Climbing the ladder??

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drumnbassist

JUNGLE TO THE END
Joined
May 19, 2010
Location
UP IN'T 'ILLS
Hi all,

Ive been on here for a bit but not really posted much as most questions ive had have already been answered before!

Anyway, i've started to get a few of my tunes out on some small digital labels like smokescreen and s?pynal records etc, and now i want to progress with to the next level, maybe even a vinyl release?

My question is this.... once you get to the stage i'm at where people believe your stuff is decent enough to put out, how do you go about climbing up the ladder and getting bigger labels to take on your music, quite a vague question, i know. Any info feedback will be greatly appreciated

Cheers
 
its all about networking mate, keep in regular contact with the labels and djs, keep sending em your tunes and when you've struck gold, they will let u no. its more about making a name for yourself more than anything, labels wont normally invest £££ in vinyl releases unless it really is an amazing tune or the artist has a substancial following. plus i wouldnt aim too high, no point going to ppl like ram/playaz/shogun unless you really do have a very unique sound, would probs be more beneficial to hit up smaller vinyl labels who specialise in your particular sub genre and take it from there :)
 
I think Freek hit the nail on the head there. Also it's good if you find a label that will support you as an artist, and not just use you as a way of making money for themselves. Sure, thats what labels prominantly do, but there are labels out there that will take the time to get to know you as a person, and help you out when you need it.

I landed on my feet when UKDNB got in touch with me looking to release a couple of my tracks. The guy who owns it is top notch, and has really taken a lot of time out of his busy schedule to guide me in the right direction. Informing me of whats hot and whats not in the genre wars of drum and bass. Guiding me towards what the masses in the clubs are liking. And generally being extremely helpful.

Any tracks I produce from now on, they are gettin 1st dibs on
 
Mr Fletch said:
Also it's good if you find a label that will support you as an artist, and not just use you as a way of making money for themselves.
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dnb labels making money? :teeth:
but yes seems a lot of digital labels out there seem to just throw the music up on a web store and post some spam and that won't help you get attention or build your reputation from the viewpoint of larger labels. patience is the key.

and speaking of patience, sometimes takes a month for larger labels to get back to people. so don't get impatient and give your tune out for free in the meantime. it happens!
 
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bother them lots, basically. find artists you believe are above you, and ask them if you can remix their tracks. playing events gets you a following too. promote the shit out of yourself.
 
Mr Fletch said:
I landed on my feet when UKDNB got in touch with me looking to release a couple of my tracks. The guy who owns it is top notch, and has really taken a lot of time out of his busy schedule to guide me in the right direction. Informing me of whats hot and whats not in the genre wars of drum and bass. Guiding me towards what the masses in the clubs are liking. And generally being extremely helpful.

Any tracks I produce from now on, they are gettin 1st dibs on
Click to expand...

Stu is a legend lol!! still waiting to hear this new beat u showed him the other day, gonna have to chase that mofo up.
 
Keep working on your production, do something new with your tunes. Enough people out there who are OK that are just writing tunes like the big players.
 
Backing up freek's verdict, as you stated in the post initially, its a ladder, one step at a time, and each individual rung of the ladder is a merge of several things, time within the community, quality of production, and contacts. They each back the other one up, the longer youre producing, the better you getm the longer your within the community, you meet new people, and the better you are at making the tune those people you meet will then like the tracks...

the thing is, remember to get your name and path and stick to it, make a recognised name foryourself, definately get yourself on soundcloud if youre not already, and add everyone you can on social network sites, they are a big key to finding the right people you need to talk with.

also, reguarding the labels that go on spamming, there is a fine line between spam and promotion, essentially, promotion/advertising is just a spam you pay for, but at the end of the day, we all know that marketing works, otherwise people wouldnt spend millions a year doing it!!! from an artists perspective, ok you havent got millions, so you spend the only thing you have as a budding musical entrepreneur which is "time", and you spend it online 90 % of the time and ensuring you network but always remember dont go up to a label and say you have the best track ever, and give them the 'option' to listen to your material rather than demand it, those labels actually worth working with will give you the time of day, and respectively dont "keep bothering" them, make yourself known, and on a regular basis, but dont get yourself a bad name for harassing behavior, remember, the Drum & Bass market is still an incredibly tight knit community, and sometimes if you piss one name off, you will find it very hard to progress...

best of luck m8!
 
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