If You Could Be Signed To Any Major Label, Which One Would It Be???

[7red7]

So here's a thought...

Pretend you're an electronic artist that is gathering major label interest...If you could pick a label to sign with, which one and why??? And take this seriously...It can happen anyday at anytime...No one said this scene can't garner major label success ever again :)

[~incognito]

Elektra or Mute. Why? Just look at what bands each one has given us over the years. Beggers Banquet would be a close 3rd.

[~pop]

1. Mute - My kind of label. My kind of people.
2. Any label that will press more than 3,000 copies.
I am desperate.....

[~schalana101]

I like your avatar 7red7...Mute records.

[~raven0us-]

i like metropolis and a different drum, i know these arent "major" labels.. but they are labels nonetheless and i cant think of any "major" label that can top them imo. anyway, mute is alright in my book but they havnt really impressed me lately. if i was going to sell out id probably go straight to the darkside with sony.

[seraphim]

IF I made music and IF people liked it enough to listen to it, I'd set my sights on Mute. Over the years they have had the majority of my favorite artists signed to them and they seem like a good spring board. I have never been motivated to make large amounts of money so if I made enough to live comfortably, I'd be happy to stay at that label.

Selling out? I dislike that term. It seems like something someone harboring jealousy would say. The only sell outs I see are the bands re-inventing themselves and going against their personal beliefs just to gain popularity and money. Even then, if they're up front with it...more power to them.

[Synthpopalooza]

Which label would I like to be on? Well, not any of the Big 5. I just don't agree with alot of their practices, especially the shelving of good material because they're afraid it will compete with the latest Britney Spears CD ... blech

For a label that has major distribution, I would say Cleopatra, Metropolis, or perhaps Emperor Norton (none of which are members of the RIAA I might add).

For labels that I REALLY LIKE which don't have distribution yet, may I submit my own "Big 5": ADD, Ninthwave, Synthphony, Plastiq Musiq, Kinetic Response. Altho if it were me (and no offense to any of the other labels, they're ALL great) I would choose ADD (because of its high profile) or Ninthwave/Cohaagen (Dave R. is one helluva guy for this scene!)

[Avil]

A big one? A really big one? Then it would be Mute! That´s what you call a good label.

Otherwise it could be Metropolis (AV released one album on that one)

But the dream is Alphaville´s own label: Navigator Records.

[~NullDevice]

Mute is a really big label? Well, I guess, compared to what we're used to. They're no BMG, though.

Mute would be cool. 4AD or Beggars Banquet would be nfity too, although I think only Beggars sublabels do electroinic stuff these days, and I dunno who's on 4AD anymore.

[Avil]

OK, I didn´t mean big like that.
But they have managed to get great artist out on the market.

[~MaxMode]

MUTE is DM label
so what do you think???????

[~side-line]

A major ?? Hmmmm, names don't matter at this point it's more the people you have to deal with. I know wonderfull people at majors, wonderful people at indie labels, but also arseholes on majors and indies, so...

[~glo]

i thought DM was on Reprise?

[seraphim]

DM was originally signed to Mute (because of Mr. Tovey, if I recall my history) and was later signed to Sire/Reprise. Don't go by what I say though because I'm not up on my DM knowledge.

[Synthpopalooza]

DM is on Mute in England ... and licensed to Warner/Sire/Reprise/Whatevertheheckyouwannacallit for the North American Market.

Mute would be a good label, except they are owned now by EMI and are officially now under the Big 5 umbrella. But they have been responsible for some of the best electronic music in our scene's history (DM, Yazoo, Erasure, Fad Gadget, Komputer) ... they weren't afraid to experiment. I hope Mute's new ownership will not change this direction.

[~KissTheStar]

Originally posted by Synthpopalooza
I hope Mute's new ownership will not change this direction.


Mute is still under the direction of Daniel Miller. I don't see them changing much ... but one never knows. I honestly haven't taken a look at Mute's catalog lately. I think they still have the Fad Gadget releases and Nick Cave and the Badseeds. Recoil of course and Erasure, Nitzer Ebb , Wire .... a lot of blasts from the past. Any newer up and comers on Mute? Anyone anyone??

~Craig

[7red7]

Wow, a lot of Mute fans on the boards...Thats cool, Mute is a great label...Well seeing as the direction has changed, I'll have to say that for a major label, I'd like to be signed to Geffen, or Sire Reprise...Especially Geffen...Good distribution, and I could be one of the only electronic acts on the label, so they might push my music even harder than they would others...Or it could backfire and I'm left wondering what I was thiking about...Sire Reprise is an obvious choice...

Going with a major Indie label, I'd love and be honored to be signed with ADD...Todd works wonders with ADD, and a lot of the artists on the roster are really good :D

[7red7]

Originally posted by schalana101
I like your avatar 7red7...Mute records.



Thank you :D

A friend of mine sent this one to me...Pretty cool huh...It's upposed to move, but when I shrank it, that changed things I guess...


Okay back to the topic at hand...


Record labels everyone??? :)

[~IiI]

If I wanted to be rich, famous, and everywhere: Interscope

If I wanted to be arty, avant garde, and respected: Tzadik

[~Quietwater]

Hmm, could it be that there are a lot of American labels here? As I can see, lot of the music that is being listened here is German based. When it comes to majors, I wouldn't bet on any of them. If I had to, I'd probaly stick with Warner. From my point of view (geographically) they're the one's trying to do something at least. Electronic music isn't really a part of the business with all the majors. Where Sony just signed "Mesh" they run "Deine Lakaien" and "Witt", but to me it looks just as a desperate attempt to be having one foot in the door, in case the scene should be taking off.

I'd rather go with a smaller label like "dependent" or "metropolis", because it would just feel better to at least have a little to say about what your product should be. If they grow bigger, eventualy they will be bought by the Big5 anyway, and then you're in the Major scene at last :o)

[~raven0us-]

there was once a time i thought id be signed to digital hardcore.. heh, now i could care less - i mean all their material has gone downhill since the big blast from alec.

[seraphim]

Ah Digital Hardcore. Are they still around? I saw ATR play many years back with ec8tor and shizou. What a blast. Not so much into that whole yelling rebelion thing anymore. I'll leave that to the kids.

[~Zuki]

archenemy all the way.

[~Eyuva]

Mute = DM & PVD. Nuff said. :p

[~Hajas]

Abril Music and Universal Music are very cool here in Brazil.

Freddy

[~Tekkrokk]

I wouldnt choose any of the 5 major labels here in the USA (BMG, EMI, Sony, AOL-Time Warner, Universal).
Metropolis or ADD would be my top picks.

[~joeprog]

I'd pick Metropolis or ADD.
But if it HAD to be a realy big label, I think I'd go with Lava/Atlantic.
They seem to have really good experiences with artists and creative control.

[test]

My pie-in-the-sky fantasy:

I want to be signed to a label that is ready, willing, and financially able to do the following:

Release BNI albums (giving us complete control over all music, artwork, etc.)
Release BNI singles with remixes (giving us final say on which remixes make the single)
Release BNI videos (giving us complete control and final say over content)
Get BNI into large chains like Tower Records, HMV, Virgin Megastores, etc.
Get BNI on the radio (commercial, college, Internet, satellite, etc.)
Get BNI played in clubs (domestically and internationally)
Promote BNI with print ads, interviews, reviews in magazines (Rolling Stone, SPIN, etc.)
Put BNI on tour opening for established acts in the electronic genre and related genres

If this list seems ridiculous, please read the first line of my post again…

[~NullDevice]

That list seems ridiculous!

(rereads first line)

Oh, carry on, then.

:)

[test]

I thought that "My pie-in-the-sky fantasy" made for a nice disclaimer...

[~Natamon]

Well,I do make music(or at least attempt it:) ,and I would be happy to be on an experimental,or zany label.Granted,"a label" ,would be my first consideration!Electronic music on a country western label!That'll get ya noticed! ;)

Granted,most electronic people spook the cattle a tad too much for that label-sharing craziness to happen anywhere but in my little Natamon mind. 8)