The number one way to get a record deal might seem obvious, but it’s the only real way to garner label attention. The secret to catching a record exec’s ear is (drum roll please)…making music so good it’s impossible to ignore. You probably already know this, but are you sure that you’re really there yet?
"The truth is a lot of bands reach out to record labels before they’re truly ready to move to the next level. A label wants to see you’re the whole package and you’re about to take the world by storm. Then they’ll invest in you."So how can a band kick their presence and artistry up a notch? Well, for starters, make sure you’ve got a fresh, distinctive artistic vision. No label wants to sign a cheap version of another band; they want someone striking, someone who makes you sit up and take notice.
Once you’re sure your band isn’t just writing retreads of another group’s songs, you can further hone your performance and creative skills by performing live as much as possible. Since touring is a massive part of music industry income these days, labels want to see a captivating frontperson who knows how to put on a show. It’s not called show business for nothing.
How much does a record label pay an artist?
Record labels nowadays are typically only interested in signing artists who already have a large following or are gaining traction on social media. They’re looking to invest money and resources into artists who have already invested time and effort into themselves. How much a record label invests in an artist varies, but on the low-end, they may pay an artist an advance of hundreds of thousands of dollars. On the higher end, they may pay an artist millions of dollars. Either way, it’s an advance, which is basically a loan to be paid back by the music’s earnings. Once the label has gotten back their advance amount, the artist and label split future earnings (the percentage split also varies widely).