How To Sign A Record Deal

Wow! In this clip below, Michael Laskow really nails the point home on how to sign a record deal

These days, in order to sign a record deal you’re looking at climbing heights higher than mount Everest, especially in the current market conditions. However this clip really drives home a key point for anyone willing to step into the ring and go the distance.

One of the great things I like about Michael - the presenter of this clip is that he tells it like it is. There’s no B.S

Probably, the most important thing I tell nearly every musician I ever come into contact with who asks me - “How do I Sign A Record Deal?” will always hear my same recorded message -

You must have a good story to tell and already be making it on your own!

Selling 15,000 records on your own is enough to make someone’s ears prick. Selling over 10,000 tickets and pulling in over $150,000 on your last tour would definitely arouse some interest at least enough to get an A&R guy to pick up the phone and call you.

However sending an A&R guy a demo and a bio without even knowing them is a total waste of time.

The bottom line is that you MUST knock up some success before you can excite any A&R guy or record company to consider putting a record deal on the table.

Human beings always prefer the path of least resistance. A&R guys and record companies are no different to cops who love to hang out at Duncan Doughnuts all day long.

Ask yourself this question - Why would they sign you over the band next door who have just spent the past three years, touring, selling records, creating stories to tell and generally seem like they are going places?

As Michael clearly puts it - you must be successful first before any record company will show any interest in you. It’s that simple.

Sitting at home on your computer and typing into Google “how to sign a record deal” is not good enough! Getting out there, preparing your conquest of all your local clubs and bars is a better start.

If you were an A&R scout and had a record deal to hand out, what would impress you?

What stories about a band would make your ears twitch? What would make you get out of your chair, pick up the phone and want to call your band because if you don’t you’d feel like you could be missing out on signing the next Beatles.

Close your eyes for a moment and really think about what you could do or what success you can generate to really make an A&R guy feel like a total idiot if he didn’t sign you or your band and offer you the record deal you’ve been dreaming of.

These questions and ideas should hopefully drive you to a deeper contemplation of figuring out how to pull all these things off and be able to sign a record deal with the record company of your choice. Unfortunately or fortunately (depending on if the glass is half full or empty), this new reality requires alot of planning, thought and alot of damn hard work.

Stick around on my site and hopefully I’ll be able to help you through the loops!

Tags: Music Recording, The Music Industry

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