By Philly Stress
Fri Nov 26, 2004 3:18 am
1) Make sure your records are mixed as tight as possible. Remember that an A&R listens to hundreds of beats a week and if your music isn't banging in his speakers then the chances of him choosing a track will be a lot less then the producer who put time in his mixes.
2) Put your best music first. Of course everyone feels their shit is fire but you have to understand that when a manager is playing your music to someone he usually has about 5 to 10 minutes to impress the artist or A&R. They will always tell you they need that next hit so make sure you keep that in mind. The infamous one liner you'll hear from most A&Rs in the game will go something like this "I need a radio record that can bang in the club".
3) Keep your beat snippets around 1:30 per track. No one listens to a beat longer then the first verse and hook. An artist or A&R will usually make his/her decision on your track in the first 20 seconds of listening to it.
4) Be prepared to dump your track at a minutes notice. If your manager sells one of your tracks to an artist, he will usually ask for the separated files immediately. Separating your files into a pro-tools session is the standard way of doing it but if you don't have your own set up then make sure you have a facility in place where you can do this asap.
5) Understand that when your working with a major label the paperwork is everything. It can be the difference between getting your cheque this Monday to getting it next month. Open up a bank account and a make sure you register as a member of one of the main Societies of Composers, Authors and Publishers (Socan, ASCAP, BMI).
6) Be prepared to spend money on legal fees. Your manager can assist you on finding you one but I wouldn't suggest you get a lawyer until it is totally needed. Remember though, you do not want to sign any contracts without having legal advice. We've seen new artists or producers trying to get in the game blindly sign a contract that usually hurts them in the long run.
7) If you're a sample-based producer then always remember where and what you sampled. Take a minute of your time and keep a note of the song and album you sampled from. In fact, the more information the better (publisher, label, etc…). All of that information is usually on the record itself or on the album cover jacket. It will save a lot of time when the record label is asking for the sample sheet information in order to clear the sample.
Learn to be patient. Most major label projects usually come tagged with hundreds of thousands of dollars in costs so unless you're Kanye West or the Neptunes you have to realize that it might take some time to finalize your situation.
9) Continue to add on your catalogue. It is one of the most important points to remember. You need to be as consistent as possible. If you try to live on a small catalogue of beats you will soon realize that catalogue is the key. If your blessed with a smash hit then everyone in the game will be coming to you for tracks, so if your catalogue is limited then you might end up being the next ONE HIT WONDER.
10) If you are fortunate enough to sell some tracks then be smart with your money. The music industry is a business and you need to treat it as one. Take care of the important things in your life but you should also be prepared to re-invest into your own career. Find an accountant and/or a business manager to help manage your money.
2) Put your best music first. Of course everyone feels their shit is fire but you have to understand that when a manager is playing your music to someone he usually has about 5 to 10 minutes to impress the artist or A&R. They will always tell you they need that next hit so make sure you keep that in mind. The infamous one liner you'll hear from most A&Rs in the game will go something like this "I need a radio record that can bang in the club".
3) Keep your beat snippets around 1:30 per track. No one listens to a beat longer then the first verse and hook. An artist or A&R will usually make his/her decision on your track in the first 20 seconds of listening to it.
4) Be prepared to dump your track at a minutes notice. If your manager sells one of your tracks to an artist, he will usually ask for the separated files immediately. Separating your files into a pro-tools session is the standard way of doing it but if you don't have your own set up then make sure you have a facility in place where you can do this asap.
5) Understand that when your working with a major label the paperwork is everything. It can be the difference between getting your cheque this Monday to getting it next month. Open up a bank account and a make sure you register as a member of one of the main Societies of Composers, Authors and Publishers (Socan, ASCAP, BMI).
6) Be prepared to spend money on legal fees. Your manager can assist you on finding you one but I wouldn't suggest you get a lawyer until it is totally needed. Remember though, you do not want to sign any contracts without having legal advice. We've seen new artists or producers trying to get in the game blindly sign a contract that usually hurts them in the long run.
7) If you're a sample-based producer then always remember where and what you sampled. Take a minute of your time and keep a note of the song and album you sampled from. In fact, the more information the better (publisher, label, etc…). All of that information is usually on the record itself or on the album cover jacket. It will save a lot of time when the record label is asking for the sample sheet information in order to clear the sample.
Learn to be patient. Most major label projects usually come tagged with hundreds of thousands of dollars in costs so unless you're Kanye West or the Neptunes you have to realize that it might take some time to finalize your situation.
9) Continue to add on your catalogue. It is one of the most important points to remember. You need to be as consistent as possible. If you try to live on a small catalogue of beats you will soon realize that catalogue is the key. If your blessed with a smash hit then everyone in the game will be coming to you for tracks, so if your catalogue is limited then you might end up being the next ONE HIT WONDER.
10) If you are fortunate enough to sell some tracks then be smart with your money. The music industry is a business and you need to treat it as one. Take care of the important things in your life but you should also be prepared to re-invest into your own career. Find an accountant and/or a business manager to help manage your money.
