Is it better pursue the do-it-yourself (DIY) path, or opt for a contract with a prominent record label? Making this choice is anything but simple and depends on various factors. A great blog by Wallace Collins breaks it all down.
During the peak years of the 1970s through the early 2000s, when major record labels had extensive teams of talent scouts scouring clubs across the nation in search of promising artists, they maintained dedicated A&R departments. These departments often included producers who provided guidance to artists during studio recordings. Moreover, they sifted through songs from music publishers to handpick potential hits for the artists under their label.
Nowadays, major record labels have taken on a different role, more like research and development, as they navigate the new media world of social media. Thanks to technology, artists can whip up top-notch recordings right from their homes and share them with a global audience effortlessly. Now the labels keep a close eye on online platforms like TikTok and YouTube to see what the public is vibing with. So, for today’s artists, it’s all about building an online presence and a fanbase, while the labels prefer to crunch numbers before investing their resources. Major labels are now all about marketing and promoting artists who’ve already gathered a substantial following, rather than nurturing fresh, undiscovered talent.
In the digital age, independent artists have the power to create, share, and control their music through streaming services and social media, a departure from the days when labels funded expensive studio sessions and were “gatekeepers” of content. However, pursuing a major label’s attention still requires exceptional artistic skills, including songwriting and live performances. With a little luck and lot of dedication, artists may still only be one upload–or gig–away from global recognition.
