It can be a very tough climate for music right now. Those who look back to the 70s and consider music to be Top of the Pops, glam, Pan’s People, and when everything was simpler can find the demands of creating music in the modern world incredibly tough. But for those people who are looking to make a living in music, starting a record label is an achievable task even for those who are not necessarily in tune with modern musical trends. Let’s show you some approaches:
Streamlined Business Operations
If there is one thing that we need to prioritise at the very outset, it’s the fact that starting a record label requires a tightly run ship. It is so important to streamline your business operations, and this can involve automating processes. BuildOps HVAC invoicing software and other types of invoicing and automation tools are there, so use them!
It could be easy to think of the old-fashioned way, but we’ve got to bring our business practices bang up to date. Use the tools that work for you rather than thinking you need to get every single type of tool. There’s a lot of incredibly expensive software and hardware out there that may be irrelevant, but by incorporating the right tools, you can actually dedicate more time to nurturing your artists and expanding your label’s reach.
Strategic Marketing and Branding
Lots of people who start a record label have the best of intentions, but they think they can get the audience they need through a couple of simple Facebook posts. Starting a record label or, in fact, any business, is about ensuring that you have a better understanding of your business and brand so you can market yourself appropriately.
There’s a multitude of marketing tools out there, but if you do not have a marketing guru on your side, it is time to get one! Paid ads, SEO, word-of-mouth marketing, video blogs; everything is relevant! This is why you need to implement marketing methods that are effective to promote your label and its artists. There is very little point in promoting a ’70s-oriented group to people who were born after 1991!
Stay on trend and target the demographics because it is, ultimately, a numbers game. If you can get more people who are into that type of music, you are creating a far more tailored approach to making your business appeal. But this also means you need to do the next point very effectively.
Build Your Brand
This involves understanding what your venture and identity truly are, but you also have to then mould a distinct aesthetic to appeal to the right types of people.
Creating a logo is just one component, and if you’re pushing the ’70s aesthetic, for example, you know exactly what that typeface looks like. Retro-inspired typefaces can be key to making that connection between yourself and your audience.
Do Not Underestimate Digital Distribution
While you may very well want to stay retro (as it is described now), you cannot underestimate how important digital distribution can be to make music accessible to a global audience. There are so many people on the lookout for something different, and therefore, if you are looking at creating something with a very distinctive ’70s feel, there is no reason why you shouldn’t avoid Spotify or Apple Music to ensure your content is accessible to a global audience.
While we should be targeting certain demographics when it comes to music, it is something that transcends age and physical boundaries in many ways. It’s always worth having this at the back of your mind, and while streaming will not pay a huge amount based on the current streaming rates of pay, this may change; however, in the meantime, use it as a worthwhile marketing technique.
Signing the Right Artists
Signing talent can be tough, especially when you’re trying to build a ’70s vibe and aesthetic. While there are many heritage acts out there, you could still identify with and sign artists that align with your label’s image and core focus.
Finding those types of acts may require you to venture to the old workingmen’s clubs and make effective callouts for artists on social media or through local message boards, which goes back to that all-important notion of marketing.
It is very tough to establish something in the contemporary environment that harks back to the past. But it is not impossible. The music industry is dynamic and may appear forward-thinking, but music can be incredibly cyclical as can popular culture. Something that seems retro now can easily come fully into the mainstream. While the challenges may be many, it is completely possible to contribute to the legacy of the ’70s now.