Dying to be signed?

A guide on how to break into the music industry, from an industry professional. BY NEIL TUCKER

I’m constantly hearing from people who have nothing to do with music (apart from knowing Ed Sheeran’s new album) that what I do is redundant, and that you don’t need a record label to be a music artist these days.

While this is technically true, it would be like climbing Everest dragging up a JCB machine with your teeth.

Even one of the most successful artists to have done this, Macklemore, pays a management firm and even employs Warner Bros Records to help with promotion. Another one that I’m frequently told about is Adele, but she doesn’t count as she was actually signed to an Indie label, ‘XLRecordings’.

So what’s the point of a record label then? Why is it so important? A label does all the business side of your career, allowing you to make music and earn a living in a complex multi billion-dollar industry.

So how do you get the attention of a crack team of professionals? How do you get that elusive ‘record deal’? What even is the right type? Will you get a deal from major label, or will you choose one of its subsidiaries that might offer an attractive advance but wants a bigger royalty share? Do you want a lesser or non-existent advance from an independent label, perhaps for more royalty share or other perks? Do you want something from a label like mine where you pay a small fee but get your project, a dedicated team, and the training to be a professional musician?

Well first, let’s get the obvious out of the way. Practise. Please, for the sake of my ears, practise. The amount of submissions I listen to where the artist sounds awful, or whose song writing sounds like the musical equivalent of a children’s colouring book is horrendous.

One particular track called ‘E-mailLover’ still haunts my nightmares. We are not Meg Ryan from You’ve Got Mail! Become comfortable with your sound and your music in general – this is your passion and you want it to be your livelihood, so embrace it!

The next is related to practising, but get out there! Go busk. Go to your grandparent’s retirement home and play. Go to open mic nights. Go to showcase events. Keep an eye on charity initiatives like ‘Give a Gig’ who are always desperate for artists.

Sign up for talent shows. This gives you experience in front of a crowd, lets you know what works for audiences and what doesn’t. Not only should you just be enjoying it anyway, but you never know who is listening.

A & R (artist and repertoire) representatives, who are basically music scouts, are everywhere. It’s their job to find new music. The A & R people that I know love buskers and small gigs, because they can see your talent there and then, everything from stage presence to stamina. Someone might drop a pound in a hat for you, someone might drop a life changing business card.

A label does all the business side of your career, allowing you to make music and earn a living...

Next – online presence. It’s such an incredible and important tool but it isn’t a guaranteed magic bullet. Have something you can show people. Soundcloud, a YouTube channel (occasionally there’s still a Myspace account, oh the nostalgic feels).

Explore all your options. Put up signs when you busk so people can find you if they like what you here. There are nowadays A & R scouts who only work digitally, but there is so much material available now that it’s so easy to be missed. So, have an Instagram account for your music where people can keep up to date with your life, but don’t hope that it’s going to be everything you need. Give people who are interested in your music an easy way to fight your case as one more arrow in your quiver.

The music industries are just that, industries. They have trends and influencing factors just like any other. Sign up for newsletters and daily briefings from places like CMU, BPI and Music Week. Stay up to date, you never know what you might discover.

You might hear about a new company who you are dying to work with. Then be pro-active, contact them saying why you think they are relevant to you and vice versa, attach demos and links really sell yourself!

All this knowledge will help your confidence when you meet people, are at gigs, or busking (the dreaded word: networking). Get yourself noticed and then let the professional help.

My label Dreamscope Media Group has an artist toolkit you can sign up for, with hints and tips for everything from networking, contracts, to stage presence.

So, get out there, get noticed and make some noise!