sending demos to record labels

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Does anybody have any suggestions of record labels, for some kid who records his songs on an Imac in his bedroom, to send a demo to? and any ideas of how to make it get the attention of them?

― A Nairn, Monday, 1 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

style = experimental pop

― A Nairn, Monday, 1 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

do people still do this? i always pictured the guy on the cover of warrent's 'dirty rotten filthy stinkin rich" just throwing demos out in a big bin labled 'out' ive never sent demos anywhere before am i dumb?

― chaki, Monday, 1 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

It works for many smaller labels, a friend of mine got a few responses from some philadelphia/NY area labels.

― A Nairn, Monday, 1 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

It really only works for smaller labels Big labels want the assurance of record industry types, managers and A&R people before they blow their hard-earned cash on struggling artists.

― dleone, Monday, 1 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

It can work. I've sent out demos in the past (normally in CD-R form) and received some favourable responses. The most maddening one was from a label that said "hey yeah I'll put out a 7 inch" only to shut down a couple of months later. Bigger labels tend not to respond but the smaller ones often give you some constructive criticism.

The biggest tip I can give you is to do your research. Sending a demo of bedroom glitch to a twee pop label is wasting your time and likely to just irritate the label.

― electric sound of jim, Monday, 1 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

fuck em

― chaki, Monday, 1 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

As somebody from a small label that gets a certain number of demos: it is absolutely essential to include a note that demonstrates your familiarity with the label you're sending it to. And even so, in 10 years I've only put out two or three records based on unsolicited demos.

― Douglas, Tuesday, 2 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Douglas, that's a pretty high number. Touch & Go gets a truly daunting number of demos and have released exactly one of them.

― John Darnielle, Tuesday, 2 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

this is where "networking" comes in...

if you do not have relationships with people in the industry, good luck.

― mt, Tuesday, 2 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

which one, john? (out of morbid curosity...)

― jess, Tuesday, 2 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Duh, Jess. The Meatmen.

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 2 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Well, actually it was one record and two compilation tracks for me. (The record in question is the first Mr. Quark EP, although it took me the better part of a year to figure out I liked their demo tape.)

― Douglas, Wednesday, 3 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

anyway, if you think your stuff is good, it's quite simple and not too expensive to start your own label and put out stuff yourself

― g, Wednesday, 3 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I had a wee bit of luck in "mailing stuff off"--when I started the whole I-wanna-get-signed thing, I got a magazine, figured out who I liked, and then mailed the shit off. And it was lo-fi too--like I didn't have album covers or cd sleeves and whatnot, (literally black magic marker on CD-R's, no presskit, no photos, just a letter and a cd) and I was incredulous when a few labels actually wrote back or called back. And these aren't small labels either--on the same level as Thirsty Ear, Matador, etc. I'm sure my experience ain't typical, and it may have just been some incredible fluke, but I say have at it. It can't hurt, no matter how low the odds are. Of course, you may wish to invest a little more time and effort than I did. Also, it was around '97-'99, so maybe the climate was better for music or something.

I think the best advice has been mentioned. Target the right audience of labels, make the packaging really noticeable, and then write a long letter attached to a large wad of cash. Or you could just send the cash. Or have a cute girl be your lead singer.

― Mickey Black Eyes, Thursday, 4 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

four years pass...

i can not speak of the music business, but if it is in any way similar to the book publishing industry, i can tell you my experience as an artist: i wanted to go to the book fairy to speak to publishing house people and everybody warned me not to do it, since noone would listen to me. i went anyway and spoke to many. most did not listen, but one did and in the end i became publisehd. to cut a long story short: TRY IT, BELIEVE IN YOURSELF AND KEEP ON WORKING ON IT. every successful artist in any art always tells the same secret of success: believing in yourself leads to success in the end.

― michael eichhammer (mrrightnow), Saturday, 16 September 2006 10:01 (eighteen years ago)

yeah cheers thanks dude for your incredible insight, we'll all keep that in mind hey

― electric sound of jim [and why not] (electricsound), Saturday, 16 September 2006 10:17 (eighteen years ago)

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