This is really a long, complicated story, but I'm trying to help someone from Europe find places to submit a demo to when it is ready. I've been told by a friend who has been in music a long time that this sort of thing is almost impossible to do now. Almost no one wants unsolicited demos it seems. Based on what I've observed so far, he seems to be right. Are there places out there that might actually have an open attitude toward receiving unsolicited demos or not? I'm mostly talking about the U.S., although certainly Europe would be fine, too. I actually did manage to talk to one person from a small record company not too far from where I live. She said that because of the economic crisis almost everyone was paralyzed now and not doing much of anything. She said if you submit demos they will just be ignored and to not even expect anyone to respond at all.

What exactly is your friend looking to do?

People still submit demos? Really?

In the rock world, bands simply self-release albums. Mixtapes are the way to go in the hip hop world. Pop? Who knows, or more precisely, who cares.

Myspace maybe? I thought most people made their CD in their basements now and sold it themselves on their website. I don't have any experience submitting a "demo" to some horrible corperation that will take all your profits.

submit demos here:
http://www.discmakers.com/

along with some cash and they'll master it and print the cds

I know of one band that actually got signed to a major off an unsolicited demo back in the early '90s. They were smart- they sent a letter (because they knew unsolicited tapes went straight in the trash) to an A&R rep at each of the big labels explaining who they were and what they sounded like, figuring a letter would get through. One guy at Atlantic admired their chutzpah, wrote back asking for a tape, and they got a deal.

Their album was mixed in one day without any input from the band (who were away at a photo shoot), got little promotion, bombed, and they were quickly dropped. You don't want anything to do with a major label, see here for details-

http://www.negativland.com/albini.html

You might also want to check out Moses Avalon's book "Confessions Of A Record Producer".

If you have a local or college radio station, drop them a demo - often times they'll have a 'locals only' type show, and will accept unsolicited material!

Also, try www.sonicbids.com - electronic press kit

I have to concur with everyone else. Record labels really don't just show up at gigs and sign people on the spot anymore like they did in the 60's/70's. Most are expecting you to do all the legwork for yourself by creating a buzz, building a following, securing airplay, AND showing scanned record sales. Nobody wants to risk the investment anymore. This basically means you have to become your own record label, or at the very least find an indy label as a launching pad to a larger label.

Of course the irony of all this is if you actually can prove yourself to be a successful selling indy artist via your own efforts, then why would you want a record deal? If you sell 50,000 records on your own (and most majors expect you to) at $10 bucks a CD, then why would you want to sign a deal with a label that's only going to pay you $.11/CD and possibly take half your publishing as well?

Do it yourself, and learn every aspect of being a label. This includes marketing, publicity, advertising, promotion, etc. Once you've figured it all out you may not want any part of a record label or you will at least know what to expect when you sign a deal so that you're not neglected or lost in the shuffle.

What exactly is your friend looking to do?


I think the fact that she is in a small European country which doesn't seem to offer the opportunities the U.S. does for music may be a problem. I have been there and really like the country, but I do understand her point. She gets offers to perform a lot, but what she really wants to do is find a way to promote her own music in the U.S. She doesn't know how to do that and neither do I.

Start a myspace and facebook page. Like any other job a big key is networking. Find other bands or people she sounds like and get in touch with them.