Country Music Record Labels Basics
Advice on country record labels for agents and talent business owners
If your businesses is involved in shopping country talent, you need to know country music record labels basics. This includes learning about major country record companies and the type of artists they look for.There are a lot of different aspects to country CD labels, so you may not have any idea of where to get started. Here are three steps that can help steer you in the proper direction:
1. Find out about as many major country record companies as possible and obtain their contact information.
2. Research artists that each label you're interested in has currently signed to see if they fit your niche.
3. Read about the best way to approach a label to try to shop your talent there.
Find out about as many major country record companies as possible
You may not know just how many country music recording companies are out there. Once you find out, the choice may seem overwhelming, but it is important to explore all of your options. You don't need to contact each of these labels, but you don't want to miss out on one that could be perfect for your client.
Try: Start with The Country Startpage, which features links to the websites of more than 100 country labels in the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia. If you don't find that list to be comprehensive enough, Allrecordlabels has more than 500 country music labels listed on its website.
Research artists that have signed with each country music label
Once you've looked through the country music recording labels that are available, it's time to figure out which are the best for you to approach. One good way is to look at each label's artist list. If it's not on the label's website, contact their customer service department. Listening to some of these artists before shopping your clients can help you determine if they would be a fit.
Try: Universal Music Nashville, which is a huge and influential country label, has its artist list on its website. You can even listen to clips of each artists' songs. Another label with an online list is Destiny Row Records. Don't count out labels that make you take the extra step of calling. This is often true with the smaller or more niche labels.
Read about the best way to approach a label to try to shop your talent
Approach each country music record label in person after you've picked a few country music record companies that have artist lists that seem promising. This doesn't mean just arriving at the front desk with an armload of CDs. There is a science to doing this properly.
Try: Read Make It in Music's article on how to begin the process. This advice will work for major country record companies and smaller labels. Once you "get an in" at a label, you'll need to know some of the pointers in Music Biz Academy's article on record deals. This will help you make sure your clients are treated fairly if the country record label decides to offer a contract.
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