Promoting to labels online

[wwwill]

I'm putting together a retro, mid-80s Chicago house tracks type project; think: Funkin' with the drums, On and on tracks, Sensation, Virgo tracks, 119/Mix your own stars, Acid tracks, Faces drums, Washing machine, 151, Land of confusion, etc. This project is a 4 or 5 track EP. I think the vintage house sound is on the ise. One of the main tracks is about 7:50 but just about all the other tracks between 5 and 6 minutes.

Anyway I want to promote this to a number of different labels here in the US, in Germany and England: Mood, Hi-Phen, Azuli, Ovum, Dessous, etc. Instead of mailing out a bunch of CDs, I planned on sending out emails directing A & R people to a site with files for listening. All tracks should be mixed and ready to go by next Friday the 18h. I wanted to send these messages out before the Winter Music Conference.

My questions are:

-What is the best format to use for files? Is MP3 universal? RealAudio, Windows Media, Quicktime, Flash wrapper?

-Should I present the whole track or a 30/45/60-second "snippet" of the track. These arereally just tracks and not "songs(verse/chorus/bridge)", essentially you could get an idea of the feel for the song within 30 seconds and if someone is interested then I could provide the full song.

-Would I need a private area for protection? Can I make the files publicly available for ease of access?

-Is there a better way to shop this project? Before the conference, after the conference, CDs, use some sort of agency?

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

[wwwill]

No one is shopping material?
Is there something I should know?

Is it my breath?
Should I try a different aftershave?

[funked]

Sounds to me like you already know what you want do and how you going to do it.

What is the best format to use for files? Is MP3 universal? RealAudio, Windows Media, Quicktime, Flash wrapper?

Yes (mp3)

-Should I present the whole track or a 30/45/60-second "snippet" of the track. These arereally just tracks and not "songs(verse/chorus/bridge)", essentially you could get an idea of the feel for the song within 30 seconds and if someone is interested then I could provide the full song.

Yes (snipted)

Would I need a private area for protection? Can I make the files publicly available for ease of access?

Personal preference

Is there a better way to shop this project? Before the conference, after the conference, CDs, use some sort of agency?

Your asking... is this worth doing. If not what should I do?

There are millions of answers to that question. Many opinions can be found on the internet.

I would say... if it doesnt cost you anthing/much. Give it a shot.

[wwwill]

Your asking... is this worth doing. If not what should I do?

There are millions of answers to that question. Many opinions can be found on the internet.

I would say... if it doesnt cost you anthing/much. Give it a shot.

Sorry, I really should rephrase this loaded question:

-Do you get a good response to submitting emails and links or are other methods more effective? Sending CDs, sending fruit cakes?

[R'yleh]

AFAIK, mailing mp3 files is not a good idea. Imagine the A+R getting 100mails a 5 mb every day, this would kill almost every inbox. And be sure they won't like you for that. So better ask them first or send a mail with just a short description and a download link.

[Spe3D]

Don't mass email - it goes into the trash, the label won't even look at it.

Best regards,

Spe3d

:O)

[funked]

Your asking... is this worth doing. If not what should I do?

There are millions of answers to that question. Many opinions can be found on the internet.

I would say... if it doesnt cost you anthing/much. Give it a shot.

Sorry, I really should rephrase this loaded question:

-Do you get a good response to submitting emails and links or are other methods more effective? Sending CDs, sending fruit cakes?

If there are specific labels that you believe could be interested in your music. There is no harm in sending them an email and a link to a stream hosted on your site. (I cannot find any audio on your site..)

I believe that many labels DO listen to music sent to them though there will also be many that do not.

[Spe3D]

Never send an attachment to a lable (or anyone) without first clearing it with them

Never open an email with an attachment from someone you do not know (and not know to be virus free)

- basic - on-line security



Best regards,

Spe3d

:O)

[funked]

I planned on sending out emails directing A & R people to a site with files for listening.

How did we get onto e-mail attachments?

It's amazing how quickly threads can go off topic.

[Spe3D]

I planned on sending out emails directing A & R people to a site with files for listening.

How did we get onto e-mail attachments?

It comes under the subject of emails - and a user asking about making snippits of mp3's in the same post - who is also asking about 'mass' email - so you have to cover the base, I would not want a load of snippits sent to me - allready in this thread someone is reading it as - attachments

AFAIK, mailing mp3 files is not a good idea. Imagine the A+R getting 100mails a 5 mb every day, this would kill almost every inbox. And be sure they won't like you for that. So better ask them first or send a mail with just a short description and a download link.

It's amazing how quickly threads can go off topic.

indeed

Best regards,

Spe3d

:O)

[vurt]

yeah id agree with spe3d,send an email yes,to see if theyre interested and to gain a little raport with someone at the label
no do not send attachments,they will ask for a link maybe or in some cases a disc or md.
but never send unsolicited stuff seriously unless you are that hot and have some gimmick!
red hot chilli peppers apparently turned up at the a n r guys office with hookers and blow,you need a gimmick to get ya past the door unsolicited,off topic off shmopic
get it all said asap then we dont have to clear up later

[funked]

but never send unsolicited stuff seriously unless you are that hot and have some gimmick!
red hot chilli peppers apparently turned up at the a n r guys office with hookers and blow,you need a gimmick to get ya past the door unsolicited,off topic off shmopic
get it all said asap then we dont have to clear up later

I've got to agree with you vurt! If you where planning on sending music to major labels (:? EMI/ Warner Bros) it really isnt worth the effort unless you have a direct contact.

ow ye... dont send them attachments...!!!

[wwwill]

Yeah,
Attachments are a DEFINATE no-no. There would be links to files hosted online. I respect the inbox. Not to mention if a recipient(sp) of the email wanted to share with someone else this music, they only need to point them to the same link. I live in Chicago. I usually don't have a problem contacting labels and getting the name of a specific person to direct material to. This project I want to solicit the German and London labels. The main reason for the email is that it would be very costly for me to call overseas to Germany and the UK to get a contact and then postal mail a CD that would get there in a week. I'm up at night so I don't even mind the difference in hours; it's the cost in time AND money.

I don't know how mass the mailing will be. I will be sending to about 20 to 30 labels. That's sort of a mass mailing, although each message WILL be personalized as much as can be. My crappy formula is to listen to releases at online record stores such as Gramaphone Records and Satellite Records. Make note of the label, artist and title of material that possibly fits the format of my projects. I then search the net for the labels web site and email addresses, if any. From there I will email them and see if they are interested. The largest label in my target group would probably be Ovum or Trax. Although Trax has ties to Casablanca, I don't plan on approaching any MAJORs; There are probably too many A&R people to shuffle through to get the proper attention. Plus you know they don't want to talk to anyone that wasn't "sent" by someone. In fact at the bottom of this post I'll list the labels and you guys in this community can tell me yeah or nay.

Gimmick? Well as I stated it's a retro Chicago tracky sound. I'm from Chicago, born and raised. The "old skool" flavor is going to be HOT, but that's just my opinion. I have material released under another name that doesn't necessarily fit well with this project. As I stated above I will be approaching smaller independents that have time to review material. Plus I hear the the dance music world loves us in Chicago.
If that's not enough maybe I'll package my material with CTA(Chicago Transit Authority) fare cards or something.

Here are the labels I have in mind:

Trax Records (Chicago)
Mood Music (Germany)
Television Records (Germany)
K7 (Germany)
Ovum (Philadelphia & UK)
International Gigolo (Germany)
Emperor Norton (Los Angeles)
Fine Records (UK)
Firm (Germany)
Hi-Phen (Belgium)
FRG Records (UK)
Superfly (Germany)
Sindicato Records (Spain)
Legato Records-sublabel of N.E.W.S. (Belgium)
Modal Music (New York)
Clone Records (The Netherlands)
Dessous Recordings (Germany)
Kompakt (Germany)
Resopal Schallware (Germany)
Azuli (London)
D:Vision (Italy)
Underwater Records (London)
Parisonic Records (France)
Turbo Records (Canada)

Anyone know of anyone or anything I should know? Please let me know.