What Do You Expect From Your Distributor???
- Thread starter Big C
- Start date
MR Cleen/ I'm NOT expecting an uneducated answer.
I want to become better at what I do so the only way to do that is to get into the trenches and ask the soldiers about the conditions and what I can do to improve them.
Fuck, I can sit behind my desk all day and not care what y'all think. But, that doesn't help anyone. I know I've made mistakes and I'll probably keep making them. I just don't want to make the same mistake over and over, feel me.
There are some misunderstandings on what the duties of the label are and the same goes for the distributor.
I want to try and clear up, educate and get educated. I'm no Superman here. I can't do this by myself. This is a GROUP EFFORT!
Don't get me wrong, I'm GOOD at what I do, but I can be better. That goes for all of us.
Cuda
I want to become better at what I do so the only way to do that is to get into the trenches and ask the soldiers about the conditions and what I can do to improve them.
Fuck, I can sit behind my desk all day and not care what y'all think. But, that doesn't help anyone. I know I've made mistakes and I'll probably keep making them. I just don't want to make the same mistake over and over, feel me.
There are some misunderstandings on what the duties of the label are and the same goes for the distributor.
I want to try and clear up, educate and get educated. I'm no Superman here. I can't do this by myself. This is a GROUP EFFORT!
Don't get me wrong, I'm GOOD at what I do, but I can be better. That goes for all of us.
Cuda
Cuda: Thats a good subject to address. Too many labels have unrealistic expectations of their distributors and they have gotten lazy and expect us to do it all. I have had to eliminate alot of our services due to whats going on in the industry with retail because the numbers just aren't panning out like they use to.
Incidentally, Mafioso22, the problem with the lists is we have to upcharge according to what our label charges us. Its their option to set the list but even when we keep it cheaper alot of stores (chains in particular) don't honor the lower lists, they just run with the extra margin.
Keep the dialog going with everyone and hopefully everyone can understand that securing distribution is only a small part of the process and the work really starts from there.
Peace.
Incidentally, Mafioso22, the problem with the lists is we have to upcharge according to what our label charges us. Its their option to set the list but even when we keep it cheaper alot of stores (chains in particular) don't honor the lower lists, they just run with the extra margin.
Keep the dialog going with everyone and hopefully everyone can understand that securing distribution is only a small part of the process and the work really starts from there.
Peace.
Quick Tips:
Do your own 1-sheets: (No one knows the Overview and Marketing aspects better than you. And it saves you money and your distributor time. I heard some distributors charge $150 for the construction of the 1-sheet)
Prep your market: Snipe, hand out POP. Drop off POP/1-sheets w/retail in your key markets. Don't forget your back yard!
Give your distributor at lease 6 weeks lead time. Preferrably 8 weeks to solicit your CD.
Have product ready 4 weeks before street date.
Have a REALISTIC street date! Pick a street date you feel comfortable with. Study the majors street dates. If there are some heavy hitters dropping that day maybe you should pick one that's not so crowded. It's not punking out. It's being a smart businessman. Buyers only have so much to spend. And they spent the majority of their budget on big acts than that's less for us.
Communiate w/your distributor what you're doing. i.e./shows, interviews, ads, whatever. Don't just call and tell them. Most of the time the distributor is busy and can't jot all the info down. E-mail it, snail mail it AND fax it. ALL 3. Any distributor that gets upset w/ you for doing that, isn't taking the time to realize that you matter too.
Work your project hard and true. I know alot of you have day jobs and don't have the time to properly promote. So maybe you should hire a street team or wait until you have the time to do it right.
When your disrtibutor tells you where your orders are, call the buyer and say thanks. Send a Thank you card. Sound cheezy? Well it is. But this is a business and impressions matter. The buyer will remember who you are. I've gotten cards and calls thanking me for thing that I thought were minute, but in when I recieved the card I realized how much it meant to the label and that made me remeber them and take them more seriously.
Go to all the stores and get to know the key people. Find out who the hip hop head is who takes care of the hip hop section. Introduce yourself. Give him a free CD or t-shirt or whatever you have. Invite them to a show you're doing. If your not doing a show find out who is and either get them on the list or give them tickets to a show. Watch how you get positionig for free.
cuda
Do your own 1-sheets: (No one knows the Overview and Marketing aspects better than you. And it saves you money and your distributor time. I heard some distributors charge $150 for the construction of the 1-sheet)
Prep your market: Snipe, hand out POP. Drop off POP/1-sheets w/retail in your key markets. Don't forget your back yard!
Give your distributor at lease 6 weeks lead time. Preferrably 8 weeks to solicit your CD.
Have product ready 4 weeks before street date.
Have a REALISTIC street date! Pick a street date you feel comfortable with. Study the majors street dates. If there are some heavy hitters dropping that day maybe you should pick one that's not so crowded. It's not punking out. It's being a smart businessman. Buyers only have so much to spend. And they spent the majority of their budget on big acts than that's less for us.
Communiate w/your distributor what you're doing. i.e./shows, interviews, ads, whatever. Don't just call and tell them. Most of the time the distributor is busy and can't jot all the info down. E-mail it, snail mail it AND fax it. ALL 3. Any distributor that gets upset w/ you for doing that, isn't taking the time to realize that you matter too.
Work your project hard and true. I know alot of you have day jobs and don't have the time to properly promote. So maybe you should hire a street team or wait until you have the time to do it right.
When your disrtibutor tells you where your orders are, call the buyer and say thanks. Send a Thank you card. Sound cheezy? Well it is. But this is a business and impressions matter. The buyer will remember who you are. I've gotten cards and calls thanking me for thing that I thought were minute, but in when I recieved the card I realized how much it meant to the label and that made me remeber them and take them more seriously.
Go to all the stores and get to know the key people. Find out who the hip hop head is who takes care of the hip hop section. Introduce yourself. Give him a free CD or t-shirt or whatever you have. Invite them to a show you're doing. If your not doing a show find out who is and either get them on the list or give them tickets to a show. Watch how you get positionig for free.
cuda
That's real talk, but I think a lot of artists don't truly look at themselves as a record label when they get a distribution deal. Cats be thinkin just cause they went in the lab and made what they think is the next shit that it will just jump into the consumers hands. furthermore, they feel the distributor will assume the role of the label and do all the marketing and promotion for them. And when reality kicks in, and they CD aint sellin like they feel like it should. The distributor has just made an enemy. The distributor is no more than a middle man between the label and retail .
The label should promote, market, in most cases assist with solicitation, campaign for radio, and make sure their product is professional and marketable. However, the distributer is not off the hook becuase they also need to maintain open communication with the label and put forth a good effort to make sure retail stores have the product to sale. Many times labels promote the hell out of a product and create a buzz only to find out the distributor hasn't got the CD in hot spot areas. Leading many labels to feel like the distributor aint doing it's job.
Also, distributors are in the business to make money, so if they release a project and it does not sell as expected then they will probably not get behind it with very much intensity. However, once a label has proven to sale many projects with marginal to great success they will began to see the fruits of there labor. In addittion, the more control you give up they less you should expect back in return. Sometimes giving up control can be a risk that can make great things happen. Othertimes it can mean steam rolling over a promising artists and labels career.
Bottom line the success of a label is dependent upon the level of business saavy, quality of the product, and how marketable it is to the consumers. After all it is the consumer that ultimately will buy you CDs. The distributor is simply the medium through which the retailer, consumer, label, and distrubutor can have a profitable relationship.
Now, I don't claim to be an authority on the music business, but through experience and observation I feel I am correct in this point of view.
Remember it is my own unbiased opinion and not to be taken as fact. There are couple of distributors on the site that can vouch for what I say, or say that I am full of shit. Either way I'm going to say it anyway cause I aint the type of cat to hold a thang back.
A.K.
Mac & A.K.
The label should promote, market, in most cases assist with solicitation, campaign for radio, and make sure their product is professional and marketable. However, the distributer is not off the hook becuase they also need to maintain open communication with the label and put forth a good effort to make sure retail stores have the product to sale. Many times labels promote the hell out of a product and create a buzz only to find out the distributor hasn't got the CD in hot spot areas. Leading many labels to feel like the distributor aint doing it's job.
Also, distributors are in the business to make money, so if they release a project and it does not sell as expected then they will probably not get behind it with very much intensity. However, once a label has proven to sale many projects with marginal to great success they will began to see the fruits of there labor. In addittion, the more control you give up they less you should expect back in return. Sometimes giving up control can be a risk that can make great things happen. Othertimes it can mean steam rolling over a promising artists and labels career.
Bottom line the success of a label is dependent upon the level of business saavy, quality of the product, and how marketable it is to the consumers. After all it is the consumer that ultimately will buy you CDs. The distributor is simply the medium through which the retailer, consumer, label, and distrubutor can have a profitable relationship.
Now, I don't claim to be an authority on the music business, but through experience and observation I feel I am correct in this point of view.
Remember it is my own unbiased opinion and not to be taken as fact. There are couple of distributors on the site that can vouch for what I say, or say that I am full of shit. Either way I'm going to say it anyway cause I aint the type of cat to hold a thang back.
A.K.
Mac & A.K.
Someone to talk to on a halfway regular basis. Im realistic - distributors and the people working for them are very busy. I know that one label is not more important than the whole picture. But possibly one or two extra people to talk to in the office to help with minor problems or whatnot might be a good idea.
MY 2 CENTS...
I think alot of cats in the game of music have never been properly educated as to what the biz is about. Honestly alot of cats think all it takes is pressing a album and putting it on the shelfs, and thats it. Because alot of us have to learn as we go along, you will find cats who don't know the difference between a artist deal and a distribution deal so they are gonna expect the same. If cats know they have to do all the work then they quickly realize they are not really a label because they come up with a catchy name. I myself have had to contract a small staff because as the CEO of a company I don't have time to do it all, but the job still must get done. It's going to be to my benefit to have some one with experience and a realtionships with the stores making calls all day on my behalf making sure the stores and radio stations are aware I have a album they need to know about, and put on their shelves and air waves. Then after I secure shelf space, then I need to hit the pavement and make sure the people who spend their money on cd's are knowing about my cd. Passing out flyers, samplers, puttin up flats and posters. Hiring a street team to cover the areas I can't reach. I also found networking with other labels and passing out each others flyers will get you furhter also. Ask Money tree, or Dug Out, Or NBD. We had a good experience and helped each other in promotin. I recently pressed up a single, and I'm going right to college and public access radio like KPOO who will support it. You can get your cd reveiwed and promoted in mags wit out spendin a dime, if you a hustler. I can't give out my secrets, but I know yall saw us in Showcase and Murder Dog.
It's lot I still need to learn, but I expect my distributor to also use their sales team to help solicit to stores and follow up on the leads I generate. Get my project on the shelf. If they have perks such as Pressing of product and POP materials, Pricing and Positioning or Co-Ops on ads in music publications, and other things of that nature, and they feel our projects merits those kinds of resources, we'll be offered this kind of support. A fair pay schedule. Between my staff, and theirs, I expect them to follow up on stores to make sure they refill orders. Nuthin worse than someone looking to purchase your cd and it's not there. I know it's not as easy as it seems with all the labels they have to cater to, and you know they have priorities to the proven sellers.
Fair payment schedule is also needed. 120 days is crazy. I aint gone say who, but a company thought I was gonna except 150 days. I turned em down with the quickness. How do we reup on product if we have to wait that long. Let's be honest, How many companiews have budgets at all, and you have to wait that long to get paid. 60-90 days should be the norm. Some one else add to what I listed, cause my brain has went cold.
I think alot of cats in the game of music have never been properly educated as to what the biz is about. Honestly alot of cats think all it takes is pressing a album and putting it on the shelfs, and thats it. Because alot of us have to learn as we go along, you will find cats who don't know the difference between a artist deal and a distribution deal so they are gonna expect the same. If cats know they have to do all the work then they quickly realize they are not really a label because they come up with a catchy name. I myself have had to contract a small staff because as the CEO of a company I don't have time to do it all, but the job still must get done. It's going to be to my benefit to have some one with experience and a realtionships with the stores making calls all day on my behalf making sure the stores and radio stations are aware I have a album they need to know about, and put on their shelves and air waves. Then after I secure shelf space, then I need to hit the pavement and make sure the people who spend their money on cd's are knowing about my cd. Passing out flyers, samplers, puttin up flats and posters. Hiring a street team to cover the areas I can't reach. I also found networking with other labels and passing out each others flyers will get you furhter also. Ask Money tree, or Dug Out, Or NBD. We had a good experience and helped each other in promotin. I recently pressed up a single, and I'm going right to college and public access radio like KPOO who will support it. You can get your cd reveiwed and promoted in mags wit out spendin a dime, if you a hustler. I can't give out my secrets, but I know yall saw us in Showcase and Murder Dog.
It's lot I still need to learn, but I expect my distributor to also use their sales team to help solicit to stores and follow up on the leads I generate. Get my project on the shelf. If they have perks such as Pressing of product and POP materials, Pricing and Positioning or Co-Ops on ads in music publications, and other things of that nature, and they feel our projects merits those kinds of resources, we'll be offered this kind of support. A fair pay schedule. Between my staff, and theirs, I expect them to follow up on stores to make sure they refill orders. Nuthin worse than someone looking to purchase your cd and it's not there. I know it's not as easy as it seems with all the labels they have to cater to, and you know they have priorities to the proven sellers.
Fair payment schedule is also needed. 120 days is crazy. I aint gone say who, but a company thought I was gonna except 150 days. I turned em down with the quickness. How do we reup on product if we have to wait that long. Let's be honest, How many companiews have budgets at all, and you have to wait that long to get paid. 60-90 days should be the norm. Some one else add to what I listed, cause my brain has went cold.
DAMN!
I knew this topic would stimulate peoples emotions, but I didn't expect such eloquence. This goes to prove there are some very bright people in this industry.
When it comes to 60,90,120 or even 150 days it all depends on the release and the negotiation skills of the label.
60 days are usually for labels that are either exclusive or are big names and it goes from there.
And as far 2-3 different people to talk to I somewhat disagree with that. Due to the bureaucracy that goes on behind doors, not all messages are given to the lead person in a given department.
Let's say Sam is the main dude you talk to and he's busy. So you talk to Cindy Lou and let her know a few things that are on your mind. One: She may tune you out because she feels that you're Sam's problem. Two: She is a kiss ass and wants to move up in the company herself so she won't give Sam the message. She may try to help you and usually fucks it up. After it's fucked up she keeps her mouth quiet and you and Sam don't find out she fucked it up until it's too late. Three: Too much confusion. If your dude is busy and you feel he should have got back to sooner, e-mail him and vent your frustrations. Leave a firm yet tactful message.
I know I get busy and all I can do is do a better job at being available. That's why I started this thread.
By the way...if you are one of my labels hit me so I can give you the cell #.
Cuda
I knew this topic would stimulate peoples emotions, but I didn't expect such eloquence. This goes to prove there are some very bright people in this industry.
When it comes to 60,90,120 or even 150 days it all depends on the release and the negotiation skills of the label.
60 days are usually for labels that are either exclusive or are big names and it goes from there.
And as far 2-3 different people to talk to I somewhat disagree with that. Due to the bureaucracy that goes on behind doors, not all messages are given to the lead person in a given department.
Let's say Sam is the main dude you talk to and he's busy. So you talk to Cindy Lou and let her know a few things that are on your mind. One: She may tune you out because she feels that you're Sam's problem. Two: She is a kiss ass and wants to move up in the company herself so she won't give Sam the message. She may try to help you and usually fucks it up. After it's fucked up she keeps her mouth quiet and you and Sam don't find out she fucked it up until it's too late. Three: Too much confusion. If your dude is busy and you feel he should have got back to sooner, e-mail him and vent your frustrations. Leave a firm yet tactful message.
I know I get busy and all I can do is do a better job at being available. That's why I started this thread.
By the way...if you are one of my labels hit me so I can give you the cell #.
Cuda
ID LIKE TO SEE MORE NETWORKING BETWEEN DISTRIBUTORS IT SEEMS THAT ALOT OF YOU GUYS DONT GET ALONG WITH EACHOTHER VERY WELL,IF IM PUTTING A PROJECT OUT I WANT EVERY MARKET POSSABLE WITHIN MY BUDGET AND ITS HARD WHEN YOU GUTS DONT LIKE EACH OTHER,
ALSO ID LIKE TO SEE YOU GUYS BE MORE PICKY WITH WHAT YOU WILL CARRY,ALOT OF PEOPLE WONDER WHY RECORD SALES ARE DOWN ,SHIT LOOK AT THE SHEVES! IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY FEW MONTHS THERES A RERELEASE OF A OLD ALBUM.
OTHER THAN THAT MY HATS OFF TO YOU GUYS, THE WEST WOULD BE DEAD WITHOUT YOU,
ALSO ID LIKE TO SEE YOU GUYS BE MORE PICKY WITH WHAT YOU WILL CARRY,ALOT OF PEOPLE WONDER WHY RECORD SALES ARE DOWN ,SHIT LOOK AT THE SHEVES! IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY FEW MONTHS THERES A RERELEASE OF A OLD ALBUM.
OTHER THAN THAT MY HATS OFF TO YOU GUYS, THE WEST WOULD BE DEAD WITHOUT YOU,
Kev: Your input is appreciated. I dont see it as distributors dont like each other (unless you know something I dont) but Lou Debiase at IDN, Walt at City Hall, Cliff at KOCH, Cuda (who is a member of Riderlife's older brother) at ADI, and countless others all speak to each other. Sure there is competition, but their is competition among artists and labels more. I always here "this album is weak", "why'd you distribute this". The hating is ridiculous. I've said it a million times...WE CAN"T CENSOR ALL MATERIAL OR NOT DISTRIBUTE IT JUST CUZ WE DONT LIKE IT. There a thousand artists I dont care for that have huge fan bases. Its that simple. We supply the demand, labels create it.
Peace to everyone, there are alot of great points on this post.
Peace to everyone, there are alot of great points on this post.
Kevski/ I just talked to Walt this moring, Brandon and I are like fam.
Our price margins are too close to one another to do business with one another. It would be like one-stopping each other. But, if the labels would lower their price per cd, maybe things would change. But, I don't see that happening...EVER!
And as far as carrying everything that crosses our desks is incorrect. But like Brandon said...we have to carry to the fans. And if a label does have a fan base we want to be a part of that.
Cuda
Our price margins are too close to one another to do business with one another. It would be like one-stopping each other. But, if the labels would lower their price per cd, maybe things would change. But, I don't see that happening...EVER!
And as far as carrying everything that crosses our desks is incorrect. But like Brandon said...we have to carry to the fans. And if a label does have a fan base we want to be a part of that.
Cuda
I would like to see Bigger sales staff that knows whats hot on the streets so they can relay it to these Head Buyers. (I.EViolet Brown) to really work these projects. Like The majors have basically. Like a label that does an average of 1 show every week in their own backyard only has 30 units in one of the biggest stores in their own city is bullshit then they sell out 1st day and it takes the distributer 2weeks to refill the order now who's the Blame? Everyone says the distributer but the store buyer should have ordered more in the 1st place, but then again it has to be more done Than just sending a book out with hella releases that all look the same with most of the time the same features! So The label has to do a way better job with creating the Buzz and store solicitation themselves!