You’ve worked hard for your releases. Now make sure they’re available in as many places as possible. With Amuse you get access to all major streaming services, and if you upgrade to Pro your music can reach even further with TikTok and Instagram.
Amuse Pro
Amuse Pro offers a complete package so not only do you get expedited release dates and access to more stores, but also access to team management and multiple profiles. Perfect for small labels, teams and crews.
Amuse Boost
Want your music out in more places in less time? With Amuse Boost, your release will be live in 2 weeks and in more stores such as Tiktok and Instagram, so your music can be heard everywhere by everyone.
Amuse Start
Are you just starting out your music career and looking to release your music without any financial commitment? Maybe you're making music on the side and want a simple way to share it with your friends and family? Amuse Start offers basic features to get your music out in major music stores such as Spotify and Apple Music for completely free.
Reimagined Record Label
Our label team uses the music consumption data flowing through our distribution service to discover, sign and build rising talent. We partner up with artists we believe in with flexible deals offering advances and services like strategic planning, marketing, financing, branding and PR.
THE TFD is an independent record label that specializes first in artist development. The TFD also provides our artists with marketing (digital/non-digital) and radio promotion. THE TFD has an international distribution deal with Caroline/Capitol Music Group. We are independent in attitude and direction. Our team has many years of experience working in the music business/industry.
THE TFD also provides artist funding for select artists, which includes funding and resources for studio time and select producers/engineers/mixers, etc. Funding also includes resources for advertising, promotion, distribution, apparel, merchandise and event booking.
We provide music production, recording, marketing and distribution that are simply second to none.
Our customer service and innovative music technology has gained us a reputation as one of the most efficient record label distribution providers in the world. Using our tools and industry knowledge, we take the hassle away from your music distribution and allow you to focus on being creative and guiding your artists to a brighter future.
Using our music distribution service, independent record labels can grow their artists across the biggest global music platforms!
Here at Identity Music, we are passionate about helping record labels. We provide services and music distribution for independent labels to reduce their stress and increase their global reach.
By working with us, labels can take full advantage of a strategic partnership without breaking the bank. Whilst many other music distributors charge fees for tracks, albums and annual subscriptions, we have none of that! We offer an exclusive tailored service to a selection of quality independent labels for just a small royalties share.
By: Allison Klein |
Remember that nowadays, many record companies are huge corporations that own a variety of record labels. For the most part, these companies are located in New York, Los Angeles or Nashville. These corporations usually consist of a parent company that owns more than one record label. For example, Warner Brothers Records owns Reprise Records and Maverick Records. BMG owns Arista Records, RCA and J Records. In today's economy, most large record companies are actually huge conglomerates that own a variety of subsidiary record labels. Often, the subsidiary labels are each mini-companies operating under the umbrella of the larger corporation.
To describe the hierarchy of a record company, it's best to start at the top. The CEO (chief executive officer) is in charge of the business of the whole company. In addition, each label also has its own president. Under the president of the individual label, there are vice presidents in charge of different departments. Let's take a look at the departments that make up a major record label:
Remember that any given record label may have a slightly different organization. As large companies buy up smaller record labels, the organization of record companies changes a great deal. Most record companies have their own Web sites where you can find what labels the company owns and what artists the company is promoting. For more general information on record companies, check out Music Biz Academy and Music Business Solutions.
Decades before the dawn of the internet, the only way a band could record music to a professional standard was to get a record deal with a label who would buy them time in an expensive studio. Now, digital audio workstations (DAWs) and affordable home equipment mean musicians are able to record good quality music from their own bedrooms.
This might appear to make record labels less important, but even with these technological developments, it is still better to record music with a record label. Record labels, whether independent or major, are run by people with experience in the industry who know what kind of music your audience wants, and how to bring out the best in new artists. Smaller labels, like Billy Kenny’s This Ain’t Bristol, Claude Vonstroke’s Dirtybird, Hideo Kobayashi’s recently launched Fuente Music and krankbrother, are all run by experienced and acclaimed DJs who can help artists find their own sound and teach them everything they know.
On top of this, for bands with live instruments especially, that expensive studio time and access to the top producers is still something record labels can still provide, often leading to better sounding music.
Thanks to social media, artist can now connect directly with their fans without the need for a record label’s PR. Even the biggest of signed artists use Twitter as one of their primary PR channels. Kanye West recently set Twitter alight with a Wiz Khalifa-skewering rant, followed by a Tweet in which he acknowledged that said rant would undeniably help his album sales. However, this is a double-edged sword, as some artists cause more harm than good with controversial moves like this.
Even though musicians can run their own social media, working with record labels and PR companies is the only way for an artist to receive maximum exposure. Music magazines, websites, billboards and other traditional forms of marketing are more effective at reaching a wider audience than an artist’s loyal followers. NME magazine for example, is seen by 300,000 commuters now it is free. A record label can ensure these traditional areas are covered.
Record labels can help artists with online PR too. Specialist companies and record label PR experts can help artists with their social media strategy, ensuring they make the most of these new platforms.
Digital technology hasn’t just made recording more accessible, it has also changed distribution. Even though streaming services may not help artists, the ability to directly release free music to a mass audience through SoundCloud and YouTube has appealed even to the biggest of signed acts. Artists like Drake and Kanye West have skipped over their major record labels, releasing songs directly to the public.
While self-releasing music is an option for unsigned artists, getting music onto popular distribution platforms like Spotify, Beatport and iTunes can be an arduous and sometimes expensive process. This is where record labels come in. Digital music distribution is not always straightforward or easy to wrap your head around. Record labels can advise artists on which platforms to distribute their music through, and can get the music onto those platforms for them, saving the musicians time and money.
Francis Moore of the IFPI says in a Telegraph article that even though the internet has changed things for the music industry, record labels are still “as vital to the careers of artists” as they ever were. Looking at a comprehensive report into the music industry, the IFPI found that it takes around £1 million of investment for a new artist to break into the mainstream. In fact, record labels actually invest more in finding, nurturing and promoting new artists than they have in the past, even though the industry is faced with declining record sales. Even though there have been some exceptions, to reach global superstar status, an artist needs the backing and investment of a label.
Even though the internet and modern technology has given anyone with a laptop the ability to make and release music to the general public quite easily, this doesn’t mean their music will necessarily be any good. Record labels can help here. Possibly the most important aspect of a label is its hard-won and long-honed identity. If an artist is signed to a label, listeners can know that a team of experts with their reputation at stake has decided to throw their weight behind this music. This stamp of approval can be the deciding factor for the listener spoilt for choice with thousands of songs at the tip of their fingers.
These are just some of the ways record labels can help artists. There is no denying that record labels still matter in the digital landscape. With a record label’s help and support, a musician can focus on what they do best: making great music.
Record companies (known as record labels because albums have a label indicating which company produced it) take on a lion's share of the work of the music industry. They sign, develop, record, promote, publicize and sell music. Of course, all those things happen before the album ever gets into the store.
Record labels come in all sizes, from small independent labels run by one or two people to huge corporations made up of hundreds of people in dozens of departments. In fact, Billboard, the best known music industry publication, lists more than 2,000 record companies currently in operation. Music is big business. Successful records sell millions of copies and earn billions of dollars for the record companies.
JAMIE ELLIS
27.1.2020
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It’s no secret that musicians and artists today are choosing an independent approach to the music industry. However, taking on such a task involves wearing an awful lot of hats! Artists, musicians, managers and label owners have to do everything for themselves these days. That’s why the rise of independent record label services may be interesting to you!
With such large responsibility placed on the shoulders of one person, it can be very difficult to not only keep your head afloat, but to also spend time developing every area of your chosen career.
Record label services, otherwise known as independent label services or simply label services is a great choice for artists who’d like to stay independent, but want all the benefits of being signed to a record label. It’s essentially the modern music industry’s alternative to the traditional record label deal. Label services usually include marketing, promotion, distribution, sync, sales, rights management and analytics. Obviously this depends on what kind of deal you go for, ranging from just a distribution deal to more digital music label services or full-blown label services.
You generally pay for the services you use instead of signing into a record label contract. With more and more artists fighting to stay independent, label services are an increasingly common choice.
Being a modern-day artist is no simple task. There’s a multitude of things that must be in place in order for your artist career to succeed. Balancing such tasks without a strong team behind you can be nearly impossible! Not to mention the struggle of brand new artists that may lack the network to succeed.
Such struggles have caused a rapid increase in record label service companies over the last decade. These companies are in place to help both start-up and established artists, providing everything they could possibly need to further their career. Therefore, keeping the artist and their careers as independent as possible.
With such a drastic rise in label service companies, let’s take a look at some of the best currently on the market…
Overall Rating: 2 / 5
Most Interesting Service: ‘Label in a box’ provides all the legal paperwork needed to start a label
Best Suited: Beginner artists
Price: £
Website: https://plus.dittomusic.com/how-it-works/
Ditto may be a well-known name to some of you. It’s up there with the likes of Tunecore and CD Baby for digital distribution. But, did you know that Ditto has now released ‘Ditto Plus’?
Ditto Plus is a label service designed to help up-and-coming artists/labels reach the next step in their career.
Offering all of the usual Ditto services (digital distribution, sync placements, etc), Ditto Plus also provides playlist placements, release strategies, video monetisation and general account management. Artists also have access to the Ditto creative team for artwork and graphic design.
Admittedly, compared to other label service companies in this review, Ditto offers the least. However, partnered with Ditto’s ‘record label in a box’ package – A package designed to give ‘start-up’ label owners everything they need to start their own record label – This could become a powerful tool.
Pricing information is scarce on the Ditto Plus website with only a small mention to Ditto taking a royalty share.
My personal opinion – If you want to hit the big leagues, Ditto may not be the answer.
Overall Rating: 3.5 / 5
Most Interesting Service: Detailed song registration across platforms for optimum potential
Best Suited: Established / larger artists
Price: Unknown
Absolute, like other label services in this review, offer a range of services to indie labels and artists including digital and physical distribution, marketing, manufacturing and sync placements. The company also features a very impressive roster of household-name artists, authenticating their service to those of you interested in taking the next step.
The attention to detail given by this company is outstanding. Absolute leave no stone unturned when it comes to song registration, royalty collection or anything else to that matter! This service won’t stop until everything is in place for your music to reach its highest potential.
Overall Rating: 4 / 5
Most Interesting Service: Integrated and restrictable database for client and colleague
Best Suited: Established / larger artists
Price: £££
Horus Music label service promotes itself as being the helping hand for artists and labels heading towards the next big step. Its multitude of services allows both artists and label owners to easily control and manage their career moving forward.
Horus offers a large connected network for you and your team. Sub-accounts allow the artist/label heads to restrict access to its users – Ideal for artists with an expanding roster of team members and staff. Artists can oversee every aspect of their career whilst team members only have access to what’s relevant for their role!
This label service is also well connected to leading industry professionals; offering distribution to all major platforms, official artist Vevo accounts and a detailed range of marketing plans to boost your audience.
It appears that artists and labels must apply to Horus Music in order to access the plentiful services available. Artist accounts are available from £20 a year, however, there is limited information available as to what this subscription includes. Unfortunately, most of the company services appear to be charged additionally – That being said, I have no doubt that the service provided will be top quality.
Overall Rating: 4 / 5
Most Interesting Service: Administration teams to relieve workload
Best Suited: Established / larger artists
Price: Unknown
Aloaded pride themselves on working closely with you, the customer; allowing you to focus on what really matters – the music!
Alongside standard label services such as distribution and sync placements, Aloaded provide administration help to take those boring admin jobs off your to-do list. They will also handle the logistics of any manufacturing or negotiations needed to secure physical distribution placements in stores.
The service also features an experienced team of creative consultants, ready to guide you through your next business venture. They’ll even give advice on your latest masters!
Like most label services, Aloaded have a vast media team. Need help with your next music video, album artwork, website or maybe a complete rebrand? They have the team to help you achieve your goals.
Although pricing and other information regarding working with this company is limited from the website, Aloaded feel like a strong contender in the label service game. Having access to a team of people that will happily take admin tasks off your hands is no small thing!
Overall Rating: 4.5 / 5
Most Interesting Service: Studios and professional songwriters available in multiple locations
Best Suited: Established mid-range / larger artists
Price: ££
The Famous Company music service has been growing fast since its launch in 2014. Their label services, or music services as they call it, is incredibly well-rounded and covers almost all of your needs as an indie artist.
Avoiding any digital distribution, The Famous Company provides useful alternative services that other companies don’t.
With studios scattered across the UK and US, Famous provides recording spaces to artists at an affordable yet professional rate. The company also has a detailed roster of professional musicians, songwriters and producers; all ready to work with artists on their latest material. Famous also promote in house videographers, graphic designers and photographers; alongside an experienced marketing team.
Additional label services include project management, data analytics and festival databases.
It appears that artists must apply to work with this label service, therefore, The Famous Company may best suit those already established in the industry. That being said, no matter your current position, this label service is quickly becoming one of my favourites due to its vast collection of services – Some of which do not appear in other companies featured in this article.
Overall Rating: 4.5 / 5
Most Interesting Service: A full record label service without the record label cons
Best Suited: Established mid-range / larger artists
Price: Unknown
AWAL is becoming a well-known name in the indie industry. Designed to grow with you, the artist.
This multi-tiered label service offers support for artists at three distinctive points in their career: Gaining momentum, Breaking through and going global.
Unlike other label services that just provide the basic distribution and sync placements, AWAL work like a full record label. They provide the artist with funding, one to one artist support, management and more (depending on the level of your career). In return, they take a small percentage of your earnings.
Contracts with AWAL are open, artists can leave at any time and you keep 100% of your rights.
Sounds great right? What’s the catch I hear you say? Well, working with this label service is no easy task. Artists must either be recommended to the company through a trusted friend or must partake in AWAL’s detailed screening process to ensure you’re at the ‘next level’. Definitely a service for established artists that are gaining traction in the industry. But, an incredible service full of benefits nonetheless!
Want to learn more about record labels?
The Academy is a video-led platform that compliments all of Music Gateway’s other services – by supporting the professional growth of artists. All our courses are created by industry professionals, with a wealth of knowledge and expertise.
Our courses are designed to give you skills that are valuable to you as an artist. Whether you’re looking to learn a new instrument or more about the industry we’ve got a course for you! Check it out today!
It’s hard to keep so many plates spinning in today’s industry. It’s even harder to find trustworthy people to help reduce the workload! From my research, it seems that any one of the companies listed would be more than up for the task.
I personally love the business infrastructure that Horus Music creates for larger, established artists. Having one neat place to run your business from makes the world of difference to the workflow and the ability to restrict access to users’ accounts is a huge bonus to larger brands.
That being said, the vast array of services on offer from The Famous Company really allow artists to become a one-stop, independent machine with everything from studios to writers being kept in-house. An attractive thing to a lot of artists!
Which label service you choose to partner with really boils down to your individual needs. I just hope it propels you and your career into the next level. Good luck!
As a member of Music Gateway, you already have access to many of the services mentioned above. From Artist Development to Sync/Music Licensing and from Music Promotion to a global Marketplace that gives you access to graphic designers and others in the music industry to collaborate with. With more services being released as the company grows, Music Gateway is truly becoming a hub for everything you need in the music industry. Not a member yet? Try it for free today!
musicians and artists today are choosing an independent approach to the music industry.
However, taking on such a task involves wearing an awful lot of hats!
Artists, musicians, managers and label owners have to do everything for themselves these days.
That’s why the rise of independent record label services may be interesting to you!
With such large responsibility placed on the shoulders of one person, it can be very difficult to not only keep your head afloat, but to also spend time developing every area of your chosen career.
Record label services, otherwise known as independent label services or simply label services is a great choice for artists who’d like to stay independent, but want all the benefits of being signed to a record label.
It’s essentially the modern music industry’s alternative to the traditional record label deal.
Label services usually include marketing, promotion, distribution, sync, sales, rights management and analytics.
Obviously this depends on what kind of deal you go for, ranging from just a distribution deal to more digital music label services or full-blown label services.
You generally pay for the services you use instead of signing into a record label contract.
With more and more artists fighting to stay independent, label services are an increasingly common choice.
Being a modern-day artist is no simple task. There’s a multitude of things that must be in place in order for your artist career to succeed.
Balancing such tasks without a strong team behind you can be nearly impossible! Not to mention the struggle of brand new artists that may lack the network to succeed.
Such struggles have caused a rapid increase in record label service companies over the last decade.
These companies are in place to help both start-up and established artists, providing everything they could possibly need to further their career.
Therefore, keeping the artist and their careers as independent as possible.
With such a drastic rise in label service companies, let’s take a look at some of the best currently on the market…
Overall Rating: 2 / 5
Most Interesting Service: ‘Label in a box’ provides all the legal paperwork needed to start a label
Best Suited: Beginner artists
Price: £
Website: https://plus.dittomusic.com/how-it-works/
Ditto may be a well-known name to some of you. It’s up there with the likes of Tunecore and CD Baby for digital distribution. But, did you know that Ditto has now released ‘Ditto Plus’?
Ditto Plus is a label service designed to help up-and-coming artists/labels reach the next step in their career.
Offering all of the usual Ditto services (digital distribution, sync placements, etc), Ditto Plus also provides playlist placements, release strategies, video monetisation and general account management. Artists also have access to the Ditto creative team for artwork and graphic design.
Admittedly, compared to other label service companies in this review, Ditto offers the least. However, partnered with Ditto’s ‘record label in a box’ package – A package designed to give ‘start-up’ label owners everything they need to start their own record label – This could become a powerful tool.
Pricing information is scarce on the Ditto Plus website with only a small mention to Ditto taking a royalty share.
My personal opinion – If you want to hit the big leagues, Ditto may not be the answer.
Overall Rating: 3.5 / 5
Most Interesting Service: Detailed song registration across platforms for optimum potential
Best Suited: Established / larger artists
Price: Unknown
Absolute, like other label services in this review, offer a range of services to indie labels and artists including digital and physical distribution, marketing, manufacturing and sync placements. The company also features a very impressive roster of household-name artists, authenticating their service to those of you interested in taking the next step.
The attention to detail given by this company is outstanding. Absolute leave no stone unturned when it comes to song registration, royalty collection or anything else to that matter! This service won’t stop until everything is in place for your music to reach its highest potential.
Overall Rating: 4 / 5
Most Interesting Service: Integrated and restrictable database for client and colleague
Best Suited: Established / larger artists
Price: £££
Horus Music label service promotes itself as being the helping hand for artists and labels heading towards the next big step. Its multitude of services allows both artists and label owners to easily control and manage their career moving forward.
Horus offers a large connected network for you and your team. Sub-accounts allow the artist/label heads to restrict access to its users – Ideal for artists with an expanding roster of team members and staff. Artists can oversee every aspect of their career whilst team members only have access to what’s relevant for their role!
This label service is also well connected to leading industry professionals; offering distribution to all major platforms, official artist Vevo accounts and a detailed range of marketing plans to boost your audience.
It appears that artists and labels must apply to Horus Music in order to access the plentiful services available. Artist accounts are available from £20 a year, however, there is limited information available as to what this subscription includes. Unfortunately, most of the company services appear to be charged additionally – That being said, I have no doubt that the service provided will be top quality.
Overall Rating: 4 / 5
Most Interesting Service: Administration teams to relieve workload
Best Suited: Established / larger artists
Price: Unknown
Aloaded pride themselves on working closely with you, the customer; allowing you to focus on what really matters – the music!
Alongside standard label services such as distribution and sync placements, Aloaded provide administration help to take those boring admin jobs off your to-do list. They will also handle the logistics of any manufacturing or negotiations needed to secure physical distribution placements in stores.
The service also features an experienced team of creative consultants, ready to guide you through your next business venture. They’ll even give advice on your latest masters!
Like most label services, Aloaded have a vast media team. Need help with your next music video, album artwork, website or maybe a complete rebrand? They have the team to help you achieve your goals.
Although pricing and other information regarding working with this company is limited from the website, Aloaded feel like a strong contender in the label service game. Having access to a team of people that will happily take admin tasks off your hands is no small thing!
Overall Rating: 4.5 / 5
Most Interesting Service: Studios and professional songwriters available in multiple locations
Best Suited: Established mid-range / larger artists
Price: ££
The Famous Company music service has been growing fast since its launch in 2014. Their label services, or music services as they call it, is incredibly well-rounded and covers almost all of your needs as an indie artist.
Avoiding any digital distribution, The Famous Company provides useful alternative services that other companies don’t.
With studios scattered across the UK and US, Famous provides recording spaces to artists at an affordable yet professional rate. The company also has a detailed roster of professional musicians, songwriters and producers; all ready to work with artists on their latest material. Famous also promote in house videographers, graphic designers and photographers; alongside an experienced marketing team.
Additional label services include project management, data analytics and festival databases.
It appears that artists must apply to work with this label service, therefore, The Famous Company may best suit those already established in the industry. That being said, no matter your current position, this label service is quickly becoming one of my favourites due to its vast collection of services – Some of which do not appear in other companies featured in this article.
Overall Rating: 4.5 / 5
Most Interesting Service: A full record label service without the record label cons
Best Suited: Established mid-range / larger artists
Price: Unknown
AWAL is becoming a well-known name in the indie industry. Designed to grow with you, the artist.
This multi-tiered label service offers support for artists at three distinctive points in their career: Gaining momentum, Breaking through and going global.
Unlike other label services that just provide the basic distribution and sync placements, AWAL work like a full record label. They provide the artist with funding, one to one artist support, management and more (depending on the level of your career). In return, they take a small percentage of your earnings.
Contracts with AWAL are open, artists can leave at any time and you keep 100% of your rights.
Sounds great right? What’s the catch I hear you say? Well, working with this label service is no easy task. Artists must either be recommended to the company through a trusted friend or must partake in AWAL’s detailed screening process to ensure you’re at the ‘next level’. Definitely a service for established artists that are gaining traction in the industry. But, an incredible service full of benefits nonetheless!
Want to learn more about record labels?
The Academy is a video-led platform that compliments all of Music Gateway’s other services – by supporting the professional growth of artists. All our courses are created by industry professionals, with a wealth of knowledge and expertise.
Our courses are designed to give you skills that are valuable to you as an artist. Whether you’re looking to learn a new instrument or more about the industry we’ve got a course for you! Check it out today!
It’s hard to keep so many plates spinning in today’s industry. It’s even harder to find trustworthy people to help reduce the workload! From my research, it seems that any one of the companies listed would be more than up for the task.
I personally love the business infrastructure that Horus Music creates for larger, established artists. Having one neat place to run your business from makes the world of difference to the workflow and the ability to restrict access to users’ accounts is a huge bonus to larger brands.
That being said, the vast array of services on offer from The Famous Company really allow artists to become a one-stop, independent machine with everything from studios to writers being kept in-house. An attractive thing to a lot of artists!
Which label service you choose to partner with really boils down to your individual needs. I just hope it propels you and your career into the next level. Good luck!
As a member of Music Gateway, you already have access to many of the services mentioned above. From Artist Development to Sync/Music Licensing and from Music Promotion to a global Marketplace that gives you access to graphic designers and others in the music industry to collaborate with. With more services being released as the company grows, Music Gateway is truly becoming a hub for everything you need in the music industry. Not a member yet? Try it for free today!
