Do you need a record deal? With everyone talking about how much the music industry is "changing" these days, many musicians wonder if they really need to worry about demos and labels any more, or if all of that traditional music business stuff is just so passe. In fact, you've probably heard a lot of people tell you that you definitely DON'T need a label - that labels are only taking a cut of your earnings for something that you could be doing by yourself anyway. The truth really isn't quite that easy.
First - yes, you CAN release your record yourself. There are more avenues than ever before for indie music in general, and that means musicians have a better shot at success with a self release now. But make no mistake about it - there's nothing especially revolutionary in the model of self releasing your record. You're not "skipping" the record label - you're really starting a record label. If you're serious about selling your music and trying to make a living, then you are going to have to do everything a record label would do - both in terms of work and finances. The better question is whether you NEED a label - really, you don't - but whether or not you are ready, willing and able to do everything involved in running your own label.And as we proceed towards an awareness of what it really means to socially network and create a buzz following by just applying ourselfs the closer we all will learn that this self empowerment time period is very important to advancing our passions and careers to DA-NEXT-LEVEL!
