I guess the biggest question that comes to my mind is not “Do You Want To Know How To Get A Record Deal” but instead “Do You Really Want A Record Deal“? In the good ‘ol days a deal with a strong major label or national independent label was the only game in town. They had the promotion teams, they had the leverage with retail, live concerts contacts, and they had the money.

They were the gatekeepers. You had to fit into their mold and play their game. That is far from the case today. Everyone knows that they can put their music on the net with no cost in a quick download…but the big question that is on everyone’s mind is “How Do I Get My Music Noticed and Heard“?

It’s true…while the majors fed the pipeline with their narrow group of releases, today you are free to upload your tracks to your heart’s desire but I think this is very healthy for the 4 following reasons:

(1) Total freedom of expression - you no longer have to fit into the “flavor of the month” to get signed and promoted.

(2) You don’t have to give away all of your rights to get a deal and get exposed.

(3) There is a much better chance that your “free form” musical creation can be unique and therefore more groundbreaking -You can create your own nitch and fan base for your unique style.

(4) You can take your time and develop your music more organically over time - You can take multiple shots and releasing new modifications of your records and songs before you settle on your final direction. This is what the labels used to do. They called it “artist development” but that department went out the window with the inflated profits the labels used to enjoy.

I’ve been on the inside of the majors both as a VP OF A&R at a major label and as an Producer for many of their artist. I don’t believe you need them or even want them as a new artist just beginning your search for success in the music business. I don’t believe the question today is “How To Get A Record Deal” as much as it is “How To Create Meaningful, Emotional and Lasting Music” that people would love and want to own if it were sold in gas stations or shoe stores.

So what this means is that although the opportunity does exist for you to realize your dreams and ambition without a label involved…the responsibility to “hit the mark’ and make your music “commercial” or in other words appealing to more than a few hardcore fans lies directly in your hands.

Now to answer the question of “how you make your music noticed and heard” to accomplish this, I believe that you must achieve 7 of the following things to be successful in today’s music business:

(1) A consistent direction -don’t wander from a country song to a dance track in the same set of material. People expect you to know who you are.

(2) Strong memorable songs that say something, make people feel something

(3) Songs that are properly structured so that they drive your musical point home along with you storyline home in syncronicity.

(4) Thoughtful arrangements and layering that compliment and not distract from your recordings

(5) A concise and thoughtful production that supports your vocals and storyline rather than distracts from it.

(6) A strong live set where you can play these songs for fans old and new and “sound like” you recordings so that they are not disappointed.

(7) A marketing Plan. A unified effort for “Internet Awareness” that is designed to build a fan base and awareness for your music. It should virally spread the word through social sites,blogs and music sales sites about your music and establish a place to “own it” if you so desire.

I think I have developed a program that is proven to help you with the creative part of this equation. Please be my guest and visit me on my new site www.musicproshollywood.com and get some interesting new perspective and reaching and accomplishing these goals.