Want A Record Deal? Here’s 3 Things Labels a

Do you want to know how to get a record deal?

Are you an artist or aspiring artist that is looking for a big break?

Have you tried to push out music on your own? Have you been active on social media and consistently putting out music- with little movement?

You know you have what it takes, but you could do so much more if you had a team behind you.

A group of people that believes in you and can help you with the administrative tasks of getting your music out and leveraging the right relationships to get your songs to the right ears.

If this sounds like heaven, you’re in the right place. We are here to provide you with a roadmap to get you to the people who will help you spread the gospel worldwide.

So grab a pen and paper, and let’s start getting busy.

What is the record deal?

Founder and CEO of Lava Records, Jason Flom, describes a record deal as:

“In general, a record deal is where an artist enters into an agreement with a label where the label commits to find the artist’s recording, including some level of in pocket monies to the artist, and to provide marketing and sales, in exchange for which the artist will record exclusively for the label, the label usually owns the recordings made by the artist, and after cost our recovered, the artist gets a percentage of the revenues from sales and licenses of their recordings. With such dramatic development and social media and different ways of music is discovered and distributed, there are lots of conversations happening about rethinking the traditional record deal.”

How do labels work?

Before you start doing any of the legwork from this article, the first thing you should know is there are two types of labels: major and independent.

Major labels make up 70% of the recorded music revenue, are international, very well funded, and own their distribution and publishing. The big three are Warner Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and Universal Music Group. Island Records, and Def Jam Recordings are owned by Universal, Interscope by Sony, and Atlantic Records by Warner. While these music giants may be able to provide large marketing budgets, you may lose out on both creative control and a more significant percentage of your revenue.

Conversely, independent labels are generally smaller, with more conservative budgets than the major labels, and rely on other companies for distribution and publishing. However, they have a closer relationship with artists and usually have deep connections with other artists and professionals within the genre that they leverage on behalf of their artists. They are also more likely to grant you more creative control over your music.

What do record labels do for artists?

Depending on which type of record label you decide to go with will depend on what they can or will do for you.

A label could be useful in the following three areas:

• Financing and legal action- financing the creation costs of your music, organizing music videos and photo shoots, protecting you from legal issues, and distributing your music.
• Music promotion and project development- providing a marketing team and writers to take care of project descriptions, public statements, and bios, booking, promotional events, and guiding you through the development of image, sound, merchandising.
• Organizing tours- helping you with show design-build, riders, booking venues, and figuring out tour dates, transportation, accommodations, and other costs.

What are record labels looking for?

It depends on the record label, but here are three things they are most definitely looking for.

• Someone who is creating great content on social media
• Someone who is pushing out music consistently
• Somebody easy to work with

A word to the wise: if you have the first two down packed, but the last one is a bit of a struggle, my advice is to pray and work on it. Labels want artists who are easy to work with, are teachable and will take feedback with maturity.

How do you get signed to a record label?

1. Do your research. CHH was built by many independent labels, so there are plenty of choices. So dig into names like Reach Records, Apollo Records, The Menace Movement, God Over Money, and Syntax Creative- and see if any of those would fit you well. Consider artists on their roster to see if your music fits their vibe.
2. Send them quality projects. When contacting the record labels, include the links to all your streaming platforms, artists’ pages, and any completed demos you may be working on. Include all your contact information and any write-ups, playlists, placements, or accolades you could have had so far in your career.
3. Follow up. The likelihood you will get a response the first time is unlikely if this label receives thousands of requests like yours every week. Think of ways to build a rapport with a contact if you have one, and send new tracks often to keep your name top of mind.

Other ways to get noticed

In the last 10 years, many artists have found their popularity first through social media channels rather than record labels or radio play. Usually, social media success comes first, followed by the other two. If you want to get signed by a record label, make sure that your social media game is on point, that you are posting consistently, and that your numbers continue to grow weekly.

Building relationships is as meaningful in the music business as in corporate America. When researching labels, find artists signed to the label and think of ways of building relationships with them by providing value by supporting and building them up. Once that relationship is built, ask them if they would consider listening to music and giving feedback.
Once your music hits its stride, having someone inside a label can go a long way.

Embrace The Future

Getting a record deal might seem challenging, but remember, every successful artist started exactly where you are right now. Stay faithful in your journey, continuing to hone your craft, build genuine relationships, and consistently release music. Your passion and perseverance can position you uniquely for success.

God has given you a gift and vision, and when you steward those wisely, doors will open at the right time. Trust the process, stay teachable, and don’t hesitate to seek wisdom from those who’ve walked the path before you. Whether you choose an independent or major label, or perhaps continue on your own for a while longer, remember your mission: to use your artistry to inspire, uplift, and share the gospel. Keep believing, keep growing, and keep creating. Your breakthrough might just be one song, one connection, or one courageous step away. The future is full of possibilities—embrace them with hope.

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