Any JCFers signed to labels?

[Inazone]

I'm interested to hear what sort of deals anyone may have, especially American bands signed to foreign labels. If it's something you don't want to get into on the forum, PM me. I've been contacted about an "opportunity" and have heard favorable things from people with similar arrangements, but nobody that I talk to on a regular basis.

[Ninja Guitar]

Re: Any JCFers signed to labels?

I'm probably going to start my own label. I don't like the idea of someone else owning my master tapes and recording copyrights. Not sure if the label will be just for me, or if I'll actually make it grow into a label for other bands. It's something to think about for the future.

[LouSiffer]

Re: Any JCFers signed to labels?

Here is how most small label deals go:
They show interest and talk about signing you. Usually, they can give you a discount on studio and things, but, it is still rather expensive. You usually still have to shell out some cash out of your pocket for traveling and the cost of the studio time. They will get some mid grade copies of your CD and try to sel them wherever they can. The bad side is, this is usually a "nothing" deal that if your record does hit main stream and goes nuclear on the charts.....you usually don't end up with squat on the profit of sales. Maybe a few cents an album or something like that. And then they deduct all of these so called "fees" from that to cover their "expenses". Best bet......pay for your studio time yourself.....mix, master, produce and promote your music on your own.-Lou

[Ninja Guitar]

Re: Any JCFers signed to labels?

Yep, I was just going to say. Any one interested in getting signed and/or doing music for a living should learn as much about studio and sound engineering as possible. I record ALL my own stuff. I do NOT go to a studio. It's good to get to know as many studio and sound engineers as you can. If you can produce, record, and master all your stuff without the label financial help, you make their job a f*ck-load easier.

It's also wise to take an Entertainment Law class. Unless you understand EVERYTHING written on a contract, don't sign it. If you don't understand something, take it to a lawyer. I personally would never sign a contract containing the words "controlled composition" and "cross collaterolization(spl?)".

Some labels do this ghetto thing where for a fee of, say, $300-$500 they put a song of yours on a compilation which gets distributed all other the world. Don't do it. Unless you have a significant part in the process of making/distributing this "compilation" and can thus see that it isn't a scam, just don't do it. Many artists have been screwed $300-$500, and have never recieved any royalty checks afterwards. The label would tell them that "the complilation is doing great in Europe" or whatever, and "you'll start getting some money in the mail very quick here". Just don't do it.

[Inazone]

Re: Any JCFers signed to labels?

Well, here's our situation. Ever since completing our demo back in early 2003, we have been sending copies to every label that would accept them, plus to webzines for review. We got some excellent reviews, and still do, but the fact is that the demo is going on two years old. We've submitted demo tracks for two compilations, and a new song for a third. Yes, we had to pay $100-150 to get on each, but got back anywhere from 15 to 60 copies to sell or give away as we wish.

One of the labels contacted us about a compilation because they were interested in us, but didn't expect to sign any additional bands for the rest of the year. They are close to us, and have reasonably good regional distribution. However, a European label contacted us after hearing the demo, offering us a two-album deal. I'm not going to name names until things are official (if it goes through), but they have very good worldwide distribution, have a number of up-and-coming bands (that I've heard of through their promotion) on the roster, and would be able to provide the kind of exposure we would NEVER be able to achieve on our own or through a small local label. The two aspects that I'm negotiating are song rights (they want rights for ten years) and recording costs (first album is on our tab, second on theirs, they pay for mastering and all manufacturing costs on both). Because I wrote all of the material planned for our first full-length, I am comfortable with the copyright situation, provided we can negotiate that further for a second album, as my bandmates would be contributing more to the songwriting at that point. Naturally, I will be consulting a lawyer on this once we have the contract in our hands to review.

Up to now, we've totally gone the DIY route, but I have other things to keep me busy besides burning CDs, updating the website and Photoshopping pictures: full-time career, marriage, writing and (eventually) house-hunting. Knowing that someone "has our back" to get our music out there all over would be very fulfilling.

[DumpyWumpy]

Re: Any JCFers signed to labels?

Send Gilbert a PM, his band has been signed to Unique Leader records in California for a while now and he might be able to help ya out...

[Ninja Guitar]

Re: Any JCFers signed to labels?

Sounds good, Inazone. Best of luck to ya.

What exactly do you mean by "song rights"?

[Inazone]

Re: Any JCFers signed to labels?

They're referring to the label being able to decide where the songs end up. For instance, as opposed to contributing to songs to whatever sampler or compilation we (the band) see fit, they would decide that...although they've already said that we would be able to continue doing so if we consulted with them first. It essentially insures that we don't sign with them to get an album out, and then turn around and get paid by another label to do an album with the same songs. Ten years seems like a long time, but I have already raised the issue and suggested some alternatives, and am just waiting to hear back. Because we would get royalties on every CD sold as opposed to a flat rate, I'm comfortable with that method. Still, comfortable or not, I'll be working every angle to give us the most control over our music. We've been fortunate to get a lot of mileage out of the 2003 demo and the recent promo single CD, both on their own or as part of compilations, to maintain some visibility while we get ready to record a full-length. Since we are trying to book at least one show a month, it also gives us some merchandise to sell to bring some money in to cover some of the recording costs.

I keep watching for anything that screams "too good to be true" but so far it looks like a solid deal.

[diablomozart]

Re: Any JCFers signed to labels?

get an entertainment lawyer...period...find one you feel will work with you to get what your band wants and needs...many of these "record deals" are no more than glorified distribution deals (if that!?!)...we had one "label" offer to press our cd's and sell them (to who?...we never could get a straight answer to that question), of which we would be seeing roughly 2.50 per cd...while this may sound like a good deal, the contract had a nice little stipulation that basically gave the label "exclusive rights worldwide" to the aforementioned cd...now if this would've been a label we'd actually heard of, we might have considered it...but as it was, if they couldn't promote their own label, what kind of promotion could they give to a band?...research the hell out of this label...contact bands that have already signed with them and find out their personal feelings towards the label...find out if any success they've had is the direct result of the label and not their own hard work...find out what the label plans to do to "market" your band...if it's internet only, you could, more than likely, do it yourself...
this business is full of people trying to convince musicians to "sign with them" when they are nothing more than puppy mills, trying to attach their name to yours if something big does end up happening with your band (usually guaranteeing them more money than the artist)...be VERY careful...and like i started with...get a lawyer...d.m.