mammoth, and with so much to consider it might seem impossible to get things up and running. So, what should you do? For this first edition of artist toolbox, we’ve curated the ultimate guide for budding label creators. After the rapid success of Leeds own Monomyth Records, we spoke with founder Bob Brazill to find out exactly what is essential in the initial stages of making a label. From the get-go it’s clear that there’s a whole lot to consider before kickoff; it isn’t just about having a collection of
artists under your belt and interest in your local music scene, there’s an excess of behind-thescenes responsibilities you need to try and tackle
"WE’VE ALWAYS MADE SURE THAT OUR PRODUCT IS OF A HIGH STANDARD AND SO IN MOST CASES WE’VE BEEN INVITED BACK..." too. "I think there’s a lot of transferable skills needed when first setting up as you’re usually the A&R, the producer, web designer, accountant, roadie, tea maker, councillor and more. On the practical 66
side, you’ll need the basics to create a good social media campaign and presence, a distribution outlet for digital sales, a clear identity and brand, a bank account, a label website with clear routes for contact visible and, of course, a mission statement.’ But these skills aren’t acquired overnight, and if you’re planning on getting started sooner rather than later, it’s a tightly-knit team of knowledgeable people that’ll act as your saving grace. "Our biggest resource is definitely our team; producers, writers, engineers, video directors, photographers and social media experts, as well as a whole host of music business professionals are
