Thinking of starting a digital label - thoughts?

[Tyrisia]

cheers for the great responses guys, with enthusiasim like that i gotta put me money where me mouth is:)

Mark and David, yes i'd love to put some of your stuff out, so i'll let you know when it all happens. i'm actually wanting a fair few tracks for the launch, which will hopefully give people the choice to keep a wide audience interested in what's comin next.

one thing i'd like to know is does anybody know any good mastering houses that'd do a good job on a budget? ideally i'd like the best of the best (ie Lawrie Immersion) but i've gotta at least get the tracks paying for themselves so the project is self sufficient, cause i'll be on the breadline for a while with this.

also Mark, as you run a label, can you give me an idea of contract details, as i'll need to get more familiar with this in order to give the artists a fair deal, as that'll be my number 1 priority - there's nothing more demoralising than gettin ripped off on you first release etc.

[Ms.Rhythm]

let me know when your site is on the go cause ill get the b/f to send ya his demo

[dan the acid man]

let me know when your site is on the go cause ill get the b/f to send ya his demo

get him to post some stuff on here, there's a whole load of very talented people to give constructive advice

[rhythmtech]

i'd def be up for throwin in a few.. keep us informed

[dirty_bass]

Well, it`s hard to start a digital label, unless you run it off the back off a physical label.
My advice is to put money into promotion, which is the hardest part of dance music mp3.
It`s harder to get DJ support etc
So magazine ads and ads on other websites, free links etc will help immensly.

There`s a very obvious (but tired) route of getting some big names on your label to essentially "Buy" their audience, but people aren`t stupid and these days, they follow the producer and not the label most of the time.
For example, you get dave clark on your label, people go to the label for the dave clark track, next month those same people go for his track on another label, as it is his name they are putting into the search engine.
Nah, I reckon your better off going with quality material from the onset, regardless of name, you`ll get more respect and peace of mind.
Good luck, and be sure to get you label supported by as many online sellors as possible (assuming you are even going to do it commercially)