setting up an mp3/cd label

18 months ago i was in the process of setting up a new label, initially planned to be fat house / funky techo going out on 12", i had to pull away from it for a while, now im planning to relaunch, trouble is with the whole digital / vinyl thing going on, i think initially i want to play safer and 1st release a few digitally via mp3 downloads and cd.

i was hoping someone could give me some pointers here please, is there much legal work i need to do, organisations i need to register with etc, if the primary releases will be all unsigned material released as mp3, including my own?

will i need to register with the ppl, mcps, set up an official business etc?

is there minimum requirements for the digital distributors and download sites to accept a new label, so its not running totally un checked and selling random shit?

can anyone reccomend me the better download / distributor sites?

i suppose what im asking, is for a few step by step pointers to get setup initially purely for digital downloads, without getting screwed by some organisation or six??!

any help would be brilliant
thanks

Well, it`s easy to set up a digital label.
Just contact online sellors.
The good ones have an element of quality control.
They also will send a basic contract.
Most are the same.
That`s it really.
Then you have to promote promote promote like buggery because the net is a vast and impossible place, and at the mo purely web based labels don`t really get much credibility.
Though hopefully at some point they will.

nice one, straight answer thanks! much appreciated

Seriously, that`s about it.
I`ve seen most of the contracts from the larger mp3 vendors, and essentially they are all standard and the same.
If you doubt any contract you see, you can pm me here and I can get my mate to check it, he`s PHD in law, specialising in contract and copyright.
Really the main issue is promotion.
You need to essentailly get outside of the net to promote, and don`t just promote online aAs everyone has a net label. So really you need to make sure you get really top production values and some good hype.
I`ve been seriously looking into this myself, but it a really really difficult venture.
I`ve now settled for a label with simultaneous vinyl and mp3 release, but offering video (mp4) for the online release as well, to make it something a bit more special.
Anyway, good luck mate.

cheers mate, thanks alot for the info, ive started looking at the details on a couple of the main sites, hopefully will see how things go...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dirty_bass

I`ve now settled for a label with simultaneous vinyl and mp3 release, but offering video (mp4) for the online release as well, to make it something a bit more special.

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It's good to see people outside the mainstream getting into the visual side of things. Best of luck.