Self releasing – Roxanne de Bastion
With
Katie MeluaIndependent artist Roxanne de Bastion explains why she decided to release her record without the help of either a major or independent label.
What's in the course
40 lessons (2h 33m) · 1 free
01. Getting started, open mics and unpaid gigs
2:10
02. Becoming local heroes and booking tours
6:12
03. Getting creative about gigs
3:44
04. Stagecraft – Jeremy from Everything Everything
2:21
05. Capitalising on your audience
4:50
06. Engaging Direct to Fan
5:32
07. Knowing your online audience and using data effectively
10:31
Lesson transcript
Insights on Releasing Your Music
When I recorded and released my first album, I didn't approach any labels. I decided to just release it because:
- I didn't want to wait around for something to happen.
- I felt like I still needed a lot of experience before I approached labels.
Starting My Own Label
So, I started my own label. This turned out to be a great learning curve. Here are some key takeaways:
- It's good to understand how the music industry works.
- Learning how to get the proper metadata on your tracks is essential.
- Making mistakes is part of the journey.
I changed my album's track list last minute. So, on Spotify, it has the wrong track list, and now I just have to live with that.
These little things give you an appreciation for what others do in the industry.
The Changing Landscape of the Music Industry
The music industry, especially in the traditional sense, is changing rapidly. The landscape today is completely different from what it was when I started taking music seriously just a couple of years ago.
Major Labels vs. Independent Labels
There's a significant difference between major labels and independent labels. I released my EP with a really small startup record label, and that was also a valuable learning experience.
Advice for Musicians
Many musicians starting out feel that getting a deal is the be-all and end-all. However, most of the time, that's just when the real work begins. Here are some thoughts:
- Even if you get an amazing deal, you just never know what's around the corner.
- Things can go wrong all the time, there's no guarantee for anything.
Managing Expectations
There needs to be a wake-up call and a lot of expectation management.
While there are some fantastic independent labels passionate about what they do, you often need to be with those specific, strong identities. If you're not, I don't see much difference between self-releasing and going with a small indie label.
Self-Finance and Do It Yourself
My advice? Finance it yourself and do it yourself.
- Consider crowdfunding or saving up money from gigs to fund your music.
- Ask yourself, "Why do I want this deal, and what am I going to get from it?"
It's important to strip away the ego and reconsider the reality of a deal.
If you realize you'll owe money for several years and that others will have exclusive rights to your songs, really ask yourself:
- Is it worth it or not?
40 lessons
2h 33m of structured video lessons
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Meet your guru
Meet your guru
Katie Melua is one of the UK's most successful recording artists, with more than 11 million albums sold worldwide and a string of multi-platinum releases. Born Ketevan Melua in Kutaisi, Georgia, in 1984, she moved with her family to Belfast as a child and later studied at the BRIT School in London, where she was discovered by songwriter and producer Mike Batt.
Her debut album 'Call Off the Search' (2003), released when she was 19, spent six weeks at No. 1 in the UK and went six-times platinum, driven by the hit single 'The Closest Thing to Crazy'. Its follow-up 'Piece by Piece' (2005) topped charts across Europe and featured her signature song 'Nine Million Bicycles'. In 2006 she earned a place in the Guinness World Records book by playing the deepest underwater concert ever staged, 303 metres below sea level on a North Sea gas platform.
A remarkable run of top-ten albums followed — 'Pictures' (2007), the William Orbit-produced 'The House' (2010), 'Secret Symphony' (2012) and 'Ketevan' (2013) — as Melua refined a sound that moves effortlessly between jazz, folk and classic pop songwriting. 'In Winter' (2016), recorded in Georgia with the Gori Women's Choir and produced by Melua herself, revealed a new depth to her artistry.
Her recent work is her most personal: 'Album No. 8' (2020) and 'Love & Money' (2023) drew some of the strongest reviews of her career, and 'Live at the Royal Albert Hall' (2024) celebrated two decades at the top of British music. She remains a captivating live performer, touring extensively across Europe and beyond.
