INDUSTRY ADVICE
The "Record deal"
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by Beka Tischker www.razorandtie.com btischker@razorandtie.com |
Q; What are it's benefits?
There's still a need for a "team" to help an artist get their music out
there. The record label has the relationships and access that will
theoretically help build awareness of the artist and their music.
Q; It's downsides?
With all the access that the internet opens up, there is really no
reason to sign a typical artist royalty record deal. The name of the
game is definitely CREATIVITY in terms of deals. Also, there's always
the chance that you'll sign to a label and they will eventually end up
bailing on your project, and you're stuck. But, personally, if you find
the right team, I think it's a risk worth taking.
Q; A deal with a Major vs. Indie vs. the "do it yourself" method?
The major recording deal used to be the holy grail - something that
bands/artists were striving to attain - but it seems that today it
evokes more of a negative reaction, as opposed to a positive one. Even
in today's climate, there is still a use for a record deal, but things
have definitely changed. With the arrival of social networking sites
such as myspace, there is now a lot more that an independent artist can
do to further their career before they need a label. Gone are the days
where the only way you could get your music out was by signing your life
away to a label. You can set up your own site, start sharing your
music, and communicate with your fans all over the world! This is a
pretty amazing thing! You can now build value to your career and then
go searching for the right label partner. There are definitely things
that labels can add to what you're doing, but it's no longer the only
option. Because artists are building their careers on their own more
these days, labels have to be more creative in the types of deals they
are doing. I think that the type of deal depends on what you're
needing....if your music is completely "radio" driven, then a major may
make more sense to you. If you want more time for artist development
and can get out on the road and tour, then maybe an indie is the best.
If you want to have more control, then you should build it on your own.
It's exciting because this wouldn't have been much of an option 5 years
ago, but now indie artists are getting their songs placed in film/tv or
commercials. It's a whole new world out there now with tons of
opportunity!
Q; How do you approach "the deal" as an A&R director at a very
successful Indie Label?
I want to make a deal that is fair for both us and the artist. I look
at where the artist is lacking, in terms of their team, and figure out
how we can best help them. I'm doing more creative deals these days
(ex. Profit sharing deals, Distribution deals, Licensing deals, etc.) as
opposed to a straight artist royalty type deal. Each situation is
unique and I treat them all individually.
Q; What type of talent to you seek?
I want to work with artists whose music moves me. I like artists that
know who they are and have something to say. I did a record with an
artist named Angelique Kidjo this year that was by far one of the most
rewarding projects I've been involved in thus far. I didn't know much
about her music beforehand, but LOVED the entire process of learning
about her and the kind of music she makes. For me it's about being
involved with something I can feel proud of, and that I can become
emotionally invested in.
Q; What stage of an artists career is a good stage to approach getting
a record deal?
I think it's important for an artist to start building a fan base on
their own. There are too many resources out there, such as myspace and
youtube, that can be used to get your music out there and start building
a following...even if it's just locally. There's no perfect point in
which you should get a deal. I think you should look to get a label
involved when you need some extra muscle for what you're doing. The
more you do on your own, the more negotiating power you have :)