Can digital distribution help me get signed?
Yes, it can! If your goal as an artist or band is to sign with a Record Label, then having a good online sales record will definitely increase your chances of securing a deal. Many Record Labels, especially the majors, are prone to calculating the risk involved with investing their resources into making an artist or band successful, which makes sense. Most labels aren’t going to throw money at a band which they don´t think has a chance of succeeding (i.e. making money). With this in mind, showing potential labels that you have been able to achieve a good amount of online sales will make you a more attractive prospect. In addition, having a good online following and a large mailing list will earn you brownie points too, as it shows that you have an existing fan base to build on.
The possibilities which have beeen ushered in by the digital music revolution has led many to believe that it is now possible to enjoy a successful career in music without signing to a Record Label, and this may well be true. But the online environment can just as well help artists looking to sign to a Record Label by giving them a platform from which they can develop their music. The reduced cost for recording, distributing and marketing music has made the basic entry level into the market easier, and aspiring artists can develop their music autonomously to quite a high level. From here, they have grounds to pursue their goals on their own steam, but they can just as well use this developed position to get signed. What a glorious age of music we live in!
Tags: digital distribution, digital music, independent, mp3, Music, online music, record union, Recordunion, selling music online, The new music industry, unsigned
