It's no secret that being "signed", by a record label that is, has been coveted for decades by up and coming artists. With that in mind, what it means to be signed by a record label has changed drastically over the years as the means of both distribution and consumption have shifted.

In this guide, we'll outline the basics behind how to get signed by a record label, but it's important to understand that is not the only path to success for musicians, especially in today's modern-day music landscape. Below, we'll go over why artists might consider retaining independence longer than they might have in the past and share some of the pros and cons of getting a record deal in the current music industry.

How Has the Music Business Changed?

The music industry has changed. It's easier than ever to make music, and arguably more feasible to become discovered without label support due to the power and reach of your social media outlets. However, that also means that you have that much more to compete with: if everyone can independently release music, you have to create a brand, art, and surrounding community that truly stands out from the crowd.

Do Musicians Need Record Labels?

No, musicians do not need record labels in order to succeed in today's music industry. With that in mind, if your success hits a wall or becomes stalled, a record label might be able to help you scale your impact due to their connections and financial support.

How many followers do you need to get signed by a record label?

There is no exact number behind how many followers you might need to earn a record deal. However, it's valid to conclude that the stronger (and potentially larger) your community is, the more attractive you will be to a record label. Making great music is a base line, but since record labels are investing money into you hoping for a direct return, there needs to be some proof of potential return.

Getting Signed to a Record Label: PROS and CONS

It's important to note that being signed to a record label isn't always the best choice for aspiring musicians. That being said, independent artists signed to a label can experience a variety of benefits that may outweigh any drawbacks as compared and contrasted below:

PROS

Here are some of the main benefits of signing to a record label, should you be afforded the opportunity. Keep in mind that the availability of the following benefits and drawbacks are highly dependent on any particular arrangement; they are not guaranteed on either side of the equation:

• Larger Budgets: One of the biggest reasons why artists commit to a record deal in the music business is the access to more capital. Record deals offer advances, which essentially act like bank loans for artists, giving you more immediate access to liquid capital when you need additional funds for items like music videos, securing tour dates, and other large expenditures.
• Direct Connection to Highly Skilled Individuals: Record labels are built on strong connections that go far past the time you've been signed as an artist. Perhaps one of the greatest advantages of being signed to a label is that your team can help you get connected to some of your ideal collaborators for music, visuals, and other projects.
• Marketing support and exposure: While not always guaranteed, labels may put some backing behind your marketing of music as an artist, allowing you to gain more exposure for your releases. You also might be able to engage in more experiential marketing tactics, which may be otherwise out of budget for indie artists.
• Guidance: Going at a music career on your own can be confusing and lonely. Collaborating with experienced music business professionals can help you guide your art down a successful path depending on your relationship with your management team.
• Distribution and additional backing: This isn't an absolute necessity any more as it was in the past, but record labels can help take care of the distribution for you, freeing you up to work less on admin tasks and more on making music. You might also be awarded additional distribution models.
  
  While most artists signed or independent can figure out how to get music up on digital streaming platforms, labels are more likely to have the relationships and upfront capital needed to create items like merchandise beyond T-shirts, or physical iterations of your music, whether that's tapes, vinyl, or CDs.

CONS

Just because you're offered a record deal does not mean you should take it, nor does it guarantee that the deal will be advantageous to your overall success. Here are some considerable drawbacks you'll want to keep in mind before committing to any sort of record deal:

• Long-Term Ownership: Some record deals may own your music entirely if not most of it. That means that future profits tied to your song will not necessarily benefit you financially. It's also commonplace to sign into a multi-album deal, meaning that you're contractually obligated to release X amount of albums before you're permitted to release yourself or renegotiate your contract with a label. This can tie up artists for years on end, even as the label switches around management staff and any other factors that might directly affect your chance at sustainable success.
• Potential for Debt and Job Precarity: It must be understood that an "advance" is something you need to pay back through royalties, ticket sales, and in some cases, extraneous income that comes as a result of your successful career ( if you end up being successful enough to pay it back, which can be quite a gamble). You can easily lose money and be put in a challenging financial situation with a misguided record deal.
• Financial Potential: The more ownership you retain over your art, the more money you can make from royalties and other artist partnerships. Labels can take a significant cut of your profit as an artist, which can be limiting depending on your life goals.
• Limitations to Creative Control: If you're at a larger record label, you may find that your art is looked at more of an investment product than a creative piece of work. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but if you're an artist that likes to push sonic or stylistic boundaries, you might find that some of those impulses are curtailed depending on the environment of your label.
  
  Even if it's not tied directly to financial reason, it's reasonable to assume that being a part of a label might make for "more cooks in the kitchen". Think about it: if a company is investing X amount of dollars in you, they may feel entitled to guide the outcome of your art since they are expecting a return on investment.
• Potentially Shelving and Legal Complications: Many record deals control when and whether or not you're permitted to release the material you recorded. This is why you might see artists pushing back the original release date of their material. There is a real possibility that you can record music with a particular label and then be forced to not release it, depending on a label's politics. There is no telling how common or seldom this occurrence can be, but the main takeaway is that labels can hold real power of your release schedule.

How to Get Signed by a Record Label

I don't want to mince words: there is no formula when it comes to getting signed to a record label. The best thing you can do in summation is figure out how to get your music heard and cultivate demand so that record labels naturally want to come to you. However, there are some strategies most major labels will be on the lookout for, so ensure that you're checking all of the following boxes:

Release Music on Your Own

Whether you're a music producer looking for A-list clients or a recording artist looking to strike big, you're going to need to prove yourself to any music label before you can expect to become signed. The proof is in the pudding, as they say, and so the more you can cultivate a genuine fanbase, the easier time you'll have finding a record deal.

New artists need to have material released or at least created and privately shared that can communicate their sonic vision. The modern music career is more DIY than ever: In order to find footing amongst larger labels and music business professionals, you're going to need to make yourself heard.

In prior eras, some of this initial artist development and marketing would be delegated to the managing label. However, in an oversaturated market and payout rate decimated by the relatively streaming payouts from digital streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, larger labels simply can't afford to take a chance on many artists as they might have in the past.

You need to make your own music, release that music, and market it to develop a genuine community as proof of concept to a larger institution.

Get Your Numbers Up

As mechanical as it may sound, record labels do very much pay attention to numbers and trends on social media channels. This is because these numbers are seen as viable metrics that might be useful to predict the likelihood of an artist's future success. Hence, that means that most artists need to find a way to consistently be on social media, even if marketing isn't your passion.

Build a Self-Sustaining Community

To take the last point a step further, you don't just need to be on social media as an artist, you need to create a community . Ideally as an artist, your fans have a place where they can commune and connect with one another. After all, you are just one person - there's no way for you to consistently connect with each and every fan on a regular basis.

Ideally, your fans connect with each other, helping to make your art a cornerstone of their interaction. You can do this by creating communal spaces or investing time on chatroom-based platforms like Discord.

Cold Email or Submit Music

It's much more commonplace for interested record deals to reach out to artists they discover through A&R, than the other way around. However, there are some labels (typically smaller or indie-focused labels) that still accept cold submissions. When you submit music, be sure to do so through the label's requested channels. Usually, you can find a section on the label's website instructing artists Do's and Don'ts behind submission for their particular label.

Network, Perform, and Connect with the Music Business

It's a cliché for a reason: in any business, it's not just about what you know or what you can do , it's about who you know. It's important to be a lively member of the music industry by going to shows, connecting with other artists, and playing out to reap organic exposure for your act. The best way to attract a worthwhile record deal is to create so much organic buzz on your own accord that potential labels come to you .

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If you're having trouble booking shows from established venues, consider throwing your own! Music fandom and success all comes down to creating a genuine community behind your art and what it represents.

Bonus: Start Your Own Record Label

With so many independent distributors at your disposal, you could certainly opt to start your own record label with like-minded musicians and business professionals. It's also worth mentioning that deals within major record labels have evolved heavily over the past decade. Within a major record label deal, you might find more freedom and less obligation under an imprint of your own label.

You can also consider other arrangements like distribution deals, where you can retain a percentage of master ownership of your recordings. In any case, remember that getting a deal is only the start. It's essential to scrutinize any deal offered by an indie or major label as you could unwittingly lock yourself into a poor contract without the right amount of scrutiny.

Come to the table with a clear idea of what you'd like to get out of your deal, as well as stipulations you aren't willing to compromise on. When dealing with record companies, it's vital to get your own independent council or lawyer to negotiate for your essentials.

A Record Deal Isn't Right For Everyone

Record labels exist today to help already established artists scale their vision beyond their limited resources, but not without assuming some level of calculated risk. They can certainly provide benefits and uplift an artist's music, but as with any serious business contract, it's important to evaluate any record deal with scrutiny.

Keep in mind that many aspiring musicians who are lucky enough to secure an elusive record deal do so many times over - it's not uncommon to be dropped and signed again and again by both small and big labels on your road to success. Even if you get a record deal, you are by no means guaranteed sustainable, long-term security, fame, and financial support. Oftentimes, getting signed to a record label is where the work begins .

When in doubt, focus on making and marketing high-quality music and the rest will fall into place. Fortunately, in today's modern music age, there are many pathways to cultivating a strong online presence and following.