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?