So what can you do if you’re a performing artist over the age of 24 who wants a major label record deal so badly you can taste it?  I’m glad you asked.  The following also works wonders for artists of any age, and puts you in the most favorable position when it comes to record deals.  Be forewarned;  you have to be aggressive but not overbearing, and you have to have the ultimate confidence in your dreams!

Here are the steps you can take:

1.  First, know exactly what genre your music fits into, and make sure the record label has an interest in exploiting that market.  You can research this and find out who’s hot and who’s not through major label websites as well as many other websites, through various periodicals like Billboard Magazine, and by networking and asking people connected to that particular label.  Once you know you have a chance to fill a void through a particular genre or you believe you’re the next greatest thing to Beyonce, record your 3 best songs and package your demo professionally.

2.  Next, you have to develop a working relationship through networking with someone who’s connected to a major label.  This means you should approach managers, entertainment attorneys, A&R reps, or anyone connected to a major label through music industry events, workshops, parties, and other social situations.  This one is extremely important!  No matter how good you are, if you don’t make the personal connection, you have a better chance of winning the Powerball lottery! 

3.  Once you’ve developed a working relationship (you met at Starbucks for coffee, etc.) you start working your way in.  Show your demo to your contact only at this point and let them know what your goals are in an excited, confident manner.

4.  Be careful at this point, too many people in the music industry including your contacts don’t have the heart to tell you they can’t do anything for you for whatever reason (i.e., it’s not good enough, they think their record label won’t like it, etc.).  So trust your gut feeling.  Your sole focus at this point should be to get that one person to believe in you.  If that person does not believe in you, maintain the friendship, but look elsewhere and repeat steps 1 to 3.

5.  Once you have a music industry insider believing in you as a performing artist, it’s time to pitch your demo using the information on this link.  If you’re a songwriter, remind them that you are, and really stress that fact proudly.  For quite a few years now, major labels have preferred self-contained artists because they know they can usually tie in their music publishing deals together with their record deals-yes, meaning more profit for them!  

Major label record deals aren’t easy to achieve but I assure you, they’re well within reach if you take the appropriate steps.

Independent record deals from established companies are no piece of cake either, and if you’ve noticed especially lately, they’re on the rise once again and certainly a fantastic option to successfully get your music out there. 

Now, go out and get those record deals and make us all proud to be your fans!

In today’s music industry market, you can’t just be talented or simply have great songs; there are too many people like you with comparable talent.  Recording excellent, CD release-quality material is now possible at a fraction of the cost compared to just a few short years ago, and the result is; more people recording=more competition!

For each music genre, there are also certain unspoken requirements artists must fill.  E.g., in mainstream music, whether it’s pop, r&b, or latin music, the majority of Major record label executives won’t even consider signing an individual recording artist over the age of 24! Oh, they’re not going to come out and publicize this, but it’s the sad reality, folks!  Their reasoning is it takes a couple of years to get a new act going and they want to appeal to their biggest customers; the young record buyers!  In doing so, the music industry (which includes radio stations) prevents itself from being able to offer us (the consumers) the best music out there.  Haven’t you wondered why most pop music these days is so devoid of any feeling whatsoever?  There’s your answer.

That’s not to say if you’re a recording artist over 24 you absolutely don’t have a chance to make it in the music industry, or that record deals are out of reach; there are always exceptions to the rule.  But to be one of those exceptions you have to already have some type of local, regional, or national following, or simply have unbelievable talent so record labels can see dollar signs in front of their eyes with very little investment.

For many musicians, record deals are not everything to them.  Some are perfectly content making a good living locally and indeed, many make a better living than you think!  On the other hand, record deals are the goals of many musicians, the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, and I can understand that.  If you choose to pursue a record deal, here’s the single most important secret in today’s music market;

YOU ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PERFORM EXCELLENT, ORIGINAL MATERIAL LIVE WITH NO NOTICEABLE MISTAKES WHEN A MUSIC INDUSTRY REP IS WATCHING, AND YOU MUST PROVE TO THEM YOU HAVE A CERTAIN, UNIQUE, SPECIAL QUALITY THAT WILL SELL CD’S.  Remember, these music industry professionals make it their business to watch other musicians, so generally, they can spot special talent from a mile away. 

Of course the trick is also to get music industry insiders to come out and watch your show or to give you a chance to perform in front of them (even if it’s in their office), but that’s a whole different story, so we’ll leave that part for a future article. 

The biggest mistake you can make is to rush into an audition if you’re not ready to blow people away.  You will usually only get one chance; most first impressions last a lifetime!

So what can you do to prepare yourself?  Stay tuned for Part 2 of this series, but in the meantime, practice, practice, practice until you can play your songs, one by one, perfectly and with feeling!