Netlabels?

[shamann]

Hola,

I've been looking into netlabels lately, both as a music listener and maker. Some recent threads on demo mail outs and some recent posts in the Cafe got me thinking about the subject.

I'm interested in possibly having my music associated with a netlabel that's inclined towards the same aesthetic as me, to build some exposure and contacts. I'm interested in a netlabel over an OMD (or whatever their called) for the simple reason of aesthetic cohesiveness. I give my stuff away free already, and would like to continue to do so, so this isn't about getting signed or becoming famous.

But, there are a lot of netlabels out there.

So I have some questions for the KVR folk who have already released stuff on netlabels:

• How did you get attached with one? Did they approach you first, or did you approach them?
  
  Did you know the label folk beforehand (local friends, etc)?
  
  Has the relationship been fruitful, how so (or not so)?
  
  Are there benefits a netlabel can offer over just setting up your own website?
  
  What's the best way to find a netlabel that is appropriate to your style (I've had some success looking here and here)?
  
  What's the best way to gain their favour?

I'd be very happy to hear any related experience you've had.

Cheers,
Steve

[shamann]

No one, eh? :sigh:

[shamann]

So, really, no one has any experience with netlabels? I must admit I'm a bit surprised.

(last bump, I promise)

Steve

[cellular]

I did my first release on the Kikapu netlabel (www.kikapu.com). Mine was actually the first release, and i was approached by them since i had posted some music on the IDM-Making list. I think netlabels are ideal places to start. You will get much more exposure from a netlabel than from your own website, since a netlabel ensures the listener of a certain quality label.

My Kikapu release has lead to a lot of things for me: a split 7" vinyl ep, a couple of compilation CD's, and currently a very good record deal with M-Tronic.

[shamann]

My Kikapu release has lead to a lot of things for me: a split 7" vinyl ep, a couple of compilation CD's, and currently a very good record deal with M-Tronic.

Some good stuff on Kikapu.

Thanks for the feedback, good to know it has helped some.

Cheers,
Steve

[kuniklo]

I haven't released anything on a netlabel, but I've been listening to a lot of netlabel music recently.

As an experiment, I'm trying to listen to only freely licensed online music for a month. So far it's going much better than I expected. The amount of good free stuff out there is very surprising.

When I do get a couple of tracks polished enough to try to release them I'll definitely try to get them released online through a netlabel. I figure my chances of getting something released commercially are virtually nil so I might as well release my music somewhere where people will at least hear it.

[lanark]

First of all: you MUST do it.
I think it's the way to go, in the future, all music (free & paid) will be on the net only, and this is the very begining of break the discographic monopoly of the RIAA.

My experience with Comfort Stand is very good.

I was in contact with CS through mailing lists, forums and the like. Eventually Otis (CS guy) ask me if I want to release something on the label, and I obviously answer a big YES. It's really a good oportunity and I didn't want to let go. Otis is very kind and all the material I submit was released respectfully and exactly as I ask to be. This is the kind of treatment the majors never will give you.

I know my style fits well with the weird eclectic nature of Comfort Stand, although I know as well that this is not the taste of everybody.

Hope it helps.

Also, every label has directions for submissions, so you must check them at the labels that fits your style.

Cheers!!

[shamann]

Actually, lanark, it was your recent post in the Cafe that led me to ask these questions. I checked out Comfort Stand after your new album announcement, and started thinking that a netlabel home seems to make a lot of sense, but wanted to see what others thought.

Very impressed with the archival stuff on CS, like the Edith Frost and Joe Meek stuff.

A lot of the netlabels I've looked at recently post stuff under a Creative Commons license. I already do that with my stuff, but I want to allow derivative works. If the netlabel's standard usually doesn't allow derivative works, would they require me to change my license to fit?

[lanark]

I guess each label has its own licensing politics, but also all of them are quite open in nature, so I guess you must ask them and surely you can do the license you want, always into the CC options, of course.

BTW, I've been listening to your stuff, and I like it a LOT!!

Regards!

[Markleford]

@shamann: drop a PM off to endmusik about this stuff. He's got a lot of perspective.

- m

[shamann]

BTW, I've been listening to your stuff, and I like it a LOT!!

Thanks, nice of you to say. Keep an eye out, I'll be posting all of SIGHUP 2 very soon, hopefully this weekend.

Markleford, that's a good idea. Noticed last week there were some Wretch tunes up at Magnatune.

[Ronny Pries]

You shouldn't make too many differences between netlabels and "usual" labels. Both are mostly interested in releasing valuable music.

How did you get attached with one? Did they approach you first, or did you approach them?

That's always a matter of the person running the net/label. If you've got some hot stuff and think it would suit the net/labels catalog you shouldn't hesitate to write a mail.

Are there benefits a netlabel can offer over just setting up your own website?

Your music may be heard by way more people than you might expect by selling a minor stock of cd's. The network is working pretty good already and the public attention is gaining all the time.

What's the best way to find a netlabel that is appropriate to your style (I've had some success looking here and here)?

Same thing as you'd do in order to find a label that fits your music, right?

What's the best way to gain their favour?

Same thing as you'd do in order to find a label that fits your music, right?

Beeing involved in quite some netlabels and running since the mid-90's and a&r for my own label, a few advices:

-Do i know anything about the label (or netlabel, i don't make any difference anymore, hmk) or do i only find their website appealing? Don't expect somebody running a technolabel to listen to your latest rockmusic.

-You will most likely find a contact email adress on the labels website. Use it! If there's one for demo purposes, use that one. A polite mail will do. Unless the person you send the mail to loves to read a lot, do not send the story of your life within the first email. The more words you write the earlier a spamfilter may detect a wordcombination filed under "junk" and put your mail into the trashbin

-Do not ask a labelowner to download your latest tracks from a service that requires registration.

-Do not ask a labelowner to download your latest tracks from a server which highest download rate has been 4kbps (i.e. some wicked server in the outback of russia).

-Make sure to use mp3tags for at least artist and trackname. The more info is given, the more somebody listening to your music may remember.



In the end, the guys (or gals?) running netlabels are highly motivated musiclovers who like to spend much work on something they can't live from (freaks). Keeping that in mind you won't have many problems getting in touch with those.

Cheers,
Ronny

[shamann]

Thanks for the info, Ronny, very useful.

[Ronny Pries]

Btw, check out the netlabel catalogue at http://www.phlow.net/netlabel_catalogue/ .

Ronny