Local musicians and artists don’t have to sign a major record deal to get rich and famous. No license is needed in any state to operate a record label.

You can save a lot of money when you create your own record label. You are in complete control and not under someone else’s contract or rules.

Spend as little as $200 to get started at home.

Music Production (Choose your music)

Creating and making your own beats is a way to build your own sound and production.

Tag (Voice Tag) your record label on your music. Voice tag are also known as audio tags, instrumental tags, vocal tags and producer tags.

These tags act as a signature on your creative production.

Music producers, podcasters, DJs and broadcasters typically use associated phrases, brands and names.

This is a good way you can start with a mobile studio on phone or any computer.

Look for recording studios on Google Play or PlayStation Network.

Upgrade recording equipment

If you like to upgrade recording equipment and become more professional, try using Pro Tools or Fruity Loops software. The Kaotica Eyeball is an awesome mobile vocal booth or portable sound booth that transforms any space into a recording studio.

Getting your music mastered is a way of making your music sound good.

Purchasing beats (Know the contract)

You can purchase beats and a business contract from record producers. They’re all over social media, and you can become a licensee.

This can help you mix, master and engineer music that’s made by a music producer.

Collaborate

Seek or become someone who acts as a liaison between artists and the record label. Having a solo music profession is cool, but it’s also a great idea to build, produce and promote other talent for your record label.

The more artists you have, the bigger your record label will appear. Seek, hire or become an A&R (Artists and Repertoire).

A&R has responsibilities such as overseeing the recording process, finding talent and helping with marketing and production.

Promotion

What you can do to get your music out there is find radio stations and media production.

Radio streams are great when your music is registered with BMI, Ascap and Sesac because musicians get paid for each stream. It’s great for listeners to hear your voice, music, band and performance.

Print and/or online articles about your music production is another way to promote your record label and reach your fans and promoters can push your record label and put it on the market. Be sure to post on social media. Examples are Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, LinkedIn and a personal website.

Posting your presence online properly and appropriately can help you gain more fans. Share all your links to your social webpages as you please.

Build a website (Register the name)

Build your own website and LLC. Go to school for web designing and learn how to HTML code. If you have to pay for the class, see if you qualify for financial assistance.

You can also use Wix services. Wix helps you choose a domain and upload your web design to the server without coding.

Having a website is a great tool to reach your fans. Apply for a sole proprietorship (also known as a sole trader, individual entrepreneurship) is a type of enterprise that is owned and run by one person and in which there is no legal distinction between the owner and the business entity.

Attach your links to your website such as YouTube, Soundcloud, Reverbnation, Spotify, Amazon, etc.

Business cards

Make business cards with your record label name and logo.

When you are building a record label, it’s good to go out and network. That means you would meet and greet many people with great talent, and business cards is a way to show that you are serious about your work.

Add contact info such as email address with a website and phone number.

Clothing line

Another plan that would promote your music and record label is a clothing line that shares your logos, trademarks and brands of your music or record label.

Push your clothing line on a personal website. Use social media such as Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, LinkedIn, etc.

Distribution services

DistroKid is a great service that works for all musicians. Get your music on all stores and streaming platforms at once such as Google play Tidal, Deezer, Spotify, Tunecore, Amazon, CD baby, etc.

Credit or debit must be approved for online purchases with DistroKid and that helps build a relationship with your distribution services.

Copyright protection

Registering your work free at Copyrighted.com and Legal Zoom is available to protect your work all at once with a good price. It is available online service that helps trademark, register, copyright your work so no one would steal it.

Booking

A booking agent for shows is a nice spotlight to gain public exposure. Open Mic is a good way to get known because there’s no cover charge.

Places such as Back Bar Sofa (San Jose) is a local venue to watch local bands.

NuRicks LLC and Afton Shows would work if you are ready to open up for established artists. NuRicks will put you to work having you sell tickets to perform and you can earn bonuses and keep all profits if your tickets sell out before your show.

Coast 2 Coast Mixtapes is known for booking local to mainstream artists and include features that let you submit your songs, beats, promo, video, radio spins, etc. Coast 2 Coast Live is known as the biggest artist showcase in the world.

Public performances will help you increase fans.

Establish a brand look and choose a name

Create your own record label name and logo. Make up your mind but don’t copy someone’s work. Try using Adobe Photoshop or hire someone to make one for you.

Create all CD covers front to back with your own artwork or hire another graphics designer to help you create the artwork with your record label name and logo.

Anytime you establish a brand look, make sure you attach the copyright, registered and trademark symbols next to logo. Wix.com can help you create a professional logo.

Those are some tools to get started in the music business. One more thing to add is to create your own vinyl records.

Vinylify helps make personalized vinyl records on demand. Choose your music and cover art for your record and Vinylify will deliver your records to your door.

Music Videos

Created by Video FX is a good way to save money on video equipment. It’s free to download. Download the Created by Video FX phone app from Google Play to your mobile phone.

Export your video files and share your music videos to YouTube to gain visual audience and it’s free. Monetize your YouTube videos to earn revenue.

Once you enable monetization, you will automatically begin earning revenue and the more views your videos get, the more money you collect.

“We did it the authentic way with no investors…..I would get an investor if I was to recommend anything” said Frank Gibson aka Frank Nitty LBC, Founder and CEO of Grittystyle Entertainment.