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 you have a record label, now what? |
short-wave 
Producer
Registration Date: 25-07-2005
Posts: 71
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Salvage Recordings
We are a group of junglists who are pressing vinyl and distributing it in the global market. The struggle is great. Not knowing where the golden key lays I have searched far and wide to figure out
how to get "our" music out as much as possible. When I say "our" music, I am speaking about drum & bass as a whole.
Have you ever wondered why it costs so much for one record? I have. After looking and thinking for many years, I have come up with a crazy strategy, that just might work to bring prices and availability into our socialist grasp.
So here it goes. If you can muster it together, press up 500-1000 copies of the best tune you can find.It does not need to be your tune. Use all the resources you can find. Money is hard to come by. it took many people, several club nights a few skipped meals and a bit of hustling the groove. If you can work it out. Press away! Do not put out a tune that is not vinyl worthy. Try very hard to avoid putting out amauter material, or this will not work.
Now if you are a smart little junglist, you already know somebody who does one of the following:
- Works for a record store
- Plays records
- Promotes for electronic music
All of these types and more are going to be into the ultra-cheap, ultra-underground music you bring to them. Why are they going to be so happy to buy your music from you? Because it costs so much less than in the stores, and they are contributing to something that is worthy of their hard earned loot. Check out my reasoning. We got 1000 copies of our first release pressed up for about $3.50 a unit. Shipping was not included into this cost! All the normal avenues of distribution were searched out, including- person to person
- person to store
- drive to the club nights and sling em' out ya trunk
- very professional approach to businesses
- casual approach to businesses
- obvious forum searching
- magazine reviews, media contact etc
After all of that, we still had many more records left. Most people told me not to give up, and supported me in my actions. More than 100 copies were sold in one month! Still it was not enough. My mind came to the conclusion that I need to get this vinyl out at no matter what the cost, for we had more tunes to put out, and we need the money from the first release to do this. By the way, a long time ago I decided that dnb is not going to generate wealth, its just a way of life. Selling the records at near cost is the only way I can see to get to the goal. By offering a package of 5 records at a cost affordable to most dj's and collectors. Lets move some vinyl, and pool together. Some people will be able to get a record of the choice for half the cost in stores! Imagine if you liked a tune, you know someone else does too. If you and them can make the order, sell some to the store that you must frequent in your local area, or anyone else ready to support a cause they are part of. I believe that the network of music supporters is thick.
I have sent records out already to many people for a cost of $20 for five records. This is our offer. Check out our first release, you can find us. Listen to it! Our tunes were reviewed in this months issue of Knowledge magazine K59. $20 in US currency covers my expenses as long as they pay shipping on top of that 20 bucks. Do your math, see what it would cost you to get a copy at near nothing, if you do some work, their is a profit involved as well. Please join me and others in the fight to keep vinyl affordable and fresh. Fatten up your crates for half the cost. Keep the scene underground. Don't let distributors decide what music gets put on the market. Keep the jungle fires burning!!!!!! Be sure to tell other electronic music peeps as well. This is a plan for all labels, beyond drum & bass. PEACE! 
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SLVG
This post has been edited 2 time(s), it was last edited by short-wave: 22-08-2005 01:02.
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21-08-2005 23:09 |
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@1$-)
unregistered
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oki see this is some shameless promotion .....fair play....
but whats the title of the thread about?
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21-08-2005 23:55 |
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Friscko
Aron Tinnitus
Registration Date: 12-03-2005
Posts: 4,467
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22-08-2005 00:02 |
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@1$-)
unregistered
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lol...wrell the post has been edited from when i first saw it.....
yeh not a bad idea i suppose......altohugh i just signed a single to a breaks label......and for waht was two days programming the moneys quite good.....
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22-08-2005 01:28 |
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dubcupboard
Producer
Registration Date: 16-05-2005
Posts: 78
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Things work a little different where Im from,
You dont necessarily have to struggle to put out a release.
Yeah I agree that pressing-up vinyls is costly its because of the 'plate' (metal-work)
that alone costs around £300 (uk)
then theres the mastering unless u do it yourself!
what you wanna do is some research long b4 you even press-up
compile lists of all underground record outlets theres a lot on-line now!
They will take in 'at cost' price but this is only the beginning.
before you release any material you have to build what they call the 'buzz' on the tune/s.
This is where you send out 'promo' copies to all the dj's that spin your type of DnB.
If your tunes up to scratch they will rinse it if they are feelin it.
You also need to send promo's to radio dj's your tune wont stand a chance unless its getting a reasonable amount of 'air-play', again theres a lot of stations on-line now too!
once you build up a decent buzz on your material them tunes will sell themselves.
Good Luck with your project - later
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dubcupboard
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22-08-2005 03:57 |
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@1$-)
unregistered
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| quote: |
Originally posted by dubcupboard
Things work a little different where Im from,
You dont necessarily have to struggle to put out a release.
Yeah I agree that pressing-up vinyls is costly its because of the 'plate' (metal-work)
that alone costs around £300 (uk)
then theres the mastering unless u do it yourself!
what you wanna do is some research long b4 you even press-up
compile lists of all underground record outlets theres a lot on-line now!
They will take in 'at cost' price but this is only the beginning.
before you release any material you have to build what they call the 'buzz' on the tune/s.
This is where you send out 'promo' copies to all the dj's that spin your type of DnB.
If your tunes up to scratch they will rinse it if they are feelin it.
You also need to send promo's to radio dj's your tune wont stand a chance unless its getting a reasonable amount of 'air-play', again theres a lot of stations on-line now too!
once you build up a decent buzz on your material them tunes will sell themselves.
Good Luck with your project - later |
heathmans will master your tracks and cut your lacquers (which is what you need for a pressing plant to start pressing from) for about £120....and they master for the likes of total science , cause 4 concern, hazard, friction, plump djs, dopamine and si begg amongst others......
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22-08-2005 16:02 |
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dubcupboard
Producer
Registration Date: 16-05-2005
Posts: 78
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| quote: |
Originally posted by MUNKI C
heathmans will master your tracks and cut your lacquers (which is what you need for a pressing plant to start pressing from) for about £120....and they master for the likes of total science , cause 4 concern, hazard, friction, plump djs, dopamine and si begg amongst others...... |
Thanx Munki thats really good news!
I will bear that info in mind...
I did know a plant that would press up an A-side only and give you 30 (T.P.'S)
with mastering for about £250 but they went bust.
Thats about the cheapest ive heard of up untill now!
Later.
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dubcupboard
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22-08-2005 17:19 |
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Surya
The Robot
Registration Date: 04-11-2002
Posts: 11,238
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Foon ( http://www.foon.be/ ) in Belgium asks €250 if I'm not mistaken... Last time they added too much bass though...
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"In dnb you should make people jump not swim"
- Pieter Frenssen 2004
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22-08-2005 17:28 |
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Abnormalbrain
Cool Producer
Registration Date: 24-03-2005
Posts: 207
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I could send you a demo if you whant to(I think I will be ready soon with a tune). Are there any personal costs exept for mastering?? How many tunes do you sell?
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da rollaz, da steppaz da true playaz
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04-12-2005 15:53 |
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Greyone
Master Producer
Registration Date: 01-04-2005
Posts: 6,285
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thanx for the info 
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09-02-2006 23:11 |
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