Music Record Labels Key Terms

Some key terms for music record labels and their operations
By J. Stoltzfus, writer/programmer LOCAL CITIZEN A music record label generally has a standard for how it operates, especially in regard to finding new artists. Some of the basic terms around running a music record label relate to both artists looking for representation and record labels looking for new artists to work with. These basic terms also show how the music industry has changed over time. Knowing about some of these basic elements for establishing a relationship with music record labels will help a business be more informed about the industry in general.

Demo

The demo is the key in most music record label contracts: The company assesses a new artist mainly on the strength of this "sample" recording. These days, a good demo is often worth its weight in gold.
Try:  Find out more about what is generally involved in pitching a demo at this Record Label Demo Submission Guide.

Head shots

The "head shot" is a black-and-white or color picture, generally an 8-by-10 inch size, that a music record label will also use in assessing new artists. Musicians and bands want to have these included in a press package along with the demo.
Try:  Read up on head shots and other promotional items for musicians at Ask Jerry.

Music agent

A music agent generally represents artists and musicians and helps them get established, including setting up relationships with music record labels.
Try:  Find out more about what a music agent does at HowStuffWorks.

A&R rep

An A&R (or artists and repertoire) representative is really a talent scout. Today A&R people go to live shows. They also scour MySpace and other music-related social networking sites and they review demos. The A&R person is a key player in getting an artist together with a record label.
Try:  Find out more about what A&R reps do at Music Biz Academy.

Formats

One rule of the music industry is that the format is constantly changing. What is the format? It's simply the medium for the music. The format used to be vinyl (records). Vinyl still exists as a viable format, along with tapes, CDs and other forms of recorded music. New formats of the future include .wav files, MP3s and more digital music items.
Try:  Check out this site on Record Label Resource to see why vinyl was once considered a "dead format" and to find more info about how record labels use formats and adapt to format changes.

Music licensing

Another way that record labels do business is by interacting with the "Big Three" music licensing companies: ASCAP, BMI and SESAC. All three of these companies collect blanket royalties for huge repertories of artists, and work on the behalf of songwriters and composers.
Try:  Find more about the PROs (Performing Rights Organizations) from this page at Arts and Business Philadelphia.