Small independent record labels are facing a different fight today to obtain a share of the music industry. The best possible means in which small labels were able to get their CD's sold vanished in 2003 when Southwest Wholesale Records and Tapes closed the doors. The ability to have their music placed in a position to be sold along the same shelves as the major record labels is becoming increasingly more difficult. The absence of competition on the shelves has generated an increase in profits for the major labels. What can smaller more nimble labels do to compete with the major labels?
Promotion and Radio -
The major labels have a tight grip on the radio, for example, it is probably the means in which to promote and break in a new artist. (Maybe the hold is a little tight and illegal: Eliot Spitzer, New York's attorney general, is investigating whether the majors bribe radio stations to play their music.) The amount of money and influence that the majors have cannot be matched by a smaller record labels. They cannot fight this battle and often songs that are deservingly good enough to be played will not be played. Play lists are generated in a single office and downloaded to the station managers to every part of the country. The station managers have no choice but to play what the corporate headquarters have instructed them to play for the day. What then can smaller more nimble labels do to compete with the major labels?
The Future ? The Internet
Battle lines can be drawn in this vast market. Smaller labels can have attractive websites for their acts at a relatively cheap price. Hosting of these sites will not be an unmanageable expense either. The smaller labels can promote with banners and not have to absorb the cost of printing and manually distributing flyers and post cards to a smaller scope of potential buyers. The buyers on the Internet that can be reached are the same as that of the major labels.
What about radio over the Internet? It is still developing and today would be a great time to develop an artist over the Internet. Major labels have no control over the stations on the Internet yet!! Developing a radio station over the Internet is viable option for a small label. The cost associated again with doing so is not prohibitive.
Investigate and do your homework about the Internet and promoting on-line. The market is open for smaller companies as much as it is for the bigger companies.
Eugene Brooks has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration and a Juris Doctorate Degree that he earned from Thurgood Marshall School of Law. Mr. Brooks is the President and CEO of the Texas based, independent label "KMJ Records." KMJ Records can be found on the web at http://www.kmjrecords.us and features chopped and screwed CD's by Z-Ro and various other Dirty South Houston Rappers.
This article is copyright © 2005 by Eugene Brooks and may be reprinted in it's entirety as long as this byline and copyright statement are included.
In the world of music, many Jazz improvisers and Classical... Read More
How To Construct Basic Chords on the PianoThe easiest way... Read More
A lot has been said about the 'post-rock' revolution as... Read More
Back in the 90's we had a local Southern Gospel... Read More
Here's the method I use every time I want to... Read More
You've probably heard the saying "practice makes perfect" and it... Read More
Introduced in 1982, the compact disc was intended to provide... Read More
Most of us like to use what we learn right... Read More
Remember the old ad that used to run endlessly in... Read More
On July 28, 2004, French Internet access providers and music... Read More
How many times have you turned to music to uplift... Read More
All right, folks, here you go: My 12 reasons why... Read More
This article discusses 8 vital things to remember as improvisers... Read More
Perhaps no other guitar maker has touched the hearts of... Read More
The previous two Tech Tips took a look at eight... Read More
A while back I was driving along the Jerusalem highway... Read More
Frustrated in a gridlocked?Job got you stressed out?The children have... Read More
Before the internet, unsigned music artists couldnt make a living,... Read More
Ann Powers said: "Don't censor the music and artistic... Read More
While composers had already begun to write music for the... Read More
Would you like to pop in a CD and have... Read More
One of the biggest stumbling blocks for music students is... Read More
How many chords do you need to create a piece... Read More
When most people hear the word composer, they automatically think... Read More
Meet the 12 Major Notes:1. C (do)2. C# - Db... Read More
Did you ever wish that it was your song playing... Read More
Performance anxiety is not something that only happens to musicians,... Read More
A number of people have asked about my own methodology... Read More
We All Have a Favorite Piece of Music that Moves... Read More
Lately, I haven't been using my guitar pick all that... Read More
OK, so I lied about the fun part.Maybe piano playing... Read More
Playing the ModesWhen I used to use this pack with... Read More
Rosemary Brown (1916-2001) was a middle-aged South London widow, making... Read More
While Richard Nixon's diplomatic visit to China may have created... Read More
Welcome to the wonderful world of music. As you begin... Read More
OK, so I lied about the fun part.Maybe piano playing... Read More
Did you know that good songwriting is often the key... Read More
When you think of music in Atlanta you generally think... Read More
How would you like to spend 4 years in a... Read More
Rhapsody music, from RealNetworks is one of several reputable legal... Read More
It's not what you play, it's how you play it.... Read More
"But I'm not in it for the money" you say.Me... Read More
I met New York jazzman Tim Armacost in college almost... Read More
Despite the title of this article, the purpose of it... Read More
"The real communicating artists seek unique expression. They are not... Read More
Before the internet, unsigned music artists couldnt make a living,... Read More
"How do I buy a violin, (or fiddle)?"That question has... Read More
Performance anxiety is not something that only happens to musicians,... Read More
Flaunting any excessive or anti-social behavior is considered brazen. When... Read More
Ann Powers said: "Don't censor the music and artistic... Read More
I am not sure if anyone has been watching out... Read More
I was thinking today about THE most dangerous enemy of... Read More
Imagine asking a beginning writer to write a short story... Read More
There are roughly umpteen zillion reasons why you should learn... Read More
Is your heart in the music? If so, it won't... Read More
I don't know why, but I find the idea of... Read More
Have you ever dreamed of performing a piece you created... Read More
Way back in November I found myself at the Casby... Read More
Guitar amplifiers are a major part of your tone. Some... Read More
"Turn it down!"How often have you heard that command in... Read More
There is a lot more to the story that meets... Read More
Change is good. Just ask the millions of unsigned artists... Read More
Piano playing doesn't have to be boring. There's no law... Read More
While most students want to know when to play certain... Read More
Britney Spears was born December 2 1981 as Britney Jean... Read More
Here's the method I use every time I want to... Read More
Music & MP3 |