[11:39 PM] mcguganator: since we're on the topic of labels on the main server already, i wanted to give you a heads up on some cool stuff happening with the server in a few weeks
[11:39 PM] skeleton keys: sure go for it
[11:40 PM] mcguganator: basically, we have a mix ready for the compilation album that i mentioned to you earlier
[11:40 PM] skeleton keys: oh yeah nice
[11:40 PM] mcguganator: but we've decided that we're going to try making this into something bigger
[11:41 PM] mcguganator: so the release of the album mix and releases/reposts of the individual tracks will be coming up next weekend
[11:41 PM] mcguganator: and it's going to be released on a new label we're creating
[11:41 PM] mcguganator: going to be a full announcement with all the details in the next couple days on the server
[11:42 PM] skeleton keys: cool
[11:42 PM] mcguganator: the idea is going to be that moving forward from the album release, any time a producer from the server is ready to release something, we're going to have the option open for them to submit it for a potential release under the label
[11:43 PM] mcguganator: we're hoping it'll especially work well with hamish's tune-a-month server (in terms of developing a solid release schedule)
[11:45 PM] skeleton keys: ok thats interesting conceptually, you will def have a load of tracks
[11:45 PM] mcguganator: yeah, which will hopefully allow us to maintain a solid level of quality too
[11:46 PM] skeleton keys: like i said im a bit old skool, ah you beat me to it
[11:46 PM] mcguganator: but yeah, since you have so much past experience with the industry, i/we may reach out for some advice if we hit a roadblock that we can't solve between the team
[11:46 PM] skeleton keys: label owners are like taste makers, you sell the branding of quality and style to an audience
[11:47 PM] mcguganator: yep, that's definitely been a point of discussion
[11:47 PM] skeleton keys: absolutely, im always willing to lend an ear
[11:48 PM] mcguganator: we're going to be probably having a section of the discord dedicated to the label (submissions, releases, etc), which we're thinking will be a cool angle to our branding
[11:49 PM] skeleton keys: ok im gonna give u a couple suggestions, bare in mind im not too hot on modern label practices
[11:50 PM] mcguganator: please do, it's a new experience for all of us (including the two new mods we added earlier this week) so any insight you have will be appreciated :smiley:
[11:51 PM] skeleton keys: use a promo service to get the tracks into the hands of tastemaker dj's club and radio, you will get feedback from an important promo sector, these promo services do cost money
[11:52 PM] skeleton keys: if you get support from any of these its a great way into an industry, you can promote on the basis of so and so is supporting etc... it only looks good for you
[11:53 PM] skeleton keys: plus, most dj's are like sheep, if someones playing something they like it can spread like wildfire
[11:53 PM] mcguganator: guilty as charged lol
[11:53 PM] skeleton keys: most music released is based on this sort of model where you put out a bunch of stuff and hopefully one catches
[11:55 PM] skeleton keys: especially in a world where even in a small genre there can be anywhere between 1 - 10 k tracks being promoted/released annually
[11:55 PM] skeleton keys: only a few make it
[11:56 PM] skeleton keys: most dj's dont have the time to sit thru the horde, instead its usually down to being told something is good and them checking it out
[11:56 PM] mcguganator: yeah for sure
[11:56 PM] skeleton keys: which brings me to how some unknown artists make it to radio
[11:56 PM] skeleton keys: theres several routes
[11:57 PM] skeleton keys: 1:internet sensation
[11:57 PM] mcguganator: i.e. deadmau5 or skrillex or whatever
[11:57 PM] skeleton keys: 2:popularity through rising thru the ranks in a particular scene
[11:57 PM] skeleton keys: 3: radio pluggers
[11:58 PM] skeleton keys: 4:submission into radio stations like the radio 1 thing , cant remember what its called off the top of my head
[11:59 PM] mcguganator: there's a couple of them
[11:59 PM] mcguganator: triple j is one
[11:59 PM] mcguganator: pete tong
[11:59 PM] skeleton keys: 5:actually connecting somehow with the dj who has a show
March 22, 2018
[12:01 AM] skeleton keys: skrillex is a weird one, he had a big name basically giving everyone the go ahead (dmau5
[12:01 AM] skeleton keys: also they did a clever strategy at the time of giving away 4 quality tracks for free
[12:01 AM] skeleton keys: which is kinda old news now
[12:02 AM] skeleton keys: they almost foresaw that doing gigs was the best source of income
[12:03 AM] skeleton keys: a more recent internet sensation would be mura masa for example
[12:04 AM] skeleton keys: i dunno how he became so big overnight, i was pointed in his direction when he was hitting the 100k mark on sc
[12:04 AM] skeleton keys: a year later he's all ove radio with big name rappers
[12:05 AM] mcguganator: to be honest i didn't even realize he blew up, mostly because i don't follow the mainstream as much
[12:05 AM] skeleton keys: i was in a gas station and heard a rapper on an instrumental of his, thats how i realised lol
[12:05 AM] mcguganator: haha that's crazy
[12:06 AM] mcguganator: mostly our goal with the label isn't necessarily to become the biggest thing ever (on the radio, all the artists sellign out shows, etc), but as a networking opportunity (especially for the producers on the server who make great music but have like <200 followers) and to have a way to sort of present what the server is about
[12:06 AM] skeleton keys: i'll say its gonna be hard to promote a label with so many diff styles
[12:06 AM] mcguganator: but you've definitely made some super helpful points about promo, which is one of our biggest concerns right now
[12:07 AM] mcguganator: in terms of genres, the plan is to start broad and narrow down a little bit if a particular style seems to be doing leaps and bounds better than the others
[12:07 AM] skeleton keys: branding one style/genre is hard enough, u wanna get people coming back to similar but not the same music
[12:08 AM] skeleton keys: like a surfer if u catch a wave you wanna ride it as long as poss
[12:09 AM] mcguganator: solid analogy
[12:09 AM] mcguganator: and that's basically exactly what we're planning to do
[12:10 AM] skeleton keys: seeing as were dm'ing i can say this without hurting anyones feelings
[12:10 AM] skeleton keys: push the strongest tracks
[12:10 AM] mcguganator: yep, that's 100% been a talking point as well
[12:10 AM] skeleton keys: not too many, but try and get em to the right people
[12:10 AM] mcguganator: the album is the only release where we aren't going to be as strict with quality control
[12:10 AM] skeleton keys: give em a chance
[12:11 AM] mcguganator: just because there were some producers who submitted like, 3 tracks
[12:11 AM] mcguganator: and it wouldn't really be fair to not have any of them on the album
[12:11 AM] skeleton keys: one track could sell an album!
[12:11 AM] mcguganator: yep
[12:11 AM] mcguganator: this album's being released for free
[12:12 AM] mcguganator: as we're concerned about getting as much reach as possible, especially as it's the first release
[12:12 AM] skeleton keys: like if it was my business id be ruthless, especially if i was sinking money into it
[12:12 AM] mcguganator: this compilation album has i think 14 tracks on it between 8-10 artists, and if most of the server is cross promoting it to their fanbases then we should be able to get a fast first couple hundred followers
[12:13 AM] skeleton keys: oh if this is a one off then thats cool, but if you feel theres something happening with one of the tracks
[12:13 AM] skeleton keys: push it!
[12:13 AM] mcguganator: yep, that's the plan :smiley:
[12:13 AM] skeleton keys: use that money to promo outside of discord, remember this place isnt too well known outside the gaming community
[12:14 AM] mcguganator: the discord server is primarily going to be for the producers
[12:14 AM] skeleton keys: i came here by chance clicking on an inv jules posted on reddit lol
[12:14 AM] mcguganator: fans will be interacting through the normal social media platforms
[12:15 AM] mcguganator: if the discord concept gets popular, we'll be creating a seperate discord for the fans
[12:15 AM] skeleton keys: yeah i can see how getting fans across diff servers into one place is a great way to setup a community
[12:16 AM] skeleton keys: to spread the word etc
[12:16 AM] skeleton keys: i had a look at the owsla server a while back
[12:17 AM] skeleton keys: right its super late here once again!
[12:17 AM] skeleton keys: i gotta hit the sack
[12:17 AM] mcguganator: thanks for your insight dude! and of course, look forward to hopefully seeing some submissions from you
[12:17 AM] skeleton keys: haha maybe, if this label doesnt work out that im with
[12:18 AM] mcguganator: is the contract you signed with the label exclusivity for all of your releases?
[12:18 AM] skeleton keys: no no, im just trying to pursue the tradiutional route, no one does exclusive deals with indies anymore
[12:19 AM] mcguganator: yeah i was gonna say lol
[12:19 AM] mcguganator: alright, well if you have a "spare" track definitely throw it our way haha
[12:19 AM] skeleton keys: this label owner keeps mentioning albums but im really not in that place right now
[12:19 AM] mcguganator: solo albums are always lots of work, i agree
[12:19 AM] mcguganator: anyways, sleep well dude. thanks again
[12:20 AM] skeleton keys: its not the work im worried about, its the reach
[12:20 AM] mcguganator: ah
[12:20 AM] skeleton keys: plus albums are pretty hard to sell
[12:20 AM] skeleton keys: people tend to buy a few tracks they particularly like
[12:21 AM] skeleton keys: as a club/dance artist putting singles out regularly is def a more lucrative way to land gigs etc