SINGING QUERY

[The People's Hero]

I'm relying on FT to come up with the goods here - have posted in Gen Chat and Music Discussion - please leave it there mods/admin because this is important.

Someone I know is a fantastic singer and really wants to get their stuff heard. They have a demo cd etc and it's very good.

How do I go about getting this in to hands of someone who is going to listen to it at a record label or whatever?

Is it all based in London?

It sounds stupid as the solution most would suggest is use google, but that's not helping me much. I know all the advice about go to karaoke places, get your voice heard, try to get spotted, send your cd everywhere, but in reality I honestly just don't know where to start with who to send it to. Which labels to target etc? - and how not to get the cd thrown straight in the bin?

Does anyone on here have an 'in' in to this sort of thing.

I absolutely promise you that you will not be dissappointed with the quality of voice on offer here.

There's a few beers in it for anyone who can get me an intro or some contacts, whatever.

- James

[MikeyT]

I'm relying on FT to come up with the goods here - have posted in Gen Chat and Music Discussion - please leave it there mods/admin because this is important.

Someone I know is a fantastic singer and really wants to get their stuff heard. They have a demo cd etc and it's very good.

How do I go about getting this in to hands of someone who is going to listen to it at a record label or whatever?

Is it all based in London?

It sounds stupid as the solution most would suggest is use google, but that's not helping me much. I know all the advice about go to karaoke places, get your voice heard, try to get spotted, send your cd everywhere, but in reality I honestly just don't know where to start with who to send it to. Which labels to target etc? - and how not to get the cd thrown straight in the bin?

Does anyone on here have an 'in' in to this sort of thing.

I absolutely promise you that you will not be dissappointed with the quality of voice on offer here.

There's a few beers in it for anyone who can get me an intro or some contacts, whatever.

- James

Theres a book called Contacts 2008!

I used to have it. Its pretty handy.

It may help. Cant promise it will, but its certainly worth a look.

It has every agency in the country in it ranging from tv/film extras required through to radio.

I cant remember if theres anything like recording agencies in it. But give it a go!

Good luck!

http://www.spotlight.com/shop/contacts

[Mark]

Someone I know is a fantastic singer and really wants to get their stuff heard. They have a demo cd etc and it's very good.

I'd recommend creating an artist profile on myspace and putting the whole cd, or some of the best songs off it up for streaming, if it's good it will get heard.

[The People's Hero]

This is what I'm going to suggest, just seeking the relevant permissions.

Thanks Mark.

[Lillehamring]

I'm relying on FT to come up with the goods here - have posted in Gen Chat and Music Discussion - please leave it there mods/admin because this is important.

Someone I know is a fantastic singer and really wants to get their stuff heard. They have a demo cd etc and it's very good.

How do I go about getting this in to hands of someone who is going to listen to it at a record label or whatever?

Is it all based in London?

It sounds stupid as the solution most would suggest is use google, but that's not helping me much. I know all the advice about go to karaoke places, get your voice heard, try to get spotted, send your cd everywhere, but in reality I honestly just don't know where to start with who to send it to. Which labels to target etc? - and how not to get the cd thrown straight in the bin?

Does anyone on here have an 'in' in to this sort of thing.

I absolutely promise you that you will not be dissappointed with the quality of voice on offer here.

There's a few beers in it for anyone who can get me an intro or some contacts, whatever.

- James

sadly, most record labels, even a lot of indie labels, will NOT accept 'unsolicited demos', how one gets a 'solicited' one is the problem, you really have to know someone, an age old situation but worse than ever with the laziness of a&r these days.

if you do want to target labels, the things to remember are:

1. research - find labels who have similar artists.

2. phone first! - call the label and ask if they will consider demos, the name of the person responsible and the prefered format

3. take it in - firstly you know it has been received, secondly, if you are lucky or can blag well you might even meet the contact, especially at small labels

4. follow up - if you don't seem interested, neither will they be - faktisk

myspace is good, but totally saturated, i use IAC music my page , it's just about music, not stalking or bullshit.

and finally, often the only way is to play live, if she is as good as you say (what style?) she should find a band easily enough.

also, you might want to make sure she is fit, this usually guarantees sucess these days.

[The People's Hero]

I'm uploading one track. That's all I've been allowed to do at the moment. Her confidence has taken a few knocks, it's a big step that I've been allowed to do this being honest.

Valerenga - thanks for the link - I've used that site. I've clicked that it can't be downloaded etc as I'm not sure of the implications. It's a cover, which was recorded for her by a record company she was with some time ago but I'd be extremely surprised if it was licensed - where do I stand with this - can I still upload it?

[The People's Hero]

Would anyone mind having a quick listen to this and letting me know if it's worked?

http://iacmusic.com/artist.aspx?id=98462

[The Reverend]

Would anyone mind having a quick listen to this and letting me know if it's worked?

http://iacmusic.com/artist.aspx?id=98462

Yes it works TPH. Sounds pretty good to be fair

[OriginalRobboFOX]

She sounds good!!!!!

[Lillehamring]

I'm uploading one track. That's all I've been allowed to do at the moment. Her confidence has taken a few knocks, it's a big step that I've been allowed to do this being honest.

Valerenga - thanks for the link - I've used that site. I've clicked that it can't be downloaded etc as I'm not sure of the implications. It's a cover, which was recorded for her by a record company she was with some time ago but I'd be extremely surprised if it was licensed - where do I stand with this - can I still upload it?

Q: Can I post cover songs at IAC?

A: Only if you have proper license and/or permissions. By uploading it you've agreed to the Terms of Use which states that if you upload it, you have proper permission to do so. And you should check the box that says Licensed Cover on your song edit page.

if was done by a label, they might have some kind of global licence, if such a thing exists, or have already establish the right to broadcast it, if so i suspect that they would then have to provide permission for you to upload the track, chances are they own the recirding, so it's likely you are being double naughty here.

haven't listened to it yet, sorry, not worth it with laptop speakers. has she not got any home recordings or anything.

IAC is a little quiet just now, but last autumn, i think, one of my tracks got 4000-odd plays, twice what i've had on myspace in 3 years or so.

[The People's Hero]

She's got a few demo cds.

I'm trying to save for us to get a new one done for her, but it's not cheap and I have a load of other bills stacked up high.

I'll get to it sometime....