Q & A
Each month, MusicBizAdvice.com answers your questions about the music industry.
How long does it take to put out your
first record after being signed to a major label?
Q.
I
was wondering how long will it take to actually cut a record if you were to
be signed to a major record label.—C.T.
A. I
suspect what you’re really asking is how long it takes for the first record
to be released after an artist gets signed to a major label. It depends on
many factors (often beyond the artist’s control), but the average time from
signing an undeveloped new artist to release is eighteen months to two
years. The time is sometimes considerably shorter for more “disposable”
genres, or for “one hit wonder” celebrities from other areas of the
entertainments industry.
In addition to the artist’s talent and experience, some of the factors that
affect planned release dates can include: availability of intended writers
and producers, musical genre and image of the artist--Does the album need to
come out fast to catch the peak of a musical trend? Is the music best suited
for a certain time of year, like summer? What are other artists on the
label’s roster doing? What about the label’s competition?—as well as the
state of potential products the artist can be tied into in promotions and
the overall state of the music industry (in relation to the type of artist
the new signee happens to be).
You should also know that just because a record is made doesn’t necessarily
mean the label is bound to ever actually release it. (It’s called a
recording contract, after all.) Things like changes in popularity of
a musical genre, corporate restructuring such as a merger or downsizing,
company politics within the label, or just the simple need for a tax break
in a bad year can cause a label to keep an artist’s record in limbo for
months or years, to never release it at all, or to drop the artist
altogether. (All those things can happen at indie labels too, by the way.)
If you’re asking how long the actual recording process takes
for a new artist, there are too many factors involved to answer without
knowing a lot of information about the artist and producer(s) involved.
Factors affecting the length of the actual recording process include: the
budget for the project, whether outside writers have to be brought in,
whether the songs are already written and have solid arrangements before
studio time is booked, how well-prepared the artist is to enter the studio,
whether the artist has a band of capable and reliable musicians or if
musicians need to be found to play the sessions, and how fast or slow the
producer typically works.
How can an artist help the process go more quickly and smoothly? Go into the
studio well-prepared by having solid songs written, arranged, and demoed (as
close to releasable quality as possible). Also be well-rehearsed,
well-rested, and in great physical condition, and have a good mental
attitude to deal with the stress that comes once recording is complete.
Hope that helps! Good luck!
Randi Reed
Editor-in-Chief / Founder
MusicBizAdvice.com
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