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How to Start a Record Label in 7 Steps w/ Nick Sadler

How to Start a Record Label in 7 Steps w/ Nick Sadler

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Course Contents

Introduction

Write a business plan

How to organise your business filing system

Decide your label name

Website & social media

Design your logo

Register your record label

Pick a distribution model

Every step to promote your release in under a minute

Ultimate fan generator

Live Q & A

Recap & Q/A

About This Course

Nick shares the knowledge he gained setting up multiple indie record labels selling music to millions of fans. You will learn how to clone this system with zero experience & obtain knowledge on how to get unlimited fans to buy and stream your music even if you don’t have a huge advertising budget. It’s easier than you think and you don’t need a big team to do it.

You will learn :

  • How to get unlimited fans to buy & stream your music
  • How to get a logo designed for $20 in 1 hour or less
  • The number 1 thing you need to do to start a label that will cost less than $10
  • Every step to release and promote a record release in under a minute.

Lessons:

1. Introduction

Nick shares the knowledge he gained setting up multiple indie record labels selling music to millions of fans. 

You will learn how to clone this system with zero experience & obtain knowledge on how to get unlimited fans to buy and stream your music even if you dont have a huge advertising budget. 

It’s easier than you think and you dont need a big team to do it. 

Nick Sadler is a music industry veteran, spanning a career over 20 years. Having worked with flux pavilion, Skrillex and more.

2. Write your business plan

Made of 3 parts, business admin, music branding, music distribution, a business plan will guide you to decide releases, artists, time frame & budgets. It will provide the confidence for success and give you the best chance of getting a good deal. 

Seven sections of a business plan: 

  1. Title Page/Summary
  2.  Strengths, opportunities and core values 
  3. Business Strategy
  4. Distribution channels & label products
  5. Label management & operations
  6. Marketing 
  7. Financial budgets & forecasts 

3.  How to organise your business filing system

12 folders that will be the backbone of your record label:

  1. Accounts
  2. Action Plans
  3. Demos
  4. Design
  5. Directory Databases
  6. Distribution
  7. Legal
  8. Licenses
  9. Marketing & PR
  10. Merch
  11. Passwords
  12. Releases

4. Decide your record label name

A unique name is needed for you to register a website, create a bank account and to define your brand. Make sure it is available by checking www.discogs.com

Then go onto www.namechk.com to see if your name is available on social platforms. 

Consider the acronym of the name. 

Register the name at www.123-reg.co.uk

Or 

www.godaddy.com

5.  Website & Social Media

Option 1: Website in a box

www.squarespace.com

www.wix.com

www.weebly.com

www.bandcamp.com

Option 2: 

Wordpress 

Option 3: Agency 

(not cheap)

Option 4: Store Website

www.shopify.com

6.  Design your logo

Design your label logo for $20 in an hour or less.

Option 1: Hire a professional designer

Option 2: 

Freelancer website

Fiverr.com

Freelancer.com

Designcrowd.com

99designs.com

Option 3: Online logo maker Looka.com

7.  Register your record label as a business

Three reasons why you need to do this: 

  1. Protection 
  2. Legitimacy 
  3. Motivation

8.  Pick a distribution model

3 types of distributors: 

  • Aggregators

(The Orchard)

  • Self Distribution 

(Distrokid/CD Baby/Tunecore) 

  • Serviced Distributors

You must apply to them with a good business plan, they dont work with everybody. 

(Believe Digital, InGrooves, AWAL)

Specifically for electronic music - FUGA, Label Engine, Label Worx & Symphonic

www.hypeurl.co/distribution

9.  Every step to release and promote in under 1 min

  1. Get music complete
  2. Create artwork
  3. Create release strategy and schedule
  4. Create marketing and PR Schedule
  5. Create marketing assets
  6. Write a press release
  7. Write recording & remix contracts
  8. Record metadata
  9. Send music to distributor
  10. Secure blogs, playlists & DJ promo
  11. Secure spotify playlist
  12. Create your facebook & instagram ads
  13. Build your release page
  14. Activate PR & marketing schedule
  15. Release record

10.  Ultimate fan generator

How to get unlimited fans to buy & stream your music. 

Marketing Funnel Theory:

  • The main aim is to get email addresses 
  • Create a lead magnet using hypeddit.com or other magnet site. 
  • Create Facebook promotion: find 5 similar artists
  • Create video ad using: shutterstock.com 
  • pexels.com/videos
  • pixabay.com/videos/search
  • mixkit.com/vertical-videos
  • Create a copy, target fans of artists you sound like. 
  • Budget 20$, set target audience in terms of location
  • Add interests; Artist, 1,2,3,4,5

11. Live Q&A

Meet Your Teacher

Nick Sadler

Nick Sadler has been an artist and label manager for over 10 years and has worked with Grammy award-winning artists. He founded and set up award-winning labels, Never Say Die, Get Hype Records, Disciple Recordings his clients have included the artists The Prototypes, Memtrix, Zomboy, Eptic, Far Too Loud, Dodge and Fuski, and Three Laws.

Discussions

Dream of finally finishing that draft or launching that side-hustle? Make your next creative project your best yet, with simple steps from creative superstar Emma Gannon!

Discussions

Dream of finally finishing that draft or launching that side-hustle? Make your next creative project your best yet, with simple steps from creative superstar Emma Gannon!

About This Class 

Dream of finally finishing that draft or launching that side-hustle? Make your next creative project your best yet, with simple steps from creative superstar Emma Gannon!

In this new class, Emma shares the framework that allowed her to overcome self-doubt and carve her own path as an author, broadcaster, and podcast host. The secret to her success? Fed up with feeling afraid—of failure, of not being good enough, even of success—Emma dug into the science behind self-sabotage and learned exactly how to get out of her own way.

Now, Emma is sharing what she’s learned so that you can do the same: unlock your creative potential while feeling energized and empowered! 

Together with Emma, you will:

  • Identify the patterns in your life, and let go of habits that don’t serve you
  • Cut out comparison to figure out what you really want and need
  • Silence your inner critic by talking back to negative beliefs and behaviors
  • Own your success and vulnerability—both go hand-in-hand with creativity

Packed with insights and examples from Emma’s personal journey, this class is designed for every creative who needs a pep-talk or extra push to get started—and includes five exclusive downloadable worksheets to support you along the way.

Whether you’re looking to break through block, remove self-imposed pressure, or simply approach each new project with intention, this 45-minute class will unlock your confidence as a creative. Get started and celebrate taking the first step!

______________________________

All you need to follow along is a pen and paper. Download the worksheets to follow along with Emma’s exercises, or jot your thoughts in a notebook.

Resources

  • Introduction
  • Week one

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