Getting discovered by music execs these days is like playing the lottery. The only difference is that your talent and the amount of work you put in will affect your chances of winning. And, if you have all the right cards in your deck, there’s a good chance that you’ll eventually hit the jackpot. If you want to get noticed, you’ll need a good product, a good brand, and to use all the tools at your disposal. Let’s take a look at what you need to do to get your music heard by record labels.
Have Good Music
This might seem evident to some of you, but so many artists release poor quality music thinking that if they push it hard enough, they’ll eventually blow up on social media and get signed. But that’s not how things work.
First of all, how are you going to get any type of following if you have sub-par music? Your focus should be on releasing great music that people want to hear. People have very short attention spans and are flooded with content. If your music isn’t at least comparable to what they’re used to hearing, they’ll tune you out.
So, work on your craft and listen to criticism. Being hard-headed is one of the worst things you can be in this business. If people criticize you, don’t take it as hate. If you’re constantly getting the same type of comments, then it means that you have to change something.
You can also take steps to increase your knowledge of music so you can improve your technique and product. This might mean taking some singing classes or learning how to produce your own tracks if you can’t pay for a good producer.
Have Great Live Performances
Another part of your act you’ll need to work on if you want to get discovered is your live performance. You might have hundreds of songs and none of them get noticed, but one insane live show could make you a name overnight. Labels love artists who can put up a great show, and having footage of you with a crowd going wild will show that you may have something.
Go Where the Record Labels Are
You also have to be ready to move if there aren’t many opportunities where you are. If there are no major label offices in your city or if you’re from a rural area, then you should consider leaving. Being closer to record labels will give you plenty of benefits.
First of all, cities with major record label offices will usually have a vibrant music scene as well. This means that you’ll have a greater chance of bumping into industry scouts and executives when attending events in those cities or performing at shows. Being able to go to record labels directly could also help you get your music heard or get your foot through the door through things like internships.
This is why you should consider moving to a major city known for its music scene if you want to be discovered. And, if your goal is to become an international star, then LA is the place to go.
We do understand that moving to Los Angeles to pursue a music career might seem intimidating, but that’s something you have to be ready to do for your career. Also, know that there are some ways that you can live and record affordably when you’re in LA.
One of the ways that you could do this would be to look for independent mix recording studios in Los Angeles such as those offered by Pirate . The studios have self-service installations that you can use to record music with your team. They’re one of the best and most affordable music recording studios in Los Angeles and you’ll have everything that you need to record at a professional level.
Build Your Brand
Artists often hate the idea of selling themselves as a product, but that’s actually what you’re asking for when you’re looking for a record deal. This is why you need to see yourself as a brand and start building it right now before you even try to get signed.
Your brand will be a mix of your image, personality, and what you stand for as an artist. Some artists use shock as a branding element, such as Madonna for instance. Others bank on artistic integrity and inclusion, like Lady Gaga, while other acts are all about having fun, like LMFAO.
As you’ll notice, these people inject their brand into everything they do, whether it’s the visuals, their look, the statements they make, their merchandise, etc. This is what you’ll need to do to be noticeable to record companies. They will want more than just someone who can sing and dance. They want someone who’s marketable and that’s what you’ll be able to demonstrate by building a solid brand.
Boost Your Social Media Presence
There’s no way you can avoid it. These days, having a social media following is almost as important as talent if you want to make it. You don’t necessarily need to have hundreds of thousands of followers, but record companies will be suspicious if you haven’t been able to get at least some traction on social media.
So, you will need to work on getting followers and engaging them. You first have to pick the social media platform that works the best for you. YouTube and Instagram are two of the best platforms for musicians and are even more powerful when used together, so have a presence on both and cross-promote your accounts.
You should also analyze your fan base and see when they engage with your content the most. This will give you an idea of when you should post. You may also notice that you have a large following in one specific city or part of the country, so it would be a good idea to time your post based on their time zone.
From then on, it’s all a question of posting compelling visual and audio content regularly, monitoring your results, and staying consistent.
Getting noticed by record companies is tough, but it’s still possible if you have what it takes and are ready to take the extra mile. It also pays to have the right people in your corner so consider looking for a reputable agent who believes in you.