David,

Much has changed in the structure of record labels. About 15 years ago, when downloading started and major labels started downsizing, the smaller and medium labels were besieged by all the people who were dropped or pushed out from the majors.That is where Rounder, Flying Fish came from. Former big record execs pushed out and starting their own labels.

They did "Niche Marketing" which were the boutique artists like John Prine and others who might have had audience recognition. They built and then they got overwhelmed with product. So they pushed artists down the line.

Everything now is a totally different ball game. It is about the record labels, taking what the artist has already established and then pushing it to the next level. But no one starts on the ground floor with a record label anymore. You are expected to be You Tube, Face Book, My Space etc. and be performing LIVE in regions of the country developing fan base BEFORE you are even considered. Their point of view is that "if you can't sell your own music, why are we interested in it?"

The numbers are:
If you don't have an active fan base of 15,000-25,000 people,
you will not be considered by a small label.

35,000-50,000 for medium sized labels.

75,000-100,000 for major labels.

Those are the kinds of numbers they look at. If you don't have that kind of fan base, you will not be considered because the people they have signed to their labels all have that. So they are not going to take someone with less.

A question is always "Why would I need a label then?" and the truth is you don't. Until you are talking about substantial radio airplay and assistance in touring, merchandising, etc.

But they are there to make money. So if you can't display a way for them to earn a return on investment, you are not considered.

Having a CD is kind of like selling a bucket of sand in the desert to a bunch of people that have their own buckets of sand.

It is much like "how do you get a job without experience, how do you get experience without a job?"

You have to find a way.

My suggestion to you is go the way Brian (The founder here) talks about, market your own music, find 5000 people willing to pay $10 for your CD and you have a career.

Create your own buzz and market yourself, internet, live, everything you can, and if you demonstrate enough sales power, you will have no problem in attracting people. Till then you have nothing but trouble attracting people.

MAB