How to find the right label

If your track is unique

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How do I find the right label, especially if none are releasing quite the same style as my track?

From the previous question of Hamish Strachan

Hamish, it’s hard to say for sure since I haven’t heard the track you’re talking about, so I’ll go over some general scenarios. If your track really doesn’t suit to any label, I see three reasons why it happens and what to do about it.

You invented a new sub-genre

I’m not trolling, this is possible. Although very, very less likely taking into account how many sub-genres within each genre we already have.

Hannes Klitta aka Vaishiyas was one of the first of its kind who started to make a so-called “Offbeat” Progressive, characterized by the bassline pattern. I bet at that time, 10 years ago, his music didn’t fit any label too.

Vaishiyas – “Intensity”
Spin Twist Records, 2009

So he made his own label and started to gather like-minded people around it. Today we know Spin Twist Records as a home for Neelix, Coming Soon, Interactive Noise, Day Din, and more well-known artists.

If you are very confident and think your track is fresh and strong enough, then go ahead pioneering your vision. Run a label, make a podcast, push your style at every frontier. It’s much bigger than just releasing a track, it’s about shaking the scene.

But is your music really that unique? I suggest keeping reading before answer this question.

You made an outdated track

I know producers who think they making unique music, but in reality, they do outdated music. The word “outdated” I’m using in this context can be referred to both the style and the production quality. Let me explain deeper.

Many bedroom producers sit in the four walls and make tracks solely based on their views on how this particular genre sounds like without seeing the outer world. Music always should come from the heart, this is true, but at the same time it’s good to have an understanding of what happening in the scene.

Go to a party or a festival where you would potentially like to play. Listen to what other artists playing, notice how the crowd reacts. Put yourself in a DJ shoe for a moment: would your track fit this event?

If your track doesn’t fit any labels, there is a chance you’ve made an outdated track. This is especially true for producers who download cracked software, synth patches, and sample packs on torrents that have been already used over and over for years. You just can’t make quality and competitive track using the same Vengeance packs as producers of 2000s.

Remember, that sound design is important.

Criteria of professional production. Part 1. Sound design

You did a poor research

Good research can look like this: make a list of 10-20 acting artists with more or less similar music to yours. Find labels where those artists are releasing their music. Then check those labels and see what else they do release. Eventually, you should end up with at least a few labels that would suit your music.

If you can’t name even then artists with similar music, either you did poor research or some of the two previously mentioned points above.

In that regard, I would also suggest being more like a DJ, perhaps even start a podcast. I know it may sound counter-intuitive but bear with me.

Since 2011, I host a radio show, Rave Podcast. Although I started it just to spread the music I love, later I realized one more beneficial effect: it keeps me in a good “shape”, just like fitness for the body.

Rave Podcast is broadcasted on DI.FM every first Tuesday of a month

It forces me to constantly searching for new music and practising with DJ skills. As a result, I’m always aware of all new releases, know all labels etc. It gives a great understanding of what happening in the scene.

If none of these works and you still not sure where your tracks fit in, send it over, perhaps I could help :-)

 92   2016   Advice   Music Industry

Since 2015, I’ve run an advice section giving my experience and answering readers’ questions on music production, DJing, performing, marketing, management, and other aspects of the music industry. The purpose of the series is to spread knowledge and cultivate professionalism in the music industry. The advice series works simply: you send me your questions, and I answer them with a blog post when I have something relevant to say. Send me your questions via the form.

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2 comments
Andru Ab oVo 2019

Hi Daniel!

Very useful blog! Thank you so much for a lot of valuable information! Tell me what to publish material on the label should be named after an album, or rather a single track? How important it is for the label?

Daniel Sokolovskiy 2019

My pleasure, glad you find it useful.

I don’t quite get your question, though. Can you re-phrase it? Or feel free to write in Russian as I’ve just googled your name and it seems you are from Russia :-)

Andru Ab oVo 2019

Простите за мой английский ))) Спасибо, что дали шанс общаться на моем родном языке. Я начинающий psy музыкант из Беларуси ) Повторю вопрос. Если я хочу издать материал на лейбле, мне нужно предоставить его в виде альбома, или я могу издать сингл? Скажем, я только начал пробовать себя в этом стиле, но отзывы идут уже очень положительные. Материала на полный альбом еще нет. По этому и возник такой вопрос.
Еще раз, спасибо!

Daniel Sokolovskiy 2019

В целом на этот счет нет никаких правил — как с лейблом договоритесь, так и будет. Но есть пару нюансов, расскажу об этом подробней в следующем совете. Спасибо за вопрос!

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