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Nekrokunt_Usurper
Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 2996 Location: London
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Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 6:31 am Post subject: Releasing music/starting a label? |
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Hello all.
I'm considering starting a small label to release some music by one or two particularly good bands which have impressed me, not so much to sign them, just to perhaps put out some tapes or 7"s. I would particularly like to see people from the UK respond and see how they did things in the beginning.
Anyway basically I would like to know how the people running labels here got started and any advice IF I were to do this. |
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CR99
Joined: 26 May 2007 Posts: 10323
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Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 6:37 am Post subject: |
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Yes I considered the same. Would be cool to do something. But there are millions of new shitty labels putting out all sorts of crap (mostly "Black") Metal and I don't want to belong to them... |
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minge-eater

Joined: 03 Apr 2007 Posts: 3801 Location: cutterofgums record room
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Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 6:44 am Post subject: |
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started a small label last year
Got bands permission , had a freind design the covers , found a pressing plant with good prices and printed 500 copies of the ep.
Used the web/zines etc to promote the release and also traded with distros.
Its not a money making thing, so be careful of this , starting a label is for your own pleasure and it takes hard work.
Depending on what your releasing , maybe start with a smaller press of say 300 copies _________________ Metal Archives is the place legends are born.
TRUE KVNT
Descension twat of the year |
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Ross Liew
Joined: 13 Jul 2007 Posts: 1625 Location: Malaysia
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Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 6:52 am Post subject: |
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It takes time and patience and loads of hard work, not forgetting passion to go through the whole process - negotiating deal with band, designing covers, finding pressing plants, promoting the release, sending out promos/trades, waiting for some money to come back and do the whole thing again for the next release.
If you have a busy day job, it makes it doubly harder to pursue as a hobby. |
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Nekrokunt_Usurper
Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 2996 Location: London
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Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 6:55 am Post subject: |
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Well, I have got university now, so that could be an issue, but only in the first year, so less busy. |
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Ross Liew
Joined: 13 Jul 2007 Posts: 1625 Location: Malaysia
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Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 6:58 am Post subject: |
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Don;t mess up your studies though - that's still the primary reason you're in uni.
Also, getting the finances to press the release - you must consider this properly. i think its really not cheap to press stuff in the UK as compared to us in Malaysia or other south east asian country. |
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minge-eater

Joined: 03 Apr 2007 Posts: 3801 Location: cutterofgums record room
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Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 7:00 am Post subject: |
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Ross Liew wrote: | Don;t mess up your studies though - that's still the primary reason you're in uni.
Also, getting the finances to press the release - you must consider this properly. i think its really not cheap to press stuff in the UK as compared to us in Malaysia or other south east asian country. |
firstly you dont press in the uk, nor do you go direct to gz. Look at companies like pirate press and untied pressing. _________________ Metal Archives is the place legends are born.
TRUE KVNT
Descension twat of the year |
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Nekrokunt_Usurper
Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 2996 Location: London
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Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 7:02 am Post subject: |
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Links to aforementioned countries?
As for studies, its an art course, so not AS bad as something more academic.  |
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Ross Liew
Joined: 13 Jul 2007 Posts: 1625 Location: Malaysia
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Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 7:03 am Post subject: |
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minge-eater wrote: | Ross Liew wrote: | Don;t mess up your studies though - that's still the primary reason you're in uni.
Also, getting the finances to press the release - you must consider this properly. i think its really not cheap to press stuff in the UK as compared to us in Malaysia or other south east asian country. |
firstly you dont press in the uk, nor do you go direct to gz. Look at companies like pirate press and untied pressing. |
Good tip ! |
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minge-eater

Joined: 03 Apr 2007 Posts: 3801 Location: cutterofgums record room
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Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 7:06 am Post subject: |
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Nekrokunt_Usurper wrote: | Links to aforementioned countries?
As for studies, its an art course, so not AS bad as something more academic.  |
http://www.piratespress.com/
http://www.urpressing.com/ _________________ Metal Archives is the place legends are born.
TRUE KVNT
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Nekrokunt_Usurper
Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 2996 Location: London
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Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 7:07 am Post subject: |
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I'm considering talking to some friends actually who may have more time to see if they may want to co-run it. Its very much in the air at the moment, so basically I'm just trying to do some research before thinking of taking the plunge. |
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rauta
Joined: 23 Apr 2008 Posts: 2101 Location: Finlandia
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Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 7:07 am Post subject: |
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1. Only release material that you feel is excellent; not something that you feel can compete with most of what's out there.
2. Even if production costs (especially for vinyl) are through the roof, under no circuimstances cut corners. If this means asking 1 or 2 more euros / whatever for the final product it will eventually sell, given that the material is good enough.
3. A somewhat controversial advice, but don't trade too much in the beginning. This will help you gain insight into whether people are actually into what you're doing or not. Most distros / labels will accept whatever crap in trades but when it comes to paying for releases it's a different story. This way it's easier to see if you want to continue putting stuff on on vinyl or tape (or not at all). |
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Nekrokunt_Usurper
Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 2996 Location: London
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Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 7:08 am Post subject: |
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Thanks |
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Nekrokunt_Usurper
Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 2996 Location: London
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Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 7:12 am Post subject: |
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rauta wrote: | 1. Only release material that you feel is excellent; not something that you feel can compete with most of what's out there.
2. Even if production costs (especially for vinyl) are through the roof, under no circuimstances cut corners. If this means asking 1 or 2 more euros / whatever for the final product it will eventually sell, given that the material is good enough.
3. A somewhat controversial advice, but don't trade too much in the beginning. This will help you gain insight into whether people are actually into what you're doing or not. Most distros / labels will accept whatever crap in trades but when it comes to paying for releases it's a different story. This way it's easier to see if you want to continue putting stuff on on vinyl or tape (or not at all). |
Well the idea is to only put out REALLY good bands, thats why I'm considering doing this as there are bands out there I want to help that I feel should have a little help.
There are enough lo-fi black metal labels out there to release kvlt krap so I'll leave it to them. |
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tom245
Joined: 20 Jul 2007 Posts: 691
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Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 7:28 am Post subject: |
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I think I'd worry about having a box of CDs in my house not shifting. If you do press something though, don't worry about that. It's better to just keep hold of them than trade them for worthless crap.
Don't release worthless crap. |
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