From C Squared Music: When It Sounds Too Good To Be True, It Probably Is

Recently there has been a trend of bands receiving DM's on social media or Bandcamp with an offer of a record deal of some sort. Usually, the offer is from someone saying they are an A&R or a representative of a label and they are interested in signing the band. Usually, these types of offers end up being some sort of one-sided deal where the band is asked to pay a significant sum of money in order to get CDs pressed. The worst part is that many bands will go with these labels, just because they have the idea that being signed means they have "made it".

If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. 99% of the time, no label is going to waltz into your DM's and want to sign you. If your album is already released on all platforms, no label is going to want to pick you up, unless you are making significant sales and/or have high streaming numbers. An album that's already out is generally useless to a label.

Here are some things to ask when you receive a DM from someone purporting to be with a label:

• Have you heard of this label before?
If you haven't, there is a very good chance they have little to nothing to offer.
• How many followers does the label have? A lot? A little? Do they look real or fake?
• What bands are on this label? Do you recognize any of them? Do they have any media attention? How many social media followers do they have? How many Spotify listeners?
If you have heard of none of the bands and they all have little to no social or Spotify following, that's a bad sign.
• Look at the profile of the person contacting you. Do they have a profile picture? Is there any evidence they actually work in the music industry?

Above all, use judgment on all things. A brand new label may have zero followers and minimal connections, but might be honest and eager to grow. The most important thing is to do your homework on these things. Don't be drawn in by someone promising big things. If a label tells you they think you are the next Slipknot and can get you an opening slot for Megadeth, check their roster. Have any of their bands opened for bigger acts? If the answer is no, there is a strong likelihood you won't either.
For more tips, visit our blog at csquared.info