Becoming a distributor/label - what's involved?

[JayKeeley]

Has anyone ever researched this?

Obviously, getting into setting up a label is a full time wack job - I mean, you've got to dedicate your life to it most probably.

But what about becoming a distributor? I would imagine that a distributor helps reproduce and finance albums only to sell them to retailers?

Take for example the band Prototype. Unsigned, and very popular on the underground scene. They've opened for Fates Warning, Entombed, Death - a whole bunch of established bands. Their album "Trinity" is really very good (we have a review) and they have a unique blend of Rush meets 'Preach' era Testament.

Interestingly enough, they are unsigned. Played for years in LA, but no label picked them up. They just played some prog fest in Holland recently. Their records are on sale under WWIII records (you'll see them on cduniverse and amazon) but WWIII are only the distributor (not a label)!!?

So how does one become a 'WWIII'? And how much $$ is involved?

:Spin:

 

[Ayeka]

Fucked if I know!

 

[JayKeeley]

Fucked if I know!

You no help you sod!

Anyone else know anything about this stuff? I bet you do, but you're all just pretending not to know.

 

[JayKeeley]

I guess nobody's ventured down this path then, or looked into it themselves...?

 

[Nate The Great]

I'd like to know. I have aspirations of starting my own label sometime down the road. Other than that, I have no clue.

 

[JayKeeley]

I'd like to know. I have aspirations of starting my own label sometime down the road. Other than that, I have no clue.

Having a label would be cool, but I honestly don't think that setting yourself up as a distributor would be as difficult. I guess I'm trying to make the distinction between what a label offers compared to a distributor.

It's really just a matter of understanding how duplication and wholesale distribution works.

Just like our 'studio' thread, I bet you could do distribution from home - including the duplication process. You just need space to house all the CDs you are duplicating for shipping.

 

[Nate The Great]

Being a distributer would help finance having your own label. That's why The End does both. Most labels do that, now that I think of it.

 

[JayKeeley]

Being a distributer would help finance having your own label. That's why The End does both. Most labels do that, now that I think of it.

Interesting.

Thing is, once you're a label, then it's up to you to look after the bands right? Let's say you house three bands. Now you're in the territory to set up binding contracts, tours, promotions, marketing etc.

Do you know if Andreas at The End runs his outfit fulltime? I can't imagine it would be otherwise...

 

[NAD]

I'd like to know. I have aspirations of starting my own label sometime down the road. Other than that, I have no clue.

Ditto.

I would bet The End is full time, every time I order from them it's in my mailbox 2 days later.

Just perused The End's forum, looks like Ulver - Vargnatt will be re-released on vinyl come June 24th.

Also I found out where npearce's avatar came from by accident, thanks, I was wondering about that.

 

[JayKeeley]

Just perused The End's forum, looks like Ulver - Vargnatt will be re-released on vinyl come June 24th.

1000 copies only. And 500 copies of the Agalloch 7". It'll be a mad dash no doubt.

 

[Nate The Great]

My avatar is from the album cover for Mistress' self titled. It's one of the filthiest slabs of sludge/noise/grind you'll ever hear. Terrorizer called it dirty-needlecore.

 

[JayKeeley]

My avatar is from the album cover for Mistress' self titled. It's one of the filthiest slabs of sludge/noise/grind you'll ever hear. Terrorizer called it dirty-needlecore.

Is there really such a thing as porncore?

 

[Nate The Great]

There are a lot of bands that play grinding music that has lyrics about sick sexual things. I'm sure that is what porncore would refer to.

Here's a cool grind band that you could probably call porncore.

www.prostheticcunt.com

 

[JayKeeley]

www.prostheticcunt.com [/QUOTE]

You know, sometimes when I call my server company helpdesk, I have to give them my domain name to identify myself. Can you imagine....

 

[MadeInNewJersey]

The Meat Shits would also qualify as porncore, as well as the Pornicators. Hey, whatever floats your boat...

As far as the original topic of this thread, Ali, you should send an email to Deron at Metal Ages; he's definitely investigated this from both a label and distributor side of things and can probably help you out.

BTW, npearce, the truth is that very FEW labels can be a label AND a distributor. That's why the larger labels (i.e. Century Media) wind up distributing so many smaller labels, both abroad and here in N.A.