Unsigned band YOU would like to see SIGNED.

[TCA]

Hey guys, which unsigned band would you guys like to see get signed to a record deal?

Thought I would post something new to help out other local bands!





Kyle Barrington
The Crimson Armada
Email: thecrimsonarmada@yahoo.com
Website: www.myspace.com/thecrimsonarmada (http://www.myspace.com/thecrimsonarmada)
Phone: 1(614)-557-6728

[Angylion Gefell]

Not worth the effort to put something clever here.

[fly_guy]

The Vanity Affair. Most of you will hate them, but they're kind of a guilty pleasure for me. www.myspace.com/thevanityaffairmusic (http://www.myspace.com/thevanityaffairmusic)

[MyNameIsRoss]

The Vanity Affair are nice guys. Not a big fan, but they are good at what they do.

[theguy77]

i dont really particularly like to see bands signed. getting signed doesnt mean "oh they're safe in their careers now" that just means they sold their music to a couple of suits who want to exploit it and are just hoping they keep it around.

[funkel]

i dont really particularly like to see bands signed. getting signed doesnt mean "oh they're safe in their careers now" that just means they sold their music to a couple of suits who want to exploit it and are just hoping they keep it around.
How's that Alliance thing going for you?

[OdeToTheSun]

www.myspace.com/conditionsband (http://www.myspace.com/conditionsband)
and
http://www.myspace.com/onsolidgroundnc

[chipdip18]

Jetman. A local band that owns.

[Protested Hero]

A Loss For Words

www.myspace.com/alossforwords

Therefore I Am

www.myspace.com/thereforeiam

Both are really great local bands.

[guitarpickheart]

Chasing Thrill and Built for Burning I really enjoy. It would be awesome if they get signed.

[hockeyguitar99]

i like unsigned bands to stay unsigned. I've heard too much about labels fucking people over.

[xBITCHxPLEASEx]

The Cambiata.

http://www.myspace.com/cambiata (http://www.myspace.com/thecambiata)

listen to Purple and All In All Julie.

[x togepi x]

i dont really particularly like to see bands signed. getting signed doesnt mean "oh they're safe in their careers now" that just means they sold their music to a couple of suits who want to exploit it and are just hoping they keep it around.

wrong. getting signed means you don't have to put out your own records anymore. not everyone can afford to be DIY, it's still a rich, upper middle class kid's game.

[TCA]

Labels do not fuck bands over, yes there are certain occassions where a label MAY do something wrong... but it is usually NEVER the labels fault. Just because you sign with a record label does NOT mean you can stop working for yourself. 99% of bands think once they get a label its home run for them... and that is ENTIRELY false. Labels give you that extra push you need to do more things with YOUR OWN band.

[pshh]

Driver F

[x togepi x]

Labels do not fuck bands over, yes there are certain occassions where a label MAY do something wrong... but it is usually NEVER the labels fault. Just because you sign with a record label does NOT mean you can stop working for yourself. 99% of bands think once they get a label its home run for them... and that is ENTIRELY false. Labels give you that extra push you need to do more things with YOUR OWN band.

this is also wrong. labels willfully push deals onto ignorant musicians and then blame the bands for screwing up.

[TCA]

Again, signing with a label in no means says "Hey I am free from working for myself".

[x togepi x]

Again, signing with a label in no means says "Hey I am free from working for myself".

find me where i said that.

[makeasound]

Again, signing with a label in no means says "Hey I am free from working for myself".
I know of a ton of bands who busted their asses and continued working as if they were still DIY after getting signed and releasing records on both indies and majors, who got fucked by the label.

No matter how hard you work for your own band, if the label doesn't put any marketing behind you, or give you any support, you're not going to make it when the you're still paying off said label and aren't in the position to profit personally yet.

[black rose]

:woot:

at all the TVA love. Yes for STL.

[x togepi x]

I know of a ton of bands who busted their asses and continued working as if they were still DIY after getting signed and releasing records on both indies and majors, who got fucked by the label.

No matter how hard you work for your own band, if the label doesn't put any marketing behind you, or give you any support, you're not going to make it when the you're still paying off said label and aren't in the position to profit personally yet.

yeah i really don't know of many bands who are active who are just sitting around being like "man, i wish my label would do all this stuff for me blah blah blah"

[dom_182]

www.myspace.com/playingfavouritesband

not my band... promise.

[hockeyguitar99]

wrong. getting signed means you don't have to put out your own records anymore. not everyone can afford to be DIY, it's still a rich, upper middle class kid's game.


While it would still be expensive for a band to do it themselves, it's becoming much easier because they don't have to rely on hard copies. Releasing it digitally doesn't cost nearly as much.

[x togepi x]

While it would still be expensive for a band to do it themselves, it's becoming much easier because they don't have to rely on hard copies. Releasing it digitally doesn't cost nearly as much.

touring on a digital release is stupid because you want merch to sell at shows so that you can make money to pay for gas because most places you play at aren't going to pay you nearly enough for gas and living expenses. having a hardcopy at a show is going to get you more money than telling people 'hey, get on itunes and buy our release' because chances are, if someone doesn't walk out of your show with some tangible proof that you exist, they're probably going to forget you.

nevermind the fact that it's kind of hard for a band without a label to make money with digital releases since getting on itunes or emusic basically requires some sort of label or some company like cdbaby (which cuts into the profits).

[chipdip18]

touring on a digital release is stupid because you want merch to sell at shows so that you can make money to pay for gas because most places you play at aren't going to pay you nearly enough for gas and living expenses. having a hardcopy at a show is going to get you more money than telling people 'hey, get on itunes and buy our release' because chances are, if someone doesn't walk out of your show with some tangible proof that you exist, they're probably going to forget you.

nevermind the fact that it's kind of hard for a band without a label to make money with digital releases since getting on itunes or emusic basically requires some sort of label or some company like cdbaby (which cuts into the profits).


Very well put. I agree 100%. You have obviously done this before.

[hockeyguitar99]

touring on a digital release is stupid because you want merch to sell at shows so that you can make money to pay for gas because most places you play at aren't going to pay you nearly enough for gas and living expenses. having a hardcopy at a show is going to get you more money than telling people 'hey, get on itunes and buy our release' because chances are, if someone doesn't walk out of your show with some tangible proof that you exist, they're probably going to forget you.

nevermind the fact that it's kind of hard for a band without a label to make money with digital releases since getting on itunes or emusic basically requires some sort of label or some company like cdbaby (which cuts into the profits).


I wasn't saying that it was easy. I was just saying it was cheaper. I see what you're saying about how people would forget you though.

[x togepi x]

I wasn't saying that it was easy. I was just saying it was cheaper. I see what you're saying about how people would forget you though.

it's not really cheaper when you take in consideration the money you're losing from not having a hardcopy. sure, some people have been trying to sell download cards for their music, but from what i've seen, that hasn't been successful because people would rather buy a real cd/lp at a show.

[x togepi x]

Very well put. I agree 100%. You have obviously done this before.

not so much done this before as "in the process of putting out a release without a record label".

though i have done the "hey guys, it's cool that you like us, we have songs on myspace you can download" and seen how it doesn't really do anything.

[hockeyguitar99]

it's not really cheaper when you take in consideration the money you're losing from not having a hardcopy. sure, some people have been trying to sell download cards for their music, but from what i've seen, that hasn't been successful because people would rather buy a real cd/lp at a show.

You and I would rather by a CD/LP but there is a large group of people that like digital copies more for convenience, but again, I understand what you're saying. I think download cards might start to gain in popularity.

[x togepi x]

You and I would rather by a CD/LP but there is a large group of people that like digital copies more for convenience, but again, I understand what you're saying. I think download cards might start to gain in popularity.

it's not really convenient when buying a digital download card gives you the added responsibility of having a little slip of paper that's easy to lose, especially when you're drunk at a bar. besides when you're at the point that you're trying to make an impression and people don't know you before you play a show, your merch is going to be in competition with everyone else's. when you're just an opener, it's not like many people are going to your show just to buy your stuff like they would for the headliner. if you have just a couple digital downloads while all the other bands have actual CDs/LPs, what do you think the average person is going to go for?

a little card or a real cd?

i've seen it happen a few times. when i played a fest last april, all my band had was some cdrs. people walked up to us like they were interested in our music, but never bought anything because the rest of the bands had way more professional looking releases. an actual cd/lp is always going to look more professional than a digital download card, and is going to net you more money.

besides, it's probably not a good idea to let people remember they can download your music. you might be saying "pay for it", but a lot of people are going to realize that if you can pay to download it, then you can also get it for free somewhere else.

[hockeyguitar99]

it's not really convenient when buying a digital download card gives you the added responsibility of having a little slip of paper that's easy to lose, especially when you're drunk at a bar. besides when you're at the point that you're trying to make an impression and people don't know you before you play a show, your merch is going to be in competition with everyone else's. when you're just an opener, it's not like many people are going to your show just to buy your stuff like they would for the headliner. if you have just a couple digital downloads while all the other bands have actual CDs/LPs, what do you think the average person is going to go for?

a little card or a real cd?

i've seen it happen a few times. when i played a fest last april, all my band had was some cdrs. people walked up to us like they were interested in our music, but never bought anything because the rest of the bands had way more professional looking releases. an actual cd/lp is always going to look more professional than a digital download card, and is going to net you more money.

besides, it's probably not a good idea to let people remember they can download your music. you might be saying "pay for it", but a lot of people are going to realize that if you can pay to download it, then you can also get it for free somewhere else.

I see what your saying. It makes sense that people want something more professional looking than just some CD-R's. It would be better if people would just buy who has better music as opposed to what looks better. I would think that while unsigned bands do need money because it's hard to pay for the cost of living but they also really want to get there name out there.

[x togepi x]

well that's the thing, it's much easier to forget about a band when they're just something you downloaded on your computer than when you actually own their cd.

[hockeyguitar99]

well that's the thing, it's much easier to forget about a band when they're just something you downloaded on your computer than when you actually own their cd.

Yeah, that seems like the bottom line.

[theguy77]

How's that Alliance thing going for you?

nowhere so far. its hard to keep focus with such a massive lack of influence on the music scene. right now im trying to arrange a meeting with my friend's band to see if we can get them to latch on. the first couple bands are going to be the hardest. i mean dont get me wrong though i would love to be able to lock my own band's future in a joint DIY group, im going to work at it, ive just lost a little focus for the time being.

wrong. getting signed means you don't have to put out your own records anymore. not everyone can afford to be DIY, it's still a rich, upper middle class kid's game.

you do still have to put out your own records, because the ones being put out by the label arent yours anymore. they belong to the label, and they can give you a middle finger and waltz off with your marketability whenever they like. im not saying that no band should get signed i mean you're right it is practically the only way to sustain the music career for the time being. but that doesnt make it a good/fair situation. hell i wouldnt be happy selling my music (and in essence my soul) to some suit who wants to use my album like a credit card.

[cryates]

too easy. Brightwood.

or Foreverinmotion.

[x togepi x]

you do still have to put out your own records, because the ones being put out by the label arent yours anymore. they belong to the label, and they can give you a middle finger and waltz off with your marketability whenever they like.

You're operating under the principle that all record labels are major labels (or operate like them) when this simply isn't true. Many record labels work out agreements with their artists that give the artists the ownership of their own work, like dischord. most people into indie music probably own a release that was originally released under one record label, only to have the artist to decide to release it under another for various reasons.

this is why i said what you were saying is wrong. not all record labels are evil. and these indie labels do a lot of good for the artist because they will help with some, if not a large portion of, the costs of putting out a release.

[theguy77]

You're operating under the principle that all record labels are major labels (or operate like them) when this simply isn't true. Many record labels work out agreements with their artists that give the artists the ownership of their own work, like dischord. most people into indie music probably own a release that was originally released under one record label, only to have the artist to decide to release it under another for various reasons.

this is why i said what you were saying is wrong. not all record labels are evil. and these indie labels do a lot of good for the artist because they will help with some, if not a large portion of, the costs of putting out a release.

well you just got to be careful because loads of labels that call themselves indie, dont adopt those characteristics, and this is prevalent even in indie labels no one has heard of. a lot of is has to do with an image marketing tactic, trying to come off as a label which provides truer than earth underground music to those who seek it specifically. and they'll tell you ANYTHING you want to hear and profess any punk ideology they can concoct before you sit down at the contract table if thats what will attract you and your potential to their bank. but once you're signed there's so many who just swipe your album until its maxed out and then cut it into pieces and leave you empty handed. not all of them are evil but its very difficult to tell which are and which arent. and if you ask me thats a risk i wouldnt ever be totally content taking, even though i may have to someday.

[x togepi x]

well you just got to be careful because loads of labels that call themselves indie, dont adopt those characteristics, and this is prevalent even in indie labels no one has heard of. a lot of is has to do with an image marketing tactic, trying to come off as a label which provides truer than earth underground music to those who seek it specifically. and they'll tell you ANYTHING you want to hear and profess any punk ideology they can concoct before you sit down at the contract table if thats what will attract you and your potential to their bank. but once you're signed there's so many who just swipe your album until its maxed out and then cut it into pieces and leave you empty handed. not all of them are evil but its very difficult to tell which are and which arent. and if you ask me thats a risk i wouldnt ever be totally content taking, even though i may have to someday.

it's not very difficult at all: read the label contract before you sign it. if it talks about them claiming ownership over what you record, don't sign the deal. i mean you should always have a lawyer look at things like this anyway.

this is completely different than what you're saying, which is "labels will fuck you over". that's simply not true. some labels will, some won't. you should be educated enough about the process to not get into a bad deal.

[theguy77]

it's not very difficult at all: read the label contract before you sign it. if it talks about them claiming ownership over what you record, don't sign the deal. i mean you should always have a lawyer look at things like this anyway.

this is completely different than what you're saying, which is "labels will fuck you over". that's simply not true. some labels will, some won't. you should be educated enough about the process to not get into a bad deal.

i mean but if i had my way in a utopic manner there would be no businessman getting a stake in my music becuase he didnt help me write it. its a "you scratch my back i'll scratch yours" system but if i can find a way to scratch my own back then fuck you.

[x togepi x]

i mean but if i had my way in a utopic manner there would be no businessman getting a stake in my music becuase he didnt help me write it. its a "you scratch my back i'll scratch yours" system but if i can find a way to scratch my own back then fuck you.

if we're talking about "utopias" then DIY isn't the solution. there's so many problems with DIY that it isn't even funny.

[theguy77]

if we're talking about "utopias" then DIY isn't the solution. there's so many problems with DIY that it isn't even funny.

im going to go ahead and ask "like what" but seeing as it's a vague question which obvioulsy has a lot of answers i dont expect you to list me everything haha. just an example or two would be nice.

[x togepi x]

im going to go ahead and ask "like what" but seeing as it's a vague question which obvioulsy has a lot of answers i dont expect you to list me everything haha. just an example or two would be nice.

the limited scope of DIY releases can create situations where the demand greatly outnumbers the supply which changes the release from music as an artform into music as a fetishized commodity, for example: all the super out of print records that go for hundreds or thousands of dollars more than the artist ever intended for it to be. i want the records my band releases to be thought of as music and not just another cool kind of baseball card.

it also leads to crazy paradoxes like how diy is supposed to be cheap, yet the cost of touring is going up, how do you make enough money to continue touring when the door price and merch prices have to stay low?

[theguy77]

the limited scope of DIY releases can create situations where the demand greatly outnumbers the supply which changes the release from music as an artform into music as a fetishized commodity, for example: all the super out of print records that go for hundreds or thousands of dollars more than the artist ever intended for it to be. i want the records my band releases to be thought of as music and not just another cool kind of baseball card.

it also leads to crazy paradoxes like how diy is supposed to be cheap, yet the cost of touring is going up, how do you make enough money to continue touring when the door price and merch prices have to stay low?

ahh that makes a lot of sense, but i still have to say i prefer what happens there to some guy stealing the integrity of my music right from the source. that is, if i could make DIY work for me.

[x togepi x]

ahh that makes a lot of sense, but i still have to say i prefer what happens there to some guy stealing the integrity of my music right from the source. that is, if i could make DIY work for me.

you don't think people turning your music into a collectible isn't stealing its integrity?

Orchid did.

[alltimecam]

the lives of famous men if we are still talking about the topic but looking at the last couple posts i dont think we are

[likelastnight]

Around the World in 80 Days

www.myspace.com/atw80days

[Regards]

My band.

[SLoT]

If they aren't already, which I don't think they are...

Captured in Chinatown.

[BrokenMirror]

Autodrone. Seriously, this band is fucking awesome.

[FayeQC]

Walking With Lions!

[musicfiend]

U.S. Royalty is a great band from D.C. www.myspace.com/usroyalty (http://www.myspace.com/usroyalty)

[Protested Hero]

I love how every single topic on here turns into an argument.

[4N6 science]

i'll go with knights in paris..

[3eb23]

Conditions
http://www.myspace.com/conditionsband

[OdeToTheSun]

My band.
Yes, your band does need to get signed

Conditions
http://www.myspace.com/conditionsband

lol, already said them dude :-)

[gonegoing]

nevermind the fact that it's kind of hard for a band without a label to make money with digital releases since getting on itunes or emusic basically requires some sort of label or some company like cdbaby (which cuts into the profits).

not so much done this before as "in the process of putting out a release without a record label".

though i have done the "hey guys, it's cool that you like us, we have songs on myspace you can download" and seen how it doesn't really do anything.

You should check out TuneCore (http://www.tunecore.com/). It seems like it's legit and would really help with getting digital releases in the right places without killing the profits.

[x togepi x]

You should check out TuneCore (http://www.tunecore.com/). It seems like it's legit and would really help with getting digital releases in the right places without killing the profits.

That still doesn't cover any of the reasons why I think digital releases are a bad idea for a touring band right now.

[tellmycaster]

The Doppler Effect
www.myspace.com/thedopplereffectrock

[3eb23]

Yes, your band does need to get signed



lol, already said them dude :-)

haha yeah man i saw, but i gotta keep pushing them whenever there is an opportunity. people will start listening and latching on sooner or later. anyway, i thought you'd like to know that conditions has had offers, but i think they're holding out for the best they can get. once their full length is done i think a lot of people will be after them.