www.musicweek.com
15.06.12 MusicWeek 19
WHAT’S A LABEL SERVICE, ANYWAY?
UK music firms are offering artists an alternative to traditional deals - and helping small labels prosper. But what makes each of them unique?
W
hen it comes to career options, both budding and experienced artists have never had it so good. If artists work hard on the road and can knock out
professional home recordings, some say they don’t even need a record label. But eventually, whether seen-it-all rock star or wet-behind-
the-ears newbie, they’re going to have to turn to a company that knows what it’s doing for help. As a result, many artists are now looking for alternatives to traditional major label deals - a leg-up to the big time. In a similar boat, there are a wealth of small labels hoping to
take their artists’ careers to the next level, but ultimately lacking in resource. What do you do when you unearth a superstar but don’t have the funds to help them make it big? You seek help. Serving these two growing needs, a number of ‘label services’
companies have sprung up – offering everything from a one-stop shop to take care of artist master rights, to an a la carte selection of specialist services such as digital distribution, marketing and admin. Not all of these companies are all alike, however - or have been
built on the same foundations. (Indeed some – such as BMG and Absolute on the recent Dexy’s record - find collaboration can sometimes proove the best route forward.) Here, in their own words, some major UK players in the label
services domain tell us exactly why their offering differs from the competition – and stands out in the marketplace...
Well serviced: Noel Gallagher’s High Flying
Birds was released on the star’s own label, Sour
Mash, in collaboration with EMI Label Services
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