Five Electronic Musicians That Started Their Own Record Labels In 2022
By Yvonne Martin
Artists have been taking the matter into their own hands lately. With the oligopoly dominating the industry, it’s only natural for musicians to launch their own record labels. There are many different reasons for this forward-looking movement among which are feeding creativity, freedom in production, providing a platform for promising new talents and supporting a niche genre.
In 2022, many of the top electronic musicians jumped on the wagon and set up their own record companies, broadening their horizons and creating new opportunities for artists in the music industry. We chose five of the biggest names in electronic music that took that leap of faith.
REZZ – HypnoVizion
Canadian DJ and record producer Isabelle Rezazadeh, professionally known as Rezz, announced during the summer that she will be launching Hypnovizion. The Ontario native teased that the label will support musicians with “slow, trippy HOT ass, mid-tempo bob your head ( and maybe even shake ur ass while you’re at it ) type beat + more (i like slow dub stuff too) (stuff that makes you question existence).”
Rezz said that her top priority in 2023 will be Hypnovizion which has her “feeling so fkn stoked. Don’t even get me started on the themed events & merch. I feel so passionate about this, much more than I ever thought I’d be.”
Hypnovizion kicked off with Nightmare On Rezz Street 2 Mix and then followed it with Iqsa’s newly released EP i 4ove you.
Nala – Mi Domina
Underground DJ, producer, and vocalist Nala launched a “femme-dominated” record label called Mi Domina. The LA-based artist kicked off her project with the collaborative three-track EP, Get Familiar, working closely with Venezuelan musician Ernesto Hidalgo, aka E.R.N.E.S.T.O.
With Mi Domina, Nala wants to create a safe space for women. In a statement, she revealed, “I’ve made it a philosophy to only work with artists who have a track record of being respectful to others, especially women.”
Nala praised E.R.N.E.S.T.O’s professionalism and talent, “I’m really honored to be able to work with E.R.N.E.S.T.O, share his talent, and vouch for his character. The man is a class act and an incredibly tasteful and talented producer.”
E.R.N.E.S.T.O also expressed his admiration for Nala, “I’ve been a fan of Nala ever since I heard “Psychic Attack.” We met playing the same festival, realized we both came up in Miami and got along immediately. This EP flowed in the best way possible. She is super talented and came to my studio with a ton of ideas for very personal and unique vocals that she laid down that same day.”
Listen to Get Familiar here:
Nicky Romero – Protocol Lab
Dutch DJ Nicky Romero celebrated the 10-year anniversary of his imprint Protocol Recordings by announcing the launch of the sub-label Protocol Lab. The new project’s inaugural release was “Stuck On You” by talented newcomers Repiet and Andrew A.
Romero’s Protocol Recordings, founded in 2012 is one of the most substantial labels in the industry. Nervo, Afrojack, Armin van Buuren, and many more renowned musicians have collaborated with the recording company. Its sub-label, Protocol Lab also plans to provide a creative platform for artists to be themselves, intending to experiment with new sounds and aiming to “nurture new talent.”
Speaking of Nicky Romero’s perseverance and determination, Protocol Recordings stated, “While showcasing his label’s roster via his weekly Protocol Radio show, Nicky Romero continues to innovate and evolve, and with his annual “Nicky Romero & Friends” ADE showcase and the launch of Monocule alter-ego, he keeps proving his ability to turn into gold everything he touches,” states on their website.
Delta Heavy – Delta Heavy
Delta Heavy, consisting of Ben Hall and Simon James, started a self-titled record label earlier this year. The English drum and bass production duo marked the launch of their company with “Ascend,” which gives a general idea of what is expected from them in the future.
With successful releases like “Heartbeat,” “Work It,” and “Feel,” Delta Heavy has garnered around four million streams. The duo, who already have a solid following of approximately a million listeners across different platforms, also released “Hydra” via their new record label.
Charlotte de Witte – RPM
Belgian DJ and record producer, Charlotte de Witte, popular for her minimal and acid techno sounds, announced the launch of RPM; a new sub-label under her original imprint, KNTXT that "builds velocity around emerging talent."
RPM “ is a turbo-charged, digital-only sub-label of KNTXT that meets the demand of the ever-evolving electronic music scene and increases the creative output of KNTXT label.” The new project hopes to “provide artists a more agile platform to release music. It aims to offer a flexible test circuit for producers both emerging or established, to experiment with contemporary sounds, free from the latency in vinyl production.”
Acid Asian’s “Break Into Acid” is the first release from RPM.
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Posted on November 3, 2022
TikTok Sets Off To Become Record Labels’ Biggest New Competitor
By John Reynolds
Record labels have taken a new form and it looks a lot like TikTok. The short-form video-sharing company has plans to increase its share in the marketplace by distributing music for independent emerging artists. Is TikTok The Biggest Competitor?
Music label companies and TikTok have had a pretty rough start and although they’re on good terms amid the multiple revenue-sharing deals, it seems the feud is set to rise again, as the platform wants to expand its dominance in the industry.
The giant labels are aware of TikTok’s power to create chart-topping hits and they wouldn’t miss an opportunity like that to invest their money, especially when they can give potential up-and-coming artists a chance to shine.
But with over one billion users and over 200 million downloads in the US alone, TikTok is slowly paving the way for its expansion, and with the launch of SoundOn, it’s only normal that the traditional record labels feel threatened.
It wasn’t long ago that ByteDance(TikTok's parent company) started up the all-in-one platform for music creators and independent artists, where musicians can hold 100% ownership of their songs and receive 100% of the royalties. All these flexible contractual clauses have made it easier for them to promote their music and reach global audiences.
Now, it appears that ByteDance is also on the hunt for A&R scouts. Rising to the task of offering all the services of the traditional music business; finding, signing, and marketing artists, TikTok with the support of ByteDance has become a full-circle label company.
According to Murray Stassen (MBW), ByteDance is hiring new A&R managers in LA, NY, Miami, and Toronto. The job description requires candidates to “focus on the US music landscape, to sign and develop artists within the independent music community.”
ByteDance is targeting independent artists by marketing itself as the “#1 partner for artist development, promotion, and monetization.” In addition, TikTok has over 100 new music-related job openings in all parts of the world, including Europe (Germany, France, UK), South America (Brazil), South Africa, and Asia (India).
Major music and entertainment businesses like The Orchard (Sony Music Publishing subsidiary) will have no choice but to compete with TikTok’s parent company. The tension is already building up between TikTok and Sony Music, as the latter recently pulled its catalog from the music streaming platform Resso (Owned by ByteDance).
Further new restrictions are being set, as substantial businesses are now asking the fast-rising platform to change its licensing deals on a revenue-share basis. If this gets applied, music industry giants, along with the artists, will get paid every time their music is played in a monetized video on TikTok.
Stay connected with MusicPromoToday to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and developments. Visit the MPT Agency Blog to find out more about what’s going on in the music industry and what’s to come.
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Posted on August 23, 2022
5 NFT Record Labels That Are Redefining The Music Industry
By Yvonne Martin
A web3 music business that is healthier and more artist-friendly is emerging as more artists use NFT technology to reconquer. Emerging and mid-tier musicians are supporting themselves, creating communities, and escaping a traditional music industry that benefits a few through music NFTs and NFT record labels.
Additionally, NFTs are repeatedly demonstrated as the best option for unsigned artists to generate money.
What is an NFT record label?
It's critical to define record labels in order to comprehend what an NFT record label is. A record label is a business that discovers new artists, nurtures them, and organizes the recording, manufacturing, marketing, and distribution of records.
In the past, record companies were the exclusive source of music releases and career development for artists.
Even while record companies still have a lot of power in the music business, many musicians are choosing to go independent. Record companies may have the right to permanently own an artist's music, depending on the terms of the deal.
High-profile incidents have further illuminated how certain established companies might take advantage of emerging artists, such as the Taylor Swift masters controversy.
An NFT record label, on the other hand, ensures that the artist has complete ownership of their song. An NFT record label makes sure that their connection with the artist is mutually beneficial by giving them a certificate of ownership.
NFTs, which are kept on the blockchain, are the primary music format for NFT record labels. NFT record labels also assist musicians in creating fan bases and promoting music using web3 tools like NFT markets.
How do NFT record labels operate?
The NFT record label business is continually developing. Therefore, the specifics of an NFT record label rely greatly on the people who are creating them. NFTs are a format for music that is available alongside more conventional forms like vinyl, CDs, MP3s, and so on.
Music enthusiasts may anticipate various digital assets, such as digital goods and artwork to accompany the launches, as well as metaverse events and music videos, in addition to music NFTs.
NFT record labels can act as DAOs or collectives where the fan community is prioritized and the artist-fan interaction is more highly appreciated. This might imply that album songs and single artwork are chosen by fans through voting.
However, the establishment of NFT record labels is not free. Founders must take into account operational expenses, the price of developing and promoting NFTs, and gas expenditures.
Additionally, it is necessary to factor in the expenses associated with registering transactions on the blockchain.
Now let’s get to it.
What are the top 5 NFT record labels changing the future of music?
Death Row Records
Earlier this year, Snoop Dogg acquired the storied Death Row Records. He declared that Death Row Records will be an NFT label after the purchase. Death Row will be an NFT label, he revealed during a discussion on Clubhouse:
“Death Row will be an NFT label. We will be putting our artists through the metaverse and through a whole other chain of music. Just like how we broke the industry when we was the first independent [label] to be major.”
The fact that a musician like Snoop Dogg oversees and supports an NFT music label only serves to emphasize the sector's expanding significance.
MoonwalkerFM
One of the early NFT record labels was Moonwalker FM. On streaming services, a lo-fi song is matched with each NFT minted. As a result, NFT owners are eligible to receive different prizes equal to about 30% of the streaming revenues.
Additionally, MoonwalkerFM developed an industry-first DApp that allows NFT holders to see the songs that are associated with their NFTs. Events, special contests, products, space docking, early access to drops, and other things are also planned.
Hume
Hume is a group of hybrid virtual-physical performers on the NFT record label. The creation of metastars with a background is the core objective, around which the digital label and entertainment studio are built. The NFT record label debuted Angelbaby as its first metastar in November 2021. They released their debut single, "NFT," and gave a performance at FLUF House at Art Basel Miami.
World Has You Records
Web3 is a tool that World Has You Records utilizes to bring people together via their shared love of music. World Has You Records, founded by AlmaD and Kristen, intends to release “high-quality exclusive music and art for the community” and “create memorable experiences” while “discovering and developing new talents.”
Space Yacht
In Los Angeles, a group of underground partygoers founded the NFT record label Space Yacht. Henry Lu and Rami Perlman, the company's co-founders, have organized over 100 events in several nations and are currently attempting to break into the web3 market. Space Yacht distributes music NFTs as a label in stages that build upon one another. Iconography Volume 1, 2, and 3 from their NFT collections provide music listeners a preview of what to anticipate from Space Yacht as it expands.
How NFTs are shaking up the music industry
We can safely claim that web3 and NFTs are upending the music business as we know it. In the second wave of the internet, musicians relied on labels, streaming platforms, and touring to make money. They also had to deal with several intermediaries that take a sizable chunk of the royalties that musicians receive.
Artists may generate money with NFTs by selling their music directly to fans without the aid of middlemen like streaming services, labels, and distributors. Furthermore, anybody may release music and earn money as an unsigned musician because of the web3 music industry's low entrance barrier.
Since most NFTs cost more than one Spotify stream, which costs between $0.003 and $0.005, artists may make a respectable living without having millions of streams. Because it all depends on having a tiny group that supports what they do, they don't need to sell or commercialize their music.
It's also crucial to note that the smart contracts underlying music NFTs prevent artists from being defrauded of their earnings. Smart contracts provide musicians the ability to keep track of who is holding their music NFTs, keep tabs on secondary market transactions, and be paid a portion of the royalties each time the holder resells the NFT.
Final Thoughts
Without a doubt, NFTs are laying the foundation for a music business that is more democratic and equitable. NFT record labels are among the key figures driving this transformation. Traditional labels will probably not go out of business, but they will need to adapt by embracing web3 ideals and finally placing artists in the spotlight.
Make sure you check our blog regularly and follow us on Instagram for more NFT and music marketing-related updates.
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Posted on June 3, 2022
What Makes EMPIRE A Unique Record Label In Hip-Hop
By John Reynolds
EMPIRE is a distribution company launched and founded by Ghazi Shami in 2010 and has become one of the music industry’s go-to record labels for artists and performers who want to adopt a fresh approach to content management, social networking, and digital development.
How Does It Actually Work?
A team of curators keeps an ear out for up-and-coming performers and independent record labels. Once a customer is on board, EMPIRE's team actively promotes each release by battling for top playlist rankings and home page placements.
“We move quickly,” says EMPIRE's A&R and marketing director, Jonathan Master. “We really fight hard for placements [because] we want to be a home for great artists. Whether an artist sells 500 albums or 500,000, they should be housed in the same place and treated with the same level of respect.”
What Big Time Artists Have Worked With EMPIRE?
EMPIRE has a plethora of notable performers on its roster, both as a label and as a distributor. Anderson Paak's Malibu and D.R.A.M.'s famous "Broccoli" have both been defining releases. Iggy Azalea's outstanding album, In My Defense, and Snoop Dogg's I WANNA THANK ME, were both launched as joint ventures with EMPIRE. This independent label has also released albums by Robin Thicke, and Young Dolph and has created a reputation for itself in hip-hop, with Kendrick Lamar and Cardi B.
What’s Next For EMPIRE?
That Bay Area hustler mindset is strong at EMPIRE, and it's at the heart of what has made the company's growth so remarkable. Not only have they grown their marketing, publishing, content, and merchandising departments to over 60 workers split throughout San Francisco, a London office, and a New York a team, but they've also begun to push into new verticals outside of hip-hop.
With EMPIRE being more than 10 years in business, the pair reflects on what they’ve built together. "We fall somewhere into that middle space," Etminan says. "A lot of resources and infrastructure that typically only come with a major [label], but transparency and flexibility and lack of politics that usually comes with an indie."
"We’re very fluid," Shami adds. "I can build infrastructure very quickly and if something doesn’t work, I can tear it down and rebuild it and shift directions. It’s like King Kong vs Bruce Lee: do you want size and strength or speed and ingenuity?"
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Posted on April 26, 2022
What Makes Armada Music The Dance Music Record Label Of 2022
By John Reynolds
1- The Founders
Armada Music was founded by globally well-known DJ, producer Armin Van Buuren, alongside Maykel Piron and David Lewis. What originated as a desire to release music without limitations has become the world's largest and most prized independent record label ever. These three entrepreneurs have extensive knowledge in the music industry and help shape the reputation of Armada Music every day.
2- The Knowledge
Given the founders’ combined experience of more than a few dozen years, partnering with a record label like Armada Music is working with professionals and forward-thinking people. They have navigated the brand through stormy waters to become this substantial independent powerhouse. Armada Music has always been at the forefront of discovering and investing in musical talent. You can find almost everything when looking for music on the label; they strike the right mix between commercial stadium fillers and esoteric skills.
3- The Artistic Circle
Armada is home to artists like Afrojack, Fedde Le Grand, Loud Luxury, and many more known musicians. An in-house club is located next to the studio, where musicians may road-test new tracks on a cutting-edge sound system. Because of Armada’s exceptional professionalism, its sales and streams have grown exponentially. Armada Music has been named the “Best Global Label” at the International Dance Music Awards more than six times.
4- Global Expansion
Armada Music is a record label that does not constrain itself and evolves with the global music industry. The firm currently has offices in Amsterdam, London, and New York and continues to release record quality track after track while expanding its reach to global scale. The label is constantly developing and will continue to push the frontiers in dance music, having identified industry jewels like Lost Frequencies, Loud Luxury, Andrew Rayel, and Eelke Kleijn, it’s just the start.
5- More than Trance
Armada is not a record label for just trance music. It is home to many electronic music releases, including dance, deep house, melodic techno, and many more genres. Armada Music has a mouth-watering roster and is home to more than 40k releases. They gather roughly 500 million streams each month through this star-studded dance music army, receive weekly exposure on the most prominent national broadcasting stations and playlists and frequently appear at the top of the U.S. Mediabase Dance Airplay charts. Continually bringing out the best in its artists has resulted in several important milestones.
6- Sync and Publishing
Electronic music has the power to assist the world's most powerful brands. Armada Music understands how to convey this message. They always guarantee a perfect fit because they have a large and diversified collection. They provide music for commercials, TV programs, and anything else.
Armada Publishing is a luxurious music publishing firm that is part of the Armada Music group. They go above and beyond standard publishing services and support by providing a creative and transparent atmosphere to assist its producers and authors bloom. They focus on expanding artists’ portfolios and establishing musical profiles while taking care of registration, commercialization, and copyright protection to a platinum level.
So next time you are planning your dance music release, keep Armada in your mind, and if you think you have a banger, don’t hesitate to contact the dance music giants before you drop it! Follow their Instagram account to stay up to date.
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