| For the singer, band or musician looking to have an | | | | heading off to do your music demo, is why you are |
| illustrious career in the music industry, a record deal | | | | doing it. Bands often need a recording to give to a club |
| often seems like the best way to go. While there is no | | | | before being able to play there. What's required in that |
| absolute guarantee of getting a record deal by | | | | situation is much different than what's required for a |
| following any set plan, there are things that you can do | | | | Pop or R&B singer looking to get a record deal. |
| to increase your chances of landing one. The following | | | | Many artists first thought is to call a recording studio. |
| is a checklist for aspiring musicians, singers, and | | | | While this may yield results, most recording studios |
| songwriters looking to land record deals. | | | | make their money from selling time. The recording |
| The Music Demo: | | | | studio provides the space with all the equipment and |
| The first step towards landing a record deal is often | | | | an assistant and/or engineer to run it all. They charge a |
| the "music demo" or "demo tape". The music demo is | | | | set fee by the hour and you're free to do whatever |
| a representation of who you are and what you can | | | | you like during that time. If you're a band, this may be |
| do, what makes you special and why the record | | | | precisely what you need. But if you're a singer and |
| companies need to sign you to a record deal and | | | | don't have any music production skills, this kind of setup |
| invest millions of dollars. The music demo is your | | | | will be useless to you. You first need the music before |
| product. When approaching record companies, | | | | you can record your vocals. Again, this is where the |
| management companies, music producers and talent | | | | services of a experienced music producer are desired. |
| agencies, your music demo will be the first thing that | | | | Making A Master Recording: |
| they ask for. If it's good enough, they will consider | | | | So what exactly is the difference between a Master |
| working with you in some capacity or will at least keep | | | | recording and a demo? A master is made for |
| their door open for future consideration. If your music | | | | commercial release. You hear masters on the radio |
| demo sounds like crap, you can bet that their door will | | | | and buy them in stores or download them from iTunes. |
| close to you and remain closed to you. | | | | A Master is a finished, full production. The quality is |
| Give them what they want: | | | | superior to a music "demo". The "demo" (which is short |
| So what do record companies look for when | | | | for "demonstration") is intended to interest the Record |
| evaluating a music demo? While the details may vary | | | | label or publisher in investing the money to record a |
| from person to person, one thing that they all have in | | | | music master. Traditionally, the music demo was |
| common is that the music needs to move them | | | | something as simple as a vocal and piano. But with the |
| emotionally. They have to "feel it". But with hundreds of | | | | advances in technology it no longer pays to record a |
| music demos coming across their desk, they don't | | | | simple "music demo". A Master quality music |
| have the time to wait until the second chorus to see if | | | | production is now affordable for those serious about |
| they like it or not. About 95% or more of the music | | | | their careers. Record labels are used to hearing |
| demos received by management companies, music | | | | finished music productions and that's what they |
| production companies, music producers and record | | | | expect. With internet distribution, a music master can |
| companies, are of such poor quality that often the | | | | be sold, placed in radio, licensed, etc. Though "music |
| music demo will be rejected within the first 10 seconds | | | | demo" is still a buzz word, any music productions |
| simply on that basis. It's often the job of the assistant | | | | worth doing should be of Master quality and radio |
| to weed through the piles of music demos and | | | | ready. |
| separate the quality ones from the poorly produced, | | | | Choosing a Music Producer: |
| poorly recorded ones. | | | | Like anything, you need to shop around to find the right |
| You have to be heard within the right context: | | | | music producer to produce your music demo. Ask a |
| If the sonic quality of your music demo or demo tape | | | | lot of questions. Precisely what qualifies this individual to |
| is acceptable, then the person you're trying to impress | | | | call themselves a record producer? Ask about their |
| may now be willing to listen to at least a verse and | | | | experience. Do they have any album credits, have |
| chorus. But you must sound legit. | | | | they worked with any famous recording artists, won |
| If you're an R&B singer, but you're singing against | | | | any awards, worked on hit records, etc.? Are they |
| a music track that's country, your singing won't be | | | | known in the industry and do they have a good |
| heard against the proper backdrop and most likely will | | | | reputation? Is this a part time job for them? Are they |
| be rejected before they reach the chorus. Another | | | | involved with the style of music you wish to pursue? |
| example might be a female Pop/R&B singer | | | | Some other considerations would be location. What |
| trying to sing against a big, loud hard rock band, or a | | | | studio will you work at and with what engineer? Meet |
| country artist trying to sing against a dance track. | | | | with them and hear their work. Are you impressed |
| While the singers might be good in each case, they will | | | | with the quality of their music production? Do you like |
| sound "wrong" to whomever might be listening. The | | | | them and vibe with them? Ask how they would treat |
| music MUST complement the vocals. The subtleties of | | | | your project. |
| each style of singing must be enhanced by the | | | | How Much is it? |
| appropriate musical arrangement and production. That | | | | Finally, ask about cost. A music demo can run |
| is often the job of the music producer or record | | | | anywhere from a few hundred dollars, to record |
| producer. | | | | company budgets of tens of thousands of dollars per |
| What about the song? | | | | song. Some producers may charge by the hour. While |
| The song is as important as ever in today's modern | | | | occasionally this might be appropriate, it has the |
| music. A song can make or break an artist, as is | | | | potential of costing you many times more than you |
| demonstrated every day on the radio. How many | | | | originally planned. Ask about additional costs, such as |
| times do you hear a hit song on the radio with an | | | | musicians, studio costs , engineering fees, etc. A set |
| average singer? Every day many top recording stars | | | | fee for the music production demo is usually the best |
| may struggle with their careers trying in vain to find | | | | way to go and the way that most record companies |
| another hit song. As in the case of Michael Jackson's | | | | work with music producers. While you don't want to |
| last record, they spent about $50 million recording and | | | | mortgage your house for your music demo, you must |
| promoting the record. But there were no hit songs and | | | | realize that you get what you pay for. The cheapest |
| sales were way off their projected numbers. They lost | | | | demo around will sound like the cheapest demo |
| big money on that one. | | | | around. This isn't how you want to portray yourself if |
| So what makes a hit song? No one can say with | | | | you're serious about pursuing a record deal. You want |
| absolute certainty. But here's what music mogul Clive | | | | to go with the highest quality music demo from the |
| Davis had to say about Diane Warren, one of the | | | | best music producer that you can afford. |
| most successful songwriters in history: "Diane is able to | | | | Choosing a Studio: |
| combine tremendous feel for melody with lyrics that | | | | Unless you're technically proficient in the area of |
| deal with genuine emotions, and she is able to do it | | | | recording studio equipment, seeing an equipment list |
| time after time". With over 50 Top 10 songs to her | | | | won't help you much. But you should be interested in |
| name, I'd say that's a reasonable formula! | | | | the clientele that the recording studio attracts. |
| Hit songs are rare. Do your best to record a quality | | | | If they regularly work with signed recording artists, |
| song that you feel has hit potential. Don't record a bad | | | | record companies and publishing companies, chances |
| song just because you happened to write it. Many | | | | are they have the necessary equipment and technical |
| singers may have exceptional voices but their | | | | skill to give you a professional product. Check out a list |
| songwriting skills haven't caught up yet. If necessary , | | | | of their clients. The music producer will most likely have |
| seek out songs from an established published | | | | a recording studio that they're comfortable working in |
| songwriter or music producer. | | | | and that has the necessary equipment to produce |
| Self Produced Demos: | | | | your demo. But while home studios may have come a |
| Many music demos are self produced these days in | | | | long way in recent years, they still don't match the |
| home studios. With the technology more affordable, it's | | | | environment, acoustics, sound, equipment and |
| possible for a talented, technically oriented musician to | | | | personnel of a commercial recording studio. |
| make an acceptable music demo in their home. But all | | | | Alternatives to a Record Deal |
| too often the home technology exceeds the skills of | | | | So much has been said here about getting a record |
| the operator and the music demo sounds flat and | | | | deal. But that is no longer the only option these days |
| homemade, with too much reverb on the vocals, no | | | | for aspiring artists to get their music to the people and |
| punch in the bass and no clarity in the hi end. The talent | | | | be heard by the masses. No record deal does not |
| of the musician may not translate into talent as a | | | | mean no career in music. The internet has changed |
| music producer or recording engineer, and so the entire | | | | everything, and many artists who have had record |
| music demo suffers, even though the singer and the | | | | deals in the past are now looking towards the internet |
| song may have been outstanding. That's where the | | | | as a preferred method of selling their music. While an |
| skills of a talented music producer first come into play. | | | | artist may sell 300,000 units, (CD's) the amount of |
| The music producers experience in the recording | | | | money spent on their behalf by the record company |
| studio can save countless costly mistakes and deliver | | | | may exceed the amount brought in by sales. The artist |
| to you a product that sounds professional and polished, | | | | may only receive a small percentage of CD sales and |
| which will increase your chances of getting that record | | | | end up owing the record company millions of dollars, |
| deal. | | | | which have to be "recouped" before the artist can |
| The Music Producer: | | | | begin to see any real dough. In contrast, an artist who |
| The role of the music producer varies, based on the | | | | sells only 15,000 of their own CD's on the internet and |
| style of music. For most styles, the music producer | | | | at live shows, can likely clear over $100,000 after |
| makes the technical decisions in the recording studio, | | | | expenses. Record companies are usually very |
| helps choose songs and works to get the most out of | | | | interested in them after they hear about that. The |
| the artist, showing off the strong points and burying the | | | | major expense for the artist however is hiring a music |
| weak points. It's the role of the music producer or | | | | producer and funding their own recording. But this |
| record producer to help create the vision for the artist | | | | supports the idea of finding an experienced music |
| and to make it into a reality. | | | | producer and doing a great sounding music demo that |
| For live rock bands, a music producers role can | | | | has the quality of a record. It becomes a viable |
| sometimes be more one of guidance and direction. | | | | product that can be sold. The music demo can be |
| With a good recording studio and engineer, bands can | | | | released on a per song basis on the internet and more |
| often achieve decent results on their own and may | | | | songs can be added as they're recorded. |
| not need a music producer in the earlier stages, such | | | | A poor sounding music demo is likely to damage your |
| as recording the music demo. Though for the recording | | | | reputation, so keep it in the closet. Better yet, avoid |
| of an entire album, it's recommended. | | | | getting stuck with a bad music demo in the first place. |
| For Pop, R&B and dance however, the music | | | | One final note: |
| producers role is essential. Often, the music producer | | | | It's important to get a great sounding music demo to |
| will help write the music, play some or all of the | | | | help open up some doors and to eventually get a |
| instruments and be responsible for every aspect of | | | | record deal. But be cautious. After searching around |
| the musical production, from the sonic quality of the | | | | the internet for music producers and recording studios |
| recording to keeping things within budget. This allows | | | | to recommend, we came across many sites that |
| the singer to focus and concentrate on giving their | | | | appeared to be...less than honest about their intentions. |
| best vocal performance and doing what they do | | | | For example, song contests that resulted in the winner |
| best-sing! A good music producer should make you | | | | having to spend money to get their song recorded by |
| and your music demo sound polished, explosive and | | | | the company having the contest. Home studios where |
| exciting. It should be appropriate for the style of music | | | | the singer was forced to sing in a closet. Claims by so |
| you're singing and should sound close to a finished | | | | called producers with no music industry credits to back |
| record. If your music demo doesn't sound professional, | | | | them up. Producers with no solid music industry |
| don't send it out yet. You only get one chance to | | | | contacts offering to shop your music demo. And a |
| make a first impression, so you want it to be good. | | | | few more. Just make sure they're legit and that you're |
| Making Your Music Demo: | | | | comfortable talking and working with them. |
| The first thing that needs to be established before | | | | |