Who to send demos to?!?

grandslamsmith

Afternoon,

I just completed a fairly sizeabel demo - anyone know where, who, when, what, how to send demos to - record lables, DJ's etc, etc, etc

I have not a clue

Slam

Savman

Can never understand this thought process of "record now, think later" that most bands seem to follow. I mean, why spend all that time/money/effort recording a "sizeable demo" if you've "not ac lue" what you're gonna do with it? Kinda a bit late now, dontcha think?

Fail to prepare...

bedbugs

Would have to disagree with the previous post.

How good is the quality? Could you do a DIY and get it properly mixed, properly mastered (wav in limerick springs to mind) and release it digitally. then Send a press release and a free download to the list of labels / stations /PR guys that you'll find in the HP Yearbook?

Warning though, labels aren't really signing.

I'd also recommend doing two versions -one with vox and one without. Ad agencies are still using original music , despite the state of the economy. Film Prod Companies would be good for this too.

grandslamsmith

Savman wrote: »

Can never understand this thought process of "record now, think later" that most bands seem to follow. I mean, why spend all that time/money/effort recording a "sizeable demo" if you've "not ac lue" what you're gonna do with it? Kinda a bit late now, dontcha think?

Fail to prepare...

Get f8cked.

MilanPan!c

bedbugs wrote: »

Would have to disagree with the previous post.

How good is the quality? Could you do a DIY and get it properly mixed, properly mastered (wav in limerick springs to mind) and release it digitally. then Send a press release and a free download to the list of labels / stations /PR guys that you'll find in the HP Yearbook?

Warning though, labels aren't really signing.

I'd also recommend doing two versions -one with vox and one without. Ad agencies are still using original music , despite the state of the economy. Film Prod Companies would be good for this too.

Not bad advice.

I would disagree with one point.

If the material is there you'll find a label.

What you need to do though is figure out what you really want.

Development deals are easier to come by but take much longer to spool out/often go nowhere.

A better plan might be to save up some dough and release a single. Pay a protional group to flog it to radio, then use that as leverage.

Just my 2 cent.

grandslamsmith

bedbugs wrote: »

Would have to disagree with the previous post.

How good is the quality? Could you do a DIY and get it properly mixed, properly mastered (wav in limerick springs to mind) and release it digitally. then Send a press release and a free download to the list of labels / stations /PR guys that you'll find in the HP Yearbook?

Warning though, labels aren't really signing.

I'd also recommend doing two versions -one with vox and one without. Ad agencies are still using original music , despite the state of the economy. Film Prod Companies would be good for this too.

Hiya Bugs!¬

Magic - thanks for the reply and you can see my sentiment in relation to the first reply.

It's not really a demo, it's the finished artical professionally mixed and mastered to studio quality/radio edit.

I've been a musician all my life just not a jobbing one, I spent just over a year on this first album which was initially a hobby but I'vebeen 'goaded' into seeking professional opinion/representation for it as a number of the tracks are currently being used in advertising campaigns - but like I say not a guy involved in the 'scene'.

All suggestiosn greatly appreciated Bugs thansk again

grandslamsmith

MilanPan!c wrote: »

Not bad advice.

I would disagree with one point.

If the material is there you'll find a label.

What you need to do though is figure out what you really want.

Development deals are easier to come by but take much longer to spool out/often go nowhere.

A better plan might be to save up some dough and release a single. Pay a protional group to flog it to radio, then use that as leverage.

Just my 2 cent.

Groovy - so how do you go about that? Who are these promotional groups that I could talk to .....and is it pricey!?!?

MilanPan!c

grandslamsmith wrote: »

Groovy - so how do you go about that? Who are these promotional groups that I could talk to .....and is it pricey!?!?

Sorry, I don't know the answer for Ireland.

In Boston there's tons. And yea they can be quite pricey, but they're worth it as they're the secret to radio play without a label.

At least in the States. Must be something like that here.

fitz

Had a quick listen to the OP's soundcloud tracks.
OP, you're in the wrong forum. Check out the Dance Music Production forum.
One thing I would say, is that you're gonna have to do legwork on this yourself.
Search this forum for PR, you'll get hits.
When you get into this end of things, you really need to school yourself. No-one's gonna do it for you, and you can expect to spend at least as long with this phase as getting the recording done.

The core of Savman's point isn't one to be ignored. This side of things needs to be thought about as part of the overall project, and planned for earlier if you want quick turnaround.

grandslamsmith

yeah - worth a bit of investigation - might hang about outside Today FM and throw Dempsy a few quid to play it!!

grandslamsmith

fitz wrote: »

Had a quick listen to the OP's soundcloud tracks.
OP, you're in the wrong forum. Check out the Dance Music Production forum.
One thing I would say, is that you're gonna have to do legwork on this yourself.
Search this forum for PR, you'll get hits.
When you get into this end of things, you really need to school yourself. No-one's gonna do it for you, and you can expect to spend at least as long with this phase as getting the recording done.

The core of Savman's point isn't one to be ignored. This side of things needs to be thought about as part of the overall project, and planned for earlier if you want quick turnaround.

Absolutely.
Dam good place to start though Fitzy

Slam

fitz

grandslamsmith wrote: »

yeah - worth a bit of investigation - might hang about outside Today FM and throw Dempsy a few quid to play it!!

Reality is, very few radio DJ's on during the morning or daytime have any flexibility in what they get to play. Pretty much everything is playlisted.
Listening to your stuff, there should be a market for it, but it's not the mainstream market, so I'd focus it on where it'll get heard and played.

I don't think mainstream radio play is realistic, and you're not likely to get any of the main PR companies on board for this kind of music unfortunately. That's not a reflection on what you've done, or your hard work, it's just the way things are here.

The Dance Prod guys will be far better versed on where to point you.

grandslamsmith

fitz wrote: »

Reality is, very few radio DJ's on during the morning or daytime have any flexibility in what they get to play. Pretty much everything is playlisted.
Listening to your stuff, there should be a market for it, but it's not the mainstream market, so I'd focus it on where it'll get heard and played.

I don't think mainstream radio play is realistic, and you're not likely to get any of the main PR companies on board for this kind of music unfortunately. That's not a reflection on what you've done, or your hard work, it's just the way things are here.

The Dance Prod guys will be far better versed on where to point you.

Completely agree Fitz,

Very very helpful replys as I'm starting from ground zero with this particular project so any and all advice is warmly received.

I'll steer my endeavours through Dance Production waters

Slam

busttropical

MilanPan!c wrote: »

Sorry, I don't know the answer for Ireland.

In Boston there's tons. And yea they can be quite pricey, but they're worth it as they're the secret to radio play without a label.

At least in the States. Must be something like that here.

Boston just seems to be the best place for music at the moment. Can think of tens of good bands coming out of there atm.

MilanPan!c

Boston has always been a great place for music. I lived there 10 years and heard tons of AMAZING bands.

Which current Boston bands are you digging?

I had a lot of success there and miss the scene something mighty!

busttropical

my taste might be a bit.. different.. but bands like STATE RADIO, smartbomb, a wilhelm scream, big d and the kids table, dropkick murphy's of course, and probably my favourite of all time, the mighty mighty bosstones! :cool:

what sorta music did you play there?

MilanPan!c

busttropical wrote: »

my taste might be a bit.. different.. but bands like STATE RADIO, smartbomb, a wilhelm scream, big d and the kids table, dropkick murphy's of course, and probably my favourite of all time, the mighty mighty bosstones! :cool:

what sorta music did you play there?

I rehearsed across from Big D for YEARS.

Very nice guys!

I played in a few bands... the most successful was a kinda punk band:

http://www.myspace.com/bradshawrock

We did pretty well, toured a lot, recorded a lot and got to open for some very cool people, like Patti Smith.

Boston, it's a great place!

busttropical

hahaha that is awesome! your old band sounds wicked! sure punk and reggae and ska is pretty much all i listen to.

MilanPan!c

busttropical wrote: »

hahaha that is awesome! your old band sounds wicked! sure punk and reggae and ska is pretty much all i listen to.

thanks man... only band I've ever been in where multiple guitars would be destroyed per night......

The real keeper is that We're All ****ed song... it was our 9/11 song (every American band had one, don't be fooled...ours was just honest).

Anyhoo, glad you like it... if I ever get a chance to talk to the those D kids again I'll tell them about their Irish fan!

olliephelan

Savman wrote: »

Can never understand this thought process of "record now, think later" that most bands seem to follow. I mean, why spend all that time/money/effort recording a "sizeable demo" if you've "not ac lue" what you're gonna do with it? Kinda a bit late now, dontcha think?

Fail to prepare...

NO ....THATS WRONG .....the music should come first ......then when youve made something that MIGHT be recordable /releasable THEN find out how to release it .
NO POINT IN GETTING TO KNOW THE BUSINESS IF YOU FIND OUT LATER THAT YOU DONT HAVE A NOTE IN YOUR HEAD .

ive been at it on and off for years , thousands of edits of hundreds of trax , and i have NO IDEA how to get released . but ill FIND OUT faIRLY QUICKLY once im satisfied that my stuff is up to standard

PaulBrewer

Savman wrote: »

Fail to prepare...

... prepare to Fail.

First page of the manual on doing anything really, one might argue.

olliephelan

grandslamsmith wrote: »

Hiya Bugs!¬

Magic - thanks for the reply and you can see my sentiment in relation to the first reply.

It's not really a demo, it's the finished artical professionally mixed and mastered to studio quality/radio edit.

I've been a musician all my life just not a jobbing one, I spent just over a year on this first album which was initially a hobby but I'vebeen 'goaded' into seeking professional opinion/representation for it as a number of the tracks are currently being used in advertising campaigns - but like I say not a guy involved in the 'scene'.

All suggestiosn greatly appreciated Bugs thansk again

AS far as I know , record labels EXPECT a demo of 3 tracks .
generally thats all they want to hear in one go , i think .
so maybe divide your album up into 3 or 4 demos with 3 trax each .
?????????..........if im wrong , im sure somebody will correct me.

EVEN MOBY releases his stuff in car adverts etc etc , before general release . thats a REAL GOOD marketing tactic . I doubt if he even gets paid for providing the music ....theres lots of tracks ive heard on tv adverts . trying to find out who the bands/artists are .

olliephelan

PaulBrewer wrote: »

... prepare to Fail.

First page of the manual on doing anything really, one might argue.

i dont see the problem .
theres no rush .
you dont find out how to release an album if you dont have any music .
you make your music , get good at it , then when you think its becomming good enough for potential release , then look into how to release it .

now that that chap feels hes ready to release , he will find out quick enough how to go about doing it .
trying to find out how to release an album before you have music is literally putting the cart before the horse .

and how would you learn the business if your stuff is unprepared or no good ?

MilanPan!c

olliephelan wrote: »

NO ....THATS WRONG .....the music should come first ......then when youve made something that MIGHT be recordable /releasable THEN find out how to release it .
NO POINT IN GETTING TO KNOW THE BUSINESS IF YOU FIND OUT LATER THAT YOU DONT HAVE A NOTE IN YOUR HEAD .

ive been at it on and off for years , thousands of edits of hundreds of trax , and i have NO IDEA how to get released . but ill FIND OUT faIRLY QUICKLY once im satisfied that my stuff is up to standard

It depends what you want.

Lots of bands get signed with only 3-4 songs written. Some survive most don't. But they did get further in the industry than many other bands with 100+ songs that were all crap.

The point is, I you wanna be signed start at trying from day one, but only accept the deal you actually are right for.

If you're just about making music you COULD get signed, but you're prolly gonna have a hard time.

It's a buisness, your music is your resume for a job, if you want to work for the buisness.

Digital distro has changed the rules to a small degree.

The bands you hear on the radio are almost exclusively on pretty big labels. The bands that really tour the world are all on pretty big labels.

If you wanna do those things you have to work for the industry and make some successful people some money.

It ain't a socialist utopia, but it's better than shifting guitars or groceries for a living.

PaulBrewer

olliephelan wrote: »

i dont see the problem .
theres no rush .
you dont find out how to release an album if you dont have any music .
you make your music , get good at it , then when you think its becomming good enough for potential release , then look into how to release it .

now that that chap feels hes ready to release , he will find out quick enough how to go about doing it .
trying to find out how to release an album before you have music is literally putting the cart before the horse .

and how would you learn the business if your stuff is unprepared or no good ?

You don't learn it in a day, or with a phone call, or a weekend course, that's why.

The idea you make music to release and go and find how to do that after the music is made is naive.

Everything complex takes time to learn.

The earlier one starts the more likely one is to learn.

MilanPan!c

PaulBrewer wrote: »

You don't learn it in a day, or with a phone call, or a weekend course, that's why.

The idea you make music to release and go and find how to do that after the music is made is naive.

Everything complex takes time to learn.

The earlier one starts the more likely one is to learn.

Well said.

fitz

I'm with Brewer on this.
Putting it off is just wasting time.

MilanPan!c

fitz wrote: »

I'm with Brewer on this.
Putting it off is just wasting time.

Yep, the more you expose yourself to the buisness side, the better, if that's what you're aiming for.

miju

Savman wrote: »

Can never understand this thought process of "record now, think later" that most bands seem to follow. I mean, why spend all that time/money/effort recording a "sizeable demo" if you've "not ac lue" what you're gonna do with it? Kinda a bit late now, dontcha think?

Fail to prepare...

QFT

Savman

Been avoiding replying to this thread as it felt like we were invaded with spotty angst-ridden teens with delusions of grandeur and not an ounce of sense. Yeah, we all love the rock n roll 'tude, but unless you have any clue about how this business works then you are setting yourself up for a fall you may never recover from, so the OP can shoot the messenger all he wants.

If you pour your everything into recording a dozen songs, without sparing a single thought on how you intend getting this product (key word) to your market (key word), well...I don't know what to tell you. Maybe you might get lucky.

To suggest otherwise shows a complete lack of understanding of this cartel industry. There are no unsolicited tracks on any major radio station, so your CD will be binned. Harsh, yes, unfair, yes, but c'est la vie.

If you think you're the rare exception rather than the norm, hey, knock yourself out.