Starting a Label

swif · 07-24-2007, 05:56 PM

So ive been gone for a while from this site as a mod and from music as an artist but ive been gone learning the "paperwork" side of the industry. Ive been learning a lot meeting a few people here and there and a question i see a lot and the thing that comes up most is how to start your own offical independent label. What use to be something that took time and lots of money to do can now be done from the comfort of your own home on your pc with the help of some sites out there. There are many ways to go about doing so however and in my findings its more benefical to take the route of having an entertainment lawyer set it up for you. Now granted you say hey i stay in the middle of no where there are no entertainment lawyers anywhere around me, that stops nothing. Most often you can get in touch with one nearest you and they will take all your information over the phone and mail everything out to you once payment has been received. Payment you say, what you thought it would be free? Even doing the paperwork on your own cost and i will not even get into how to do it on your own because of the simple fact that i believe that the best way of doin this to ensure everything is handled correctly is to do this through an entertainment lawyer. Now, most entertainment lawyers will charge anywhere from $300 on up to do all of the paperwork to get everything up and going and will more than likely start you up with an LLC, limited liabity corpation. Now heres where the most important shit comes into play. You will need to start up a bank account FOR YOUR COMPANY, NOTE A FUCKING ACCOUNT FOR YOUR COMPANY/LABEL, YOU DO NOT USE THIS ACCOUNT FOR PERSONAL USE. This is account used soley for expenses for your label and the cost to run it and what not. Dont go out using this account to buy those new jordans you like so much that you saw in the clothing forum. The most important thing about this is to make sure to have your paperwork in order thats with soundscan, BDS, everything and if you dont know what those are we have some work to do. Also sign yourself to your own label, what ive done is signed myself to myself and signed away all my publishing to myself, meaning i own everything my name to every master and if a major did want to pick me up they gotta pay me to release myself from my contract with myself and pay me for a percentage of my publishing. THis is just a few things im putting together while im out here on the road any questions of any kind relating to starting your own label or anything feel free to drop them here. When i get home i will write up a thread about how to obtain business credit and all that great shit so you can get credit accounts using your business name because i know you fucks have bad credit!!!!!

hope this helped some, like i said im kind of just putting this together while im out on the road so dont kill me if i missed something or anything.

CharleyBrown · 07-28-2007, 12:14 AM

good stuff Swif... keep grindin'!

Dely · 07-28-2007, 08:45 PM

so i know who to come to help me lol

swif · 07-28-2007, 09:43 PM

fa sho man told you i aint bullshitting about the entertainment lawyer shit

YuNG WaLT · 07-28-2007, 10:43 PM

this is where I was at and...ha...almost step for step how G.C.E. was founded...a little over a year ago...

"couldnt get a deal..fuck it...so I signed myself"

swif · 07-29-2007, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YuNG WaLT

this is where I was at and...ha...almost step for step how G.C.E. was founded...a little over a year ago...

"couldnt get a deal..fuck it...so I signed myself"

that was the point of my other thread im glad to see there are some who got their shit together

PsYkIDStReSS · 08-30-2007, 09:13 AM

ok, this is really cool... i need to know how to do this.

anything else?

swif · 08-30-2007, 08:01 PM

yea sorry i been gone for so long man. Just trying to get my grades up for law school. hopefully i get in. I have a .pdf on establishing buisness credit which is good too im going to work on getting that uploaded too. Any question about anything hit me up at swifjones@gmail.com

CAMP PROMO · 09-03-2007, 04:34 PM

good luck

ILL-LEGAL REC · 09-05-2007, 07:17 PM

Yo man, I just graduated from UCLA Law School with a degree in Entertainment law and am still in the start up phase of starting my label....hit me up if u got any Qs about anything homie, sounds like I might be able to help since I just went thru all the shit ur about to go thru

ILL-LEGAL REC · 09-05-2007, 07:18 PM

oh yeah, in case I never get on this site again, you can email me at CEO@ILL-LEGALRecords.com

inept · 09-06-2007, 11:59 PM

i would love to hear more. Im serious bout my music, but dont know the paper side like you said get at me. a14pa@aol.com or www.myspace.com/ccoregime

1

DRUG. · 09-12-2007, 04:53 PM

Sun Zoo · 10-10-2007, 12:04 PM

some useful shit here swif, well done

Young Shawn · 10-28-2007, 02:18 AM

props...

Duk!a-Duk · 11-05-2007, 03:30 PM

What up board,

I just found a site for labels to get good exposure on,

check out http://www.woozyfly.com and click the labels tab,

free video e-mail/chat, podcasting, rss, mobile alerts and a bunch of other useful shit,

let me know what you think

good lookin out swif

-Duk!

Shortyo · 11-08-2007, 05:01 PM

lol @ •••••• thinkign they can sign themselves or manage themselves... its called CONFLICT OF INTERST if you went to a label and they wanted to sign you and you played yaself like "Well id love to sign to you jigga but im signed to myself and for me to sign to you youd have to pay my manager a retainer (which is me) and buy my labelcontract out (which is me)"

they would call security on you for being an idiot..

YuNG WaLT · 11-08-2007, 05:51 PM

^^shut up

OLoRD · 11-08-2007, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shortyo

lol @ •••••• thinkign they can sign themselves or manage themselves... its called CONFLICT OF INTERST if you went to a label and they wanted to sign you and you played yaself like "Well id love to sign to you jigga but im signed to myself and for me to sign to you youd have to pay my manager a retainer (which is me) and buy my labelcontract out (which is me)"

they would call security on you for being an idiot..

lmfao he's right most of u guys can take this for bein the helpful hint that it is but some of u need 2 kno the truth if u r goin 2 get picked up by a label they are not goin 2 pick up the label u started even if u r hot ur not jay z problem wit signin ur self 2 ur self is that when the label does come along n want 2 pick u up ur prolly not goin 2 get picked up i mean its great advice its just ur leadin the lambs 2 slaughter

07-24-2007, 05:56 PM	#1 (permalink)
swif In a meeting with ya girl Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: all over Posts: 6,944	Starting a Label So ive been gone for a while from this site as a mod and from music as an artist but ive been gone learning the "paperwork" side of the industry. Ive been learning a lot meeting a few people here and there and a question i see a lot and the thing that comes up most is how to start your own offical independent label. What use to be something that took time and lots of money to do can now be done from the comfort of your own home on your pc with the help of some sites out there. There are many ways to go about doing so however and in my findings its more benefical to take the route of having an entertainment lawyer set it up for you. Now granted you say hey i stay in the middle of no where there are no entertainment lawyers anywhere around me, that stops nothing. Most often you can get in touch with one nearest you and they will take all your information over the phone and mail everything out to you once payment has been received. Payment you say, what you thought it would be free? Even doing the paperwork on your own cost and i will not even get into how to do it on your own because of the simple fact that i believe that the best way of doin this to ensure everything is handled correctly is to do this through an entertainment lawyer. Now, most entertainment lawyers will charge anywhere from $300 on up to do all of the paperwork to get everything up and going and will more than likely start you up with an LLC, limited liabity corpation. Now heres where the most important shit comes into play. You will need to start up a bank account FOR YOUR COMPANY, NOTE A FUCKING ACCOUNT FOR YOUR COMPANY/LABEL, YOU DO NOT USE THIS ACCOUNT FOR PERSONAL USE. This is account used soley for expenses for your label and the cost to run it and what not. Dont go out using this account to buy those new jordans you like so much that you saw in the clothing forum. The most important thing about this is to make sure to have your paperwork in order thats with soundscan, BDS, everything and if you dont know what those are we have some work to do. Also sign yourself to your own label, what ive done is signed myself to myself and signed away all my publishing to myself, meaning i own everything my name to every master and if a major did want to pick me up they gotta pay me to release myself from my contract with myself and pay me for a percentage of my publishing. THis is just a few things im putting together while im out here on the road any questions of any kind relating to starting your own label or anything feel free to drop them here. When i get home i will write up a thread about how to obtain business credit and all that great shit so you can get credit accounts using your business name because i know you fucks have bad credit!!!!! hope this helped some, like i said im kind of just putting this together while im out on the road so dont kill me if i missed something or anything. __________________ http://www.myspace.com/swifjones swif: man everytime i record theres a dely cas: does he jump out saying lean on the wall swif: hahahaha cas: dont think you want to be recording and have dely jump out in the middle with the fresh jays and fitted

07-28-2007, 12:14 AM	#2 (permalink)
CharleyBrown Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: Power Kingdom NY Posts: 3,255	good stuff Swif... keep grindin'! __________________ Upstate New York And Brooklyn DJ Service Hip-Hop Mixtapes

07-28-2007, 08:45 PM	#3 (permalink)
Dely In The Trap Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Houston Lil 1 Posts: 39,325	so i know who to come to help me lol __________________ PRODUCT OF THE 80s Dely Myspace

07-28-2007, 09:43 PM	#4 (permalink)
swif In a meeting with ya girl Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: all over Posts: 6,944	fa sho man told you i aint bullshitting about the entertainment lawyer shit __________________ http://www.myspace.com/swifjones swif: man everytime i record theres a dely cas: does he jump out saying lean on the wall swif: hahahaha cas: dont think you want to be recording and have dely jump out in the middle with the fresh jays and fitted

07-28-2007, 10:43 PM	#5 (permalink)
YuNG WaLT GhettoChild Ambassador Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: -L.A. CALI- Posts: 6,445	this is where I was at and...ha...almost step for step how G.C.E. was founded...a little over a year ago... "couldnt get a deal..fuck it...so I signed myself" __________________ We know u done heard...know you been readin about it/ the reason your regions re-routed, ask about a ni99a/ I'll let the simi scream, im an Indy's dream/ Billy Jean or skinny jeans?, you in-between/ im from the coast of better rhymes and necklace snatchers/ sever the ties, several sides, you wreckless rappers.../ aint focused or close enough to corrupt or touch me/ your most potent opponent, we post-ponin ya blowin.../ YO!.ya coast know it-those that boast, blow it-those that know, hear it-those that dont, dont condone lyrics/ YUNG!!!...im like Kobe and Baron in one/ as far as west coast rappers?...only compare me to one/ as far as spins?, I do me, I rarely get one../..you barley begun, im various areas deep/ it aint conciete, ni99az love how I wear the critique/ alone at the top, you ni99az is sharin a seat so be cool lil ni99az... G.C.E/1500orNOTHIN'

08-30-2007, 09:13 AM	#7 (permalink)
PsYkIDStReSS Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 138	ok, this is really cool... i need to know how to do this. anything else? __________________ www.myspace.com/stressproduxions www.soundclick.com/stressmusic

08-30-2007, 08:01 PM	#8 (permalink)
swif In a meeting with ya girl Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: all over Posts: 6,944	yea sorry i been gone for so long man. Just trying to get my grades up for law school. hopefully i get in. I have a .pdf on establishing buisness credit which is good too im going to work on getting that uploaded too. Any question about anything hit me up at swifjones@gmail.com __________________ http://www.myspace.com/swifjones swif: man everytime i record theres a dely cas: does he jump out saying lean on the wall swif: hahahaha cas: dont think you want to be recording and have dely jump out in the middle with the fresh jays and fitted

09-03-2007, 04:34 PM	#9 (permalink)
CAMP PROMO Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: BOSTON Posts: 75	good luck

09-05-2007, 07:17 PM	#10 (permalink)
ILL-LEGAL REC Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 4	Yo man, I just graduated from UCLA Law School with a degree in Entertainment law and am still in the start up phase of starting my label....hit me up if u got any Qs about anything homie, sounds like I might be able to help since I just went thru all the shit ur about to go thru

09-05-2007, 07:18 PM	#11 (permalink)
ILL-LEGAL REC Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 4	oh yeah, in case I never get on this site again, you can email me at CEO@ILL-LEGALRecords.com

09-06-2007, 11:59 PM	#12 (permalink)
inept east-side Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 1,782	i would love to hear more. Im serious bout my music, but dont know the paper side like you said get at me. a14pa@aol.com or www.myspace.com/ccoregime 1 __________________ IMBACK ~RBL Record 0-0~

09-12-2007, 04:53 PM	#13 (permalink)
DRUG. Only has one shoe. Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 5,057	word __________________ www.damonortiz.com www.myspace.com/damonortiz Momma Shoulda Cuffed Me To The Radiator Why Not? It Mighta Saved Me Later From My Block - Nas

10-10-2007, 12:04 PM	#14 (permalink)
Sun Zoo Speech is my Hammer Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: A cardboard box in back of a major record label Posts: 10,922	some useful shit here swif, well done __________________ *New Album Roads on the Earth* AVAILABLE NOW also available on iTunes and Amazon sample songs: "Morning After" "November Alone (Part II)" Download My First 2 Albums Free:** Hope Flies - Can't See the Forest (official site)

10-28-2007, 02:18 AM	#15 (permalink)
Young Shawn Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 8	props... __________________ http://soundclick.com/crackbeatz HOTTEST BEATS ON THE WEB^

11-05-2007, 03:30 PM	#16 (permalink)
Duk!a-Duk Scene Damager Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: 10012 Posts: 1	Good site for start-up labels What up board, I just found a site for labels to get good exposure on, check out http://www.woozyfly.com and click the labels tab, free video e-mail/chat, podcasting, rss, mobile alerts and a bunch of other useful shit, let me know what you think good lookin out swif -Duk!

11-08-2007, 07:44 PM	#20 (permalink)
YuNG WaLT

11-08-2007, 05:01 PM	#17 (permalink)
Shortyo The God....Redeem Yaself Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: P.H.I.L.L.Y. Posts: 1,196	lol @ •••••• thinkign they can sign themselves or manage themselves... its called CONFLICT OF INTERST if you went to a label and they wanted to sign you and you played yaself like "Well id love to sign to you jigga but im signed to myself and for me to sign to you youd have to pay my manager a retainer (which is me) and buy my labelcontract out (which is me)" they would call security on you for being an idiot.. __________________ Affiliated Records In Full Effect Shoshyn - Sincerely Yours In Stores Now Cyssero - Protege Of The Game In Stores Now Spider Loc - Da 1 U Love 2 Hate (June 24th 2008) Omillio Sparks - The Mad Ave Movement (July 1st 2008)

11-08-2007, 05:51 PM	#18 (permalink)
YuNG WaLT GhettoChild Ambassador Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: -L.A. CALI- Posts: 6,445	^^shut up __________________ We know u done heard...know you been readin about it/ the reason your regions re-routed, ask about a ni99a/ I'll let the simi scream, im an Indy's dream/ Billy Jean or skinny jeans?, you in-between/ im from the coast of better rhymes and necklace snatchers/ sever the ties, several sides, you wreckless rappers.../ aint focused or close enough to corrupt or touch me/ your most potent opponent, we post-ponin ya blowin.../ YO!.ya coast know it-those that boast, blow it-those that know, hear it-those that dont, dont condone lyrics/ YUNG!!!...im like Kobe and Baron in one/ as far as west coast rappers?...only compare me to one/ as far as spins?, I do me, I rarely get one../..you barley begun, im various areas deep/ it aint conciete, ni99az love how I wear the critique/ alone at the top, you ni99az is sharin a seat so be cool lil ni99az... G.C.E/1500orNOTHIN'