"Music Industry Chat"

The question is, do you really need a record deal to enjoy success in the music industry today?  Obviously, times have changed and technology has grown providing a new and improved “level playing field” for the self developing artist, but… is this enough? 

Nowadays with the internet, there is no longer a need to spend the night at a Kinko’s only to find yourself aimlessly driving around town plastering flyers with the high hopes of generating some noise.  Today, for the most part, you can do this from the comfort of your own home with “photo shop cyber flyers” via networking sites like facebook and myspace.  So, what exactly can a record company do for you that you can’t already accomplish on your own?   

Outside of financing your career, there really are not too many other reasons for an artist to seek out the once “almighty record deal”.  In the past, a record company was needed to get your product to the buying public.  But, as we are all aware of, the market place has changed locations and we no longer need the big distributors as a result of this either.  So what about radio, is this still a sought after important bridge to stardom?  We all know how impossible it is, without the right funding, to get your music on the commercial air waves.  But with that being said, who listens to the radio anymore anyways? 

Not a day goes by that I am not confronted with the age old question of “how do I get a record deal”?  My reply to you is unfortunately yet another question.  “Do you really need a record deal”? 

Currently, with the advent of hi end consumer based gear, a decent demos can be made at home.  Aside from that, professional grade recording studios have become much more available (and affordable), to the public, than ever before.   

It used to be that record companies provided a form of artist development and brought unique, honest talent to the surface.  This outdated practice, among many others, has been dropped by the waist side due to lack of funds.  The entire system, including the criteria for a record deal, has changed leaving nothing but force fed cookie cutter derivatives of the same thing over and over. 

Dare I mention that there are only four major labels left in the world…

• Sony Music Entertainment
• Universal Music Group
• Warner Music Group
• EMI

Again I ask, do you really need a record deal to “make it” in this business, I guess it really depends on your view of success.

Tim Smith

Recording, Mixing Engineer

The Soundscape Recording Studio