Is it better to send labels the full 320k track or just a soundcloud link to a sample or what?
When sending to a new label where I don’t know the person running things I normally email first asking if it ok to send them a track to that address, if they say yes then I will normally send them a download link with a track at 320mp3.
Labels want to be able to download it and play it on a few systems I find before getting back to you, plus you can see if they have downloaded it or not on your send space account!
Nowdays though with my tracks I normally put a sample up of what I am working on for feedback and normally end up getting a few emails asking if people can sign it when it’s finished!
I’m thinking I might just send out soundcloud sample and let them know if they’d like the full track just to ask for it??
I think they key thing to do is to check form the label to see what they prefer as some will ignore email links and some will love them. Have a look on their website and see if there’s demo submission advice, although this usually only exists for the bigger, more established labels. If they don;t have that then email them and see what they want, as no response could be disheartening and taken as a rejection when it could just be the wrong way of trying to the track to them int he format they like.
Also it’s key to make it a bit personal, let them know you have chosen their label for a reason (quote some tracks you like that they have put out previously) and not just spamming every label you can think of (even if that is what you’re doing!!).
Cheers Graham, sound advice that!
I’ll try that now.
Maybe this is a dumb question but what, exactly, does a label do? I can imagine that the bigger ones will have connections all over that enable your track to be played/bought. But the smaller ones? I am genuinely curious.
There is a couple of advantages to getting on small labels.
a. You get your tracks out there and build up a reputation of being able to sell a few tunes so when you approach a bigger label you’ve got that to back you up.
b. Smaller labels can sometimes be a bit more creative with their outputs as they aren’t so tied to putting out a particular genre of music through reputation e.g. you can’t see CR2 putting out a hybrid D’n’B/Dubstep/Samba mash up.