How to Start an Indie Record Label

If you want to start an indie record label, you will need a considerable amount of money. This very challenging endeavor will require you or an investor to put up many thousands of dollars to rent space, buy recording equipment, hire staff and be ready to do the promotional work to get your music heard on the local stations. When you first start looking into how to start your record label, one option is to begin by renting space at an already established studio. Until your label is up and making reasonable profits, this might be a better route to follow. Booking studio time is easy and far less expensive than buying recording equipment.

Things You'll Need

• Business plan, including a budget
• Record label name
• Membership in collection societies
• Staff
• Musician contracts

Show More

Instructions

1. Put it down on paper

   • 1

     Put together a business plan that includes a budget.

   • 2

     Pick a catchy label name.

   • 3

     Join the collection societies to protect the copyrights for your musicians.

   • 4

     Find the necessary professionals to assist you. These include a lawyer, accountant, marketer and PR firm.

   • 5

     Prepare contracts with the musicians you are recording. They should include an exclusivity clause to protect your investment in them.