The Future for Independent Record Labels
Small independent record labels are facing a different fight today to obtain a share of the music industry. The best possible means in which small labels were able to get their CD's sold vanished in 2003 when Southwest Wholesale Records and Tapes closed the doors. The ability to have their music placed in a position to be sold along the same shelves as the major record labels is becoming increasingly more difficult. The absence of competition on the shelves has generated an increase in profits for the major labels. What can smaller more nimble labels do to compete with the major labels?
Promotion and Radio -
The major labels have a tight grip on the radio, for example, it is probably the means in which to promote and break in a new artist. (Maybe the hold is a little tight and illegal: Eliot Spitzer, New York's attorney general, is investigating whether the majors bribe radio stations to play their music.) The amount of money and influence that the majors have cannot be matched by a smaller record labels. They cannot fight this battle and often songs that are deservingly good enough to be played will not be played. Play lists are generated in a single office and downloaded to the station managers to every part of the country. The station managers have no choice but to play what the corporate headquarters have instructed them to play for the day. What then can smaller more nimble labels do to compete with the major labels?
The Future - The Internet
Battle lines can be drawn in this vast market. Smaller labels can have attractive websites for their acts at a relatively cheap price. Hosting of these sites will not be an unmanageable expense either. The smaller labels can promote with banners and not have to absorb the cost of printing and manually distributing flyers and post cards to a smaller scope of potential buyers. The buyers on the Internet that can be reached are the same as that of the major labels.
What about radio over the Internet? It is still developing and today would be a great time to develop an artist over the Internet. Major labels have no control over the stations on the Internet yet!! Developing a radio station over the Internet is viable option for a small label. The cost associated again with doing so is not prohibitive.
Investigate and do your homework about the Internet and promoting on-line. The market is open for smaller companies as much as it is for the bigger companies.
Eugene Brooks has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration and a Juris Doctorate Degree that he earned from Thurgood Marshall School of Law. Mr. Brooks is the President and CEO of the Texas based, independent label "KMJ Records." KMJ Records can be found on the web at http://www.kmjrecords.us and features chopped and screwed CD's by Z-Ro and various other Dirty South Houston Rappers.
This article is copyright © 2005 by Eugene Brooks and may be reprinted in it's entirety as long as this byline and copyright statement are included.
Latest News
![]() ABC News | Getting to Carnegie via YouTube New York Times, United States - That second option is the main feature of a new marketing project by Google to bolster the organized presence of classical music on YouTube and promote the ... Classical musicians get shot at fame on YouTube YouTube Symphony Orchestra: Google sees a future in fancy music of ... Thomas signs on for YouTube symphony project |
eJamming Inc. Inks Licensing Deal with MTV Networks Music Group MarketWatch - Jeff Yapp, executive vice president of program enterprises for MTV Networks Music and Logo Group, said, "The combination of interactivity and music speaks ... eJamming inks licensing deal with MTV Networks |
Omstream.com Announces Signing of NuTone Music and Their Catalog ... MarketWatch - "Omstream was created out of a need to locate and purchase music that elevates consciousness amid the clutter of millions of songs available on iTunes and ... |
WHDH-TV | BSO launches its own music download service Boston Globe, United States - Four albums of music created under the baton of BSO music director James Levine will be available in February. (Michael J. Lutch) By Geoff Edgers After ... BSO offers music downloads at its Web site Marketing style leaves maestro miffed |
How Does This Sound? Motorola Introduces MOTOROKR EM35, Delivering ... MarketWatch - A device designed for supreme audio performance both as a mobile device and music player, EM35 delivers an exceptional audio experience for both music and ... |
Grammy Museum takes a broad, hands-on approach Los Angeles Times, CA - But those pieces are vastly outnumbered by technology-centric stations, some of which are designed to educate visitors about music from different eras and ... Harman International Technologies Featured in New GRAMMY Museum GRAMMY Museum All About the Music The GRAMMY Museum(SM) Officially Opens Its Doors to the Public on ... |
![]() Gigwise | Chris Brown, Britney Spears, Coldplay, Leona Lewis And Alicia Keys ... MTV.com - They include mild-mannered Chris Brown — whose videos and interviews were reportedly seen 43 million times on the on-demand Music Choice TV service. ... Coldplay & Leona Lewis Top iTunes Sellers Top iTunes sellers released Coldplay, Leona Lewis Are Tops on iTunes |
New York Times | Music Review | Lost Dog New Music Ensemble New York Times, United States - The Lost Dog New Music Ensemble, from left, Miranda Cuckson, on violin; Laura Barger, on piano; and Emily Brausa, on cello. By STEVE SMITH Community is a ... |
![]() Ars Technica | Online seen claiming 41 pct share of US music market Reuters - LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Digital music sales account for 18 percent of the US music market and that figure will grow to 41 percent in five years, ... Report: online to be larger piece of shrinking music pie Report: US Digital Music Sales Growing; Not Supplanting CDs Music Industry Decline Accelerates |
Music Review: Scott Weiland is 'Happy in Galoshes' San Francisco Chronicle, USA - By JOHN KOSIK, AP Writer Fresh of his five-year stint with Velvet Revolver and a brief reunion tour with Stone Temple Pilots, enigmatic frontman Scott ... |
Resources
-
Unlimited Music & Movie Downloads
Movie traffic, great seller, great conversion, you get an easy $45 per sale.
-
MP3 Music Downloads
Best Conversion Ratio, Highest Earnings Guaranteed!
-
Unlimited Music & Movie Downloads
Download Free Music Now. Search & Find MP3
-
The Bandit A&R Newsletter for ambitious acts and songwriters
Bandit publishes details of Music companies world-wide which are in the market for new acts songwriters and masters Secure on-line card clearance system
-
My Music Inc. - Unlimited Free Music and Movie Downloads.
Top Conversion Ratio, Highest Earnings Per Sale Guaranteed ! - Updated 01/03/2006.
-
Rated "Best iPod 'accessory' Ever" Download Movies, TV shows, Music Videos and Songs for i
Capatalize on the Popular iPod Brand! Earn 75% - $35+ per Sale! Best Converting Website of 2006! #1 Product for All iPod Fans
-
Learn To Read Piano Music With Fun Piano Software for Children, Adult Beginners And Piano Teachers
"
-
Front & Back Music Software & Royalty Free Music Clips
Royalty Free Music
-
DVDxRipper.com - Copy Any DVD to CD
Brand new site, Big money maker. Incredible 75% revshare.
-
MoviesDirectPro
Incredibly high converting Unlimited Downloads site. Unlimited Moves, Tv Shows, Documentaries, Music Albums, Software & Games.


