What Does it Mean to be an Independent Artist?
Being an independent artist means self-releasing your own music, rather than working with a label that would have control over your music.
Maintaining the rights to your own music is something that music’s biggest stars second guess, and for small-time musicians, it is hard to know the right time to make this choice.
Choosing to stay independent means staying your own boss, and never having to worry about someone else having control over your music.
Guaranteeing the rights to your own music is important, especially when first starting out as a musician.
For a musician, one of the biggest decisions that you need to make is whether or not you sign a contract with a record label.
This choice is complex since both options offer different upsides and downsides.
At SongMe we are here to help you with these kinds of career questions, whether it comes to promoting yourself on our app, or if you are seeking fresh advice!
Choosing to sign a record deal or not can affect a musician financially, as well as creatively. Here are some of the benefits of signing a deal with a record company.
The benefits of signing a record deal
1. Resources
One of the hardest things about starting out as a new artist is figuring out what you need to become a career musician.
Signing with a record label ensures that anything you might need to produce or release music is already available.
Whether it be equipment or management, it's hard being new in the music industry, and working with a label can give you a leg up. However, with so many online tools and spaces where musicians can collaborate, like SongMe, where you can gain and share your music, and wisdom. Perhaps access to resources like this is becoming less and less unique to signing with a record label.
2. Networking
Building a network of people in the music industry can take years for a new musician, but signing with a record label can help speed up that process.
Record labels have worked with countless artists, producers, writers, directors, and other music industry experts.
With social media, however, artists can connect with fans without needing a record label to facilitate that relationship. SongMe is a great example of a new approach to networking with fans, and it does not require a record label, only a download in the AppStore!
3. Reputation
Being an up-and-coming musician can feel intimidating, and creating a space for yourself to grow as an artist can be extremely challenging.
Singing with a record label can give you a certain legitimacy as an artist which can be difficult to build. However, this seems to be becoming less and less crucial, as more and more artists are choosing to remain independent, in order to have more control over their music and their career.