When it comes to the music industry, we rank Universal Music Group as #1. That said... when it comes to signing new performers, Universal Music Group is also among the pickiest. This is the case when seeking a Record Deal. Universal is home to such music industry heavy hitters: UMG's record labels have some of the best talents in the world! Capitol music group can only dream to be this strong. And many other Universal Music Group acts! The bar is set very high for new musicians to cut... It's like Submitting to OVO Records. Sure, you can just send your demo to Universal Music Group today but not get ahead. Universal Music Group is one of the few record labels that nearly every industry professional dreams to work at. It may be tough to get your CD signed by Universal if you're not a well-known artist.... Or have an exceptional track record. But you're still lucky! Apart from the standard distribution methods - there are alternative options. You can still get your music to UMG, with some elbow grease. They don't directly accept unsolicited music (that goes for all top record labels) however... By building the right connection with Universal Music Group industry professional then your submitting music stops being impossible. For unsigned musicians -Universal has small groups that review entries daily. Here's what you can do to improve your chances of signing your unreleased album. The genre that UMG accepts is rock, pop, and EDM for the most part. Do you make good music? Submit your song, if I like itthenI'll add it to my Spotify playlist. I'mtaking song submissions of all genres👇 The answer is yes & no. You can't submit your demo to Universal Music and get heard - but if you submit it to a manager then chances go up. They have a spam folder designed for indie artists that want to get their music heard... Song demo submissions need to be done tactically to work!
Why get signed by universal music group?
Does universal music group accept unsolicited material?
This is the case even when you Submit Music to YSL Label.
Typically manager, agent, producer, radio DJ, are people that you want to add to your network.
You may not be aware but they have connections to UMG Employees.
You can't submit a demo to UMG's site - even if you offered a contract fee.
Leverage the labels A&R departments. Those contact details are worth 100x more!
Research the top & newest Universal Music Group roster
Discovering who Universal already has on their books is the first step to getting signed.
Find which artists are under the wing of different Universal labels.
Since UMG has many sub-labels, you'll see what fits best.
Research the genres and audiences served by Universal Music Group.
Alternatively: in this scenario, you'd benefit from contacting relevant indie labels.
Record labels A&R departments can change your life!
When you Submit Music to Dreamville, you can change everything.
In no other industry does a person have as much power as UMG's record labels A&R.
Just watch out for scams. Fake UMG fraudulently demands money from artists!
Now, if you find that your music is a good fit for a few Universal artists...
You'll have to do some more research to see who their current managers are.
A UMG manager isn't complex - they just listen to music.
They're a label employee that works with an artist to direct their professional & artistic endeavours.
Kindly note that each has a manager agent producer radio DJ has a different contact.
It's imperative to get in touch with these individuals since Universal Music Group managers will be the ones to determine whether or not to sign your record.
How can you find record label executives?
Pro tip: the artist's website or social media profiles will usually have a list of their managers! Search Google for the artist's name plus "management," if you can't find a manager listed.
Do you make good music?
Submit your song, if I like itthenI'll add it to my Spotify playlist.
I'mtaking song submissions of all genres👇
Why Universal music group is so picky
Your favourite artists for UMG, Capitol Record, etc. All got these with connections.
Let;'s not kid ourselves - you can't release through a network with hundreds of departments unless they can TRUST that the money will Make an ROI.
Typically demos are recommended at first contact when it comes to small labels.
They are just as picky as when you Submit Music to Cash Money Records.
UMG, however, is unable to accept unsolicited material since such action doesn't yield a return.
Be aware that the top 100 artists/media personalities power the music industry.
Hope is not lost - you just need to get deeper relations with these companies, and form connections.
You may not like record labels but kindly note that they help with:
- Travel costs
- Booking gigs
- Promoting music
- Setting up interviews
- And other activities in music
You may not even LOVE these record labels but kindly note the benefits that come.
Your song lyrics can go from a concept to a cultural icon with their help.
Locate and contact artist press managers for your genre
Now, contacting Universal Music managers is the next step.
Even while it may seem intimidating...
Remember that managers are also human and are not immune to the contents of a regular person's email.
To capture someone's attention, you gotta be as straightforward and detailed as possible.
Take a look at this sample of a well-written email for making a cold call to a manager:
"Greetings, my name is ___ and I'm a singer-songwriter from ___. I put out an album not too long ago and was wondering if you may be into listening to it. I'd like to send it to ___'s A&R department since I believe it would be a good match for your musicians. I appreciate your efforts and time and encourage you to continue the excellent job you've been doing. This email is succinct yet informative."
It demonstrates that:
- You are familiar with the management
- You did your homework
- You're comfortable with your abilities.
Avoid seeming needy or irritating by keeping your email to the point.
Since Universal Music Group does not accept unsolicited material, you must make sure that the demo submissions are made properly.
Perhaps you can try reaching out to a Radio DJ to build connections to the Universal Music record label.
Submit a demo to as many Lowe-ranked people at these record labels.
Typically demos are recommended for decision-makers, but that is a flawed concept.
It's the lower guys in the labels that deal with the day-to-day work.
They have a deeper understanding of music value - so submit a demo to them.
Even if they are unable to accept unsolicited work, if you have a connection then they can probably help you in other ways.
This is directly contrary to what most blogs say - but this is how it works.
You still need to send your demo to Universal Music - even if you don't subscribe to this idea.
Do you make good music?
Submit your song, if I like itthenI'll add it to my Spotify playlist.
I'mtaking song submissions of all genres👇
Submit your professional press kit to UMG
You can expect Universals's management to request a press kit from you if you manage to get in contact with them.
And If Universal Music Group DOESN'T ask... Find a way to share it.
Don't know what a press kit is?
A press kit is a well-designed and well-organized collection of promo materials for your record.
To get a feel for what a press kit looks like, you may look at samples of such from other artists online.
You should include the following in your press kit:
- Album cover
- Demo link
- Artist biography
- Artist brand
- Key metrics/numbers
- Streaming levels
Insist that it looks polished, interesting, and interesting to the eye.
If you toured around Santa Monica... Put that in your press kit!
These are the kinds of things Capitol records look for.
Since the advent of the 360 deal, other industry is just as important as the music.
Unsigned artists always get this wrong... This isn't simply digital distribution.
A good demo submission to Universal Music Group requires that you include the press kit.
Normally when you submit music to record labels you don't need this - however, this is Universal Music Publishing Group.
what to include in your press kit
Include a list of the music found on your album inside the press kit.
Your artist biography should be a succinct yet informative overview of your artistic background and accomplishments.
Not to mention:
Your name, musical style, major inspirations, and career highlights should all be included.
Universal Music's Labels need to see the purpose of your music career in the industry for them to offer a record label deal.
If you struggle to show Universal Music Group your value... Then you're stuck with digital distribution.
Include URLs for your website, social media pages, and online storefront in your press kit.
In all likelihood, the individual perusing your press kit won't take the time to seek you online...
But it's good to have just in case.
If there's any news, add that in.
Do you make good music?
Submit your song, if I like itthenI'll add it to my Spotify playlist.
I'mtaking song submissions of all genres👇
Submit multiple demos of your music
Include multiple demos of your song with your press kit.
This does not mean that you need to make many tracks.
Just take the songs you have and create a few versions.
This way, you can express your musical versatility - while being contextually relevant.
Include at least three demo tracks, preferably four!
You can submit music efficiently by linking more than one track.
This is an effective method for when you submit music to record labels to Universal Music Publishing Group!
Make sure these demo songs represent your greatest work, just like the music on your next album will.
Include a link to a complete album stream on a music streaming service like SoundCloud or Spotify.
If you haven't made a full-length album yet, or are still working on it, a demo album will suffice.
Don't know what a demo album is?
Demo albums are collections of music that have been recorded but not yet edited, mixed, or mastered.
Don't use these songs as final sample tracks without a statement saying such!
Otherwise... Universal Music Group will think you're trash.
Conclusion
You can easily improve your chances of getting heard by Universal Music Group.
Just follow these instructions - and see what happens!
Unfortunately, there's no assurance of a reply...
But at least you can re-use the submission assets for another indie record label.
Keep in mind that being the biggest music label in the world, Universal is constantly inundated with entries.
To grab their attention, you must be noticeable.
If you're dedicated to your music and don't give up, Universal will notice you. That's a promise!
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FAQs
How do I submit music to Universal Music Group? ›
Demo submissions should be directed to UMG's record labels, but kindly note that they are unable to accept unsolicited material. Typically, demos are recommended to one of our labels' A&R departments by a manager, agent, producer, radio DJ or other industry professional.
How do I submit music to Warner Music Group? ›Composers interested in submitting music samples may send a streaming link via e-mail to submissions@warnerchappellpm.com. In your email, please include a brief introduction and resume highlights. All submissions are reviewed.
How do you get noticed by Universal Music Group? ›To increase your chances of having your demo accepted by Universal Music Group, submit it to their record labels instead of directly to UMG. UMG's Spinnup site offers both digital distribution and a network of scouts who have relationships with many of Universal Music's labels.
How do I get my music on Triple J? ›- Click on the profile icon in the top right-hand corner.
- Click Add Profile.
- Choose between Create a fan profile and Create an artist profile.
- Fill out the information on the webpage and click Submit.
Thankfully, in the modern world, submitting music to a radio station is much easier than it's ever been before. First off, you have to find out who the Music Director and Program Director of the radio station that you wish to submit is.
Do record labels take your money? ›When an artist gets signed to a label they get money, called an 'advance,' to make a record. When the record is released, the label keeps all the money until they have recouped their expenses, which includes the advance, recording costs, promotion, and legal fees.
Where should I submit my music? ›- Cougar Microbes. Cougar Microbes is a London-based music blog that writes about both British and global music artists and new releases. ...
- Indie Shuffle. ...
- Stoney Roads. ...
- Skope Mag. ...
- AMNPLIFY. ...
- Sidekick Music. ...
- Thissongissick. ...
- The FADER.
As a quick reference, record labels can keep a cut anywhere from 50-90% of your earnings. It is an industry norm for a new artist to only receive 10-16% of their sales.
How do I submit my music to Netflix? ›How do I submit my music to Netflix? You can't submit your music directly to Netflix for licensing. Music supervisors are the people in charge of choosing the music for shows, like those on Netflix. And music supervisors get their music from licensing companies and agents.
Where can I submit my independent music? ›- Indie Underground. Take time out to read through the requirements of Indie Underground before submitting your music. ...
- Obscure Sound. ...
- Various Small Flames. ...
- Cougar Microbes. ...
- Indie Shuffle. ...
- Submit Hub. ...
- HighClouds.
How do I get my music heard by a record label? ›
- Write a couple of songs.
- Create nice social media accounts.
- Write a perfect email for sending to the record label.
- Attach the demo of your song to the email.
- Wait for the response.
- Register your band for as many websites as possible, for example SoundCloud, Facebook, Last.fm, Tumblr, Instagram, and Twitter.
- Get on new websites as soon as they launch. ...
- Get your music out there. ...
- Ask for feedback from people, but don't get angry if the reaction is negative.
In fact, today a song with a million streams doesn't really get you on the industry's radar - you need at least 10 million for that. A very minor hit now comes in at around 50 million. Real hits start at around 100 million, but most blockbusters are in excess of 500 million.
How do small music artists get noticed? ›- Sign up to artists services. ...
- Build a website & mailing list. ...
- Develop an engaging social presence. ...
- Get playlisted. ...
- Get press & blog coverage. ...
- Music videos. ...
- Surround yourself with a strong team. ...
- Know your audience & focus on your niche.
Sell your music on more global music platforms than anywhere else. Get your music on Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Amazon, TikTok, Instagram and more, reaching new audiences & fans across the biggest global platforms.
How can I market my music with no money? ›- Friends and Family. Those closest to you can often be the first stepping stone into gaining a faithful following. ...
- Social Media. ...
- Blogs. ...
- Playlists. ...
- Content Creators. ...
- Making Free Music. ...
- Meetups and Groups.
- Create Great Original Content MTV Will Love.
- Submit Your Music Video To MTV's Artists.
- Build Fan Excitement Around The MTV Video Release.
- Build Publicity Around The Video.
- Keep Pushing Your Fans To Watch and Request The Video.
- Gain clout elsewhere first.
- Send in your CD/mixtape (or even a vinyl)
- Focus on non-commercial radio (at first)
- Offer an exclusive.
- Send over an EPK (Electronic Press Kit)
- Sign with a label.
- Cultivate your “organic” airplay.
- Think globally.
As we've mentioned earlier, in most markets, both songwriters and recording artists are typically paid royalties any time their music is played on the radio.
How much does it cost to put your song on radio? ›Radio advertising costs average from $200 to $5,000 per week depending on location, ad length, and the size of the listening audience. Producing radio commercials costs from $1,000 to $2,500 depending on inclusions like music, voice actors, and editing, but some stations have in-house resources to cut your costs.
Can a record label sue an artist? ›
Now known as AB 983, the FAIR Act seeks to repeal a 1987 amendment to the Seven-Year Statute that allows record labels to sue artists for damages (including potential lost revenue) if they leave after seven years but before delivering the required number of albums in their contract.
Can a record label drop you? ›Record labels drop people all the time and that's the important thing to remember as you head into it. However, you don't need to sit back and cross your fingers that nothing goes wrong. Instead, you should be actively taking steps toward trying to ensure that you hold onto what you've earned for yourself.
Are record labels worth it? ›A Record Deal Can Make COST A Fortune. When you sign a major label record deal, you are often signing away the possibility of making any money off of record sales. Seems kind of backwards, right? According to TheRoot, for every $1000 in music sold, the average contracted recording artist makes about $23.40.
Do producers get 50% of publishing? ›Generally, the composer and publisher split is 50–50 (this proportion is represented in percentages as 50%/50% in most of the publishing world) and 100%/100%, specific to BMI, but it is the same proportion. In Hip Hop and R&B, publishing is generally split between the music and the lyrics.
Can you sell a song to a label? ›Songwriters rarely “sell” their songs. When you make a deal with a publisher, record label, or artist to record your song, it's usually in the form of a contract or license. Sometimes a publisher will use the words “work for hire.” This means that they will own your song copyright.
How much can you sell a song you wrote? ›With mechanical royalties, the fee paid per song is currently 9.1 cents. This is often split between Co-Writers and Publishers. Performance royalties have no standard rate. The rate is negotiated between the Songwriter and their Performing Rights Organization.
How long do song royalties last? ›Musicians are entitled to receive royalties from these secondary use fees when their original recorded performance is covered by a recording agreement that stipulates this. The current term of copyright is 70 years for sound recordings released in 1963 or later.
Is it hard to pitch to Netflix? ›It's very difficult to pitch a TV series to a streaming, cable or network company unless you already have a track record of working in television or film. This is no easy task in and of itself, but you can read more here on how to get a screenwriting agent and manager.
Can I pitch my script to Netflix? ›If you have an idea, game, script, screenplay, or production already in development that you'd like to pitch to Netflix, you must work through a licensed agent, producer, attorney, manager, or industry executive, as appropriate, who already has a relationship with Netflix.
How do I sell my music for a movie? ›1- Get a publisher that will find, negotiate and sign licensing opportunities for you. Ditto's Music Publishing service can now pitch your music for opportunities in music, film & games! Find out more. 2- Place your catalogue in music libraries and benefit from the traffic these platforms get.
Where can I send my music 2022? ›
- Try a different approach. ...
- Follow the 'submit here! ...
- A & R Factory. ...
- Indie Pulse Music Zine. ...
- HighClouds. ...
- Indie Shuffle. ...
- Xune Mag. ...
- Acid Stag.
Registering your songs with BMI is absolutely free. Early registration of works is important — if you don't register your songs you won't get paid when they're played.
How do songs get heard as an independent artist? ›- Find distribution. Signing with a distributor should be the first step in your music marketing plan. ...
- Create an electronic press kit. ...
- Engage your fans on social media. ...
- Become smarter about analytics. ...
- Get playlisted. ...
- Play live as much as you can. ...
- Build your mailing list.
- CREATE SHARE-WORTHY CONTENT. ...
- FIND YOUR TARGET MARKET AND AIM TOWARDS THEM. ...
- TELL YOUR STORY AND BE 100% AUTHENTIC. ...
- NETWORK WITH INFLUENCERS AND ADD VALUE TO THEM. ...
- GROWTH HACK YOUR WAY TO FAME. ...
- DON'T CONCENTRATE ONLY ON THE ENDGAME. ...
- USE YOUR CONNECTIONS. ...
- COLLABORATE.
- Work on digital marketing. ...
- Create an electronic press kit. ...
- Create a website. ...
- Host your music on streaming platforms. ...
- Use email marketing. ...
- Pitch yourself to music blogs. ...
- Reach out to playlist curators. ...
- Connect with fans through live shows.
Record labels are always looking for new artists. It's just a question of knowing which ones want what kind of music and when. This can seem like a closely guarded secret. It doesn't have to be one.
How do most artists get discovered? ›Get on Instagram, Spotify, or any social network and reach out to the up-and-coming artists that inspire you. You'll be surprised at how receptive these strangers can be. It makes sense — don't we all just want a little appreciation? Plan shows with other local artists and cross-promote on each other's channels.
How much does 1k streams pay? ›As for how much Spotify pays per stream, they pay roughly $0.04 per 10 streams. So, 1000 streams would be around $4, and 100,000 streams would be $400. Remember, this result may be lower based on certain factors such as if only half of your song was listened to.
How much Spotify pays for $1 million streams? ›Spotify pays between $0.001 and $0.008 per stream to artists. This means that if your song is streamed one million times on Spotify, you can expect to earn between $1,000 and $8,000.
How much does 1 stream make an artist? ›For major labels, artists typically only receive about 16% of the royalty payments from streaming services. Furthermore, smaller, indie labels usually split the net income from every penny earned per stream 50/50. For self-releasing artists, every penny earned goes right into your pocket.
How do you get an artist discovered? ›
- Establish your style for maximum artist exposure.
- Secure an online portfolio.
- Include your social media accounts.
- Join artist communities and online forums.
- Visit & join local gallery exhibitions.
- Sign up with online galleries.
- Talk about your work.
...
How do I promote my music without social media?
- Put up flyers with a QR code. ...
- Attend events and network with artists and booking agents. ...
- Hand out your CD to people on the street.
- 13 Places Where You Can Submit Your Music.
- Blogs. ...
- Hype Machine Blogs. ...
- Spotify Playlist Submission Forms. ...
- Playlist Curators. ...
- Labels. ...
- A&R. ...
- SubmitHub.
How do I submit my music to Netflix? You can't submit your music directly to Netflix for licensing. Music supervisors are the people in charge of choosing the music for shows, like those on Netflix. And music supervisors get their music from licensing companies and agents.
Do I need a publisher for my music? ›So, essentially you only need a music publisher when you have written your own songs, you have got them copyrighted and are distributing them out to be used commercially. If you are still in the early stages in your music career a music publisher may not be necessary.
How can I promote my music with no money? ›- Friends and Family. Those closest to you can often be the first stepping stone into gaining a faithful following. ...
- Social Media. ...
- Blogs. ...
- Playlists. ...
- Content Creators. ...
- Making Free Music. ...
- Meetups and Groups.
You can upload local music from your computer onto Spotify by going through the Settings menu. Spotify Premium subscribers can listen to their uploaded music in the Spotify mobile app too. If you want to upload your music to Spotify so others can stream it, you'll need to go through a distribution service.
How do you get noticed by a record deal? ›A record label will notice you and pay more attention if you've built a large enough fan base through amazing music and live performances, engaging social media profiles and effective branding. It is easy to make demos to try to get attention, but you must approach labels properly.