KVR Audio

stickman999 · Post by **stickman999** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 10:55 am

Hi,

I'm preparing to send out a promotional/demo cd to a few carefully selected record company's..
in the uk, germany and the usa.
I'm a little worried about sending out 7 full tracks mastered, in case they get in the wrong hands.
I mean who am i kidding they might bin the demo anyway.
My question is; what measures, if any, would you guys take to prevent someone using/releasing your music before any contracts were signed.

eg..adding noise to the track, only sending a clip of the track..etc

Maybe I'm having paranoid delusions after working my arse off in my west london bedroom studio for two years.
Any help and rude remarks welcomed.

cheers,

stick

vurt · Post by **vurt** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 11:04 am

copyright it first

scuzzphut · Post by **scuzzphut** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 11:06 am

Give a copy to a lawyer and have him sign and date OR
Post a copy to yourself by registered post and DON'T OPEN IT OR
ermmm
dunno

hjack · Post by **hjack** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 11:10 am

be paranoid

best luck

t-willy · Post by **t-willy** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 12:21 pm

vurt wrote:copyright it first

yep

lates

t-willy

DevonB · Post by **DevonB** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 12:35 pm

scuzzphut wrote:Give a copy to a lawyer and have him sign and date OR
Post a copy to yourself by registered post and DON'T OPEN IT OR
ermmm
dunno

Mailing a copy to yourself won't help. I can send a blank unsealed envelope to myself right now and sit on it once I get it back for two years THEN put something in it, and seal it. How could you prove that in court?

Copyright it, simple as that.

Oh, and generally sending unsolicited material, it gets binned. Are those labels asking for new artists? Call or write them and ask first, so you have a contact, not just 'to whom it may concern' because they probably aren't concerned with unsolicited.

Devon

vurt · Post by **vurt** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 12:38 pm

actually devon in the uk the envelope thing does count as copyright
BUT you have to get the woman to put the registered post thing over the seal

then it shows when the envelope was sealed too

AndreasE · Post by **AndreasE** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 1:23 pm

vurt wrote:copyright it first

How? Only by writing it on the CD cover (Copyright [my name], [date])?

DevonB · Post by **DevonB** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 2:29 pm

In the USA, you fill out a form, and send in your money to get it copyrighted. I think it was Form SR for Sound Recording. Your local library should have them on hand, as I'm sure if you did a google search, you could find them too online.

Devon

putte · Post by **putte** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 2:42 pm

i dont care about it all so far .. until i make my first bad experience from not caring ..

i just send the stuff out.

putte

lsd · Post by **lsd** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 2:52 pm

Don't send "unsolicited" material. Most labels and such wont even listen if this is the case. Get their permission to send somehting otherwise your wasting your money and efforts to cirulate your tracks to vairous trash dumps!

shamann · Post by **shamann** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 3:16 pm

lsd wrote:Don't send "unsolicited" material. Most labels and such wont even listen if this is the case. Get their permission to send somehting otherwise your wasting your money and efforts to cirulate your tracks to vairous trash dumps!

I can echo that. Most likely a futile effort just mailing stuff out. Even very small labels are inundated with the stuff. Best to contact anyone first, try to establish that they'd like to hear.

A few years ago, I did a send out to several labels I knew might be interested. I got some really nice comments back from a few, didn't hear back from most. Still have some of the discs collecting dust. It was worth it to just to have taken a kick at the can, helped rethink my direction a bit.

Most labels aren't interested in unknown bands, they want to see bands/musicians that are performing regularly or those that may have an established audience already. Many just want to put out their friends music. They aren't in it to be benevolent to strangers. You'll hear the odd success story, but they are one in a million (right time, right place, etc).

Best thing you could do would be to find some local performers in your area that are making similar music. See if you can establish a relationship, maybe find out if they have representation. Getting a manager/lawyer/agent will help get you introduced to more established labels (assuming independent).

Maybe to start, contact some mp3 web labels, see if they're interested, might help introduce you to a niche market or get you involved with a related touring scene.

For copyright, to be honest, most labels aren't interested in your tunes, doubtful they'll rip you off. If you can't stand the uncertainty, speak to a lawyer, they'll be able to guide you on the necessary steps.

Hope that helps a bit.

Cheers,
Steve

shamann · Post by **shamann** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 3:36 pm

And should have added: 7 songs seems like a lot for a promo/demo. If your trying to get a labels attention, try maybe your best 3 tracks.

I good trick I've heard in the past was to have 1 track with a 30-60 second snippet from each of the three tracks to follow. Then just indicate that track one is a medley/sampler type track. Best not to think of a demo as an album/artistic statement.

Cheers,
Steve

sending a promo..