Musician Says: "Forget Major Labels, Radio - Do it Yourself"

Midwest musician/indie recording artist Robert Kramer encourages aspiring musicians and bands to forget traditional methods of getting signed and take control of their own careers

January 1, 2005 -- Reflecting the ever-changing landscape of the current music industry, indie recording artist & producer Robert Kramer is out to spread the word to those looking for that "big record deal"...forget it.

Citing the old business model of the music industry is rapidly becoming a thing of the past, Kramer encourages musicians and songwriters who are hoping for a recording contract to "go it alone", and take control of their own careers. "With the technology and tools currently available to the indie musician," says Kramer,
you can write your own deal much better than any name label would offer a new artist. Besides, the majors aren't doing artist development deals anymore.."

Kramer, whos own small catalog of music enjoys worldwide distribution and exposure, does it all without the intervention of any major record company. He also produces other artists trying to gain exposure, and encourages bands and musicians to "bloom where you're planted and do grass-roots promotion".

In the past, the traditional way for an artist or band to get exposure leading to a record deal was to play out as much as possible, develop a following, and hope some talent scout or A & R person from a label would show up at a club and discover you. Although many bands have found success in the past using this method, a new breed of "do-it-yourself" indie artist has risen up, and with the advent of digital technology and the internet, new and innovative ways for unsigned artists to get exposure have developed.

Under the old system, the major labels were the ones who wielded most of the control over an artist's income and development. Many musicians, starstruck and enchanted by "getting the big deal", often signed agreements allowing labels to take the lions share of the profits, leaving the artist little control over promotion, ownership of material or career direction. But with current technology and resources available to the indie musician today such as digital distribution, legal download systems and internet or satellite radio, Kramer says there's little point for an artist to be an indentured servant to any record label, and has even turned down deals rather than get trapped in something he may later regret.

"Today, the indie artist has the ability and power to control their own destiny.." quips Kramer. You can write your own deal and keep more of what you earn." But he is quick to state that going it alone means you have to invest time and money into your own career to make it work, and adds, "don't look for free rides to success."

Having started his own indie label, Dimension One Records, Kramer follows in the footsteps of a growing number of artists such as Ani DeFranco and Aimee Mann who have chosen to go the D-I-Y route and take control of their careers.

The first official release on the new label by local Chicago singer-songwriter Val Leventhal, titled "Roots & Flowers", is due out within the next few weeks. Working on a shoestring budget, Kramer is a return to the original ethic of the days of small record labels who cared about product first, then profit. "Just because you're in the music business doesn't mean you lose touch with the bottom line.." says Kramer. "..but you don't forget the whole reason you're doing it for....to make music."

On the subject of airplay, Kramer states that traditional radio playlists are pretty much hopeless and locked up by the majors. More and more artists have been moving towards internet and satellite radio programs, and can get high quality worldwide "airplay" and exposure that was unheard of in the past for an unsigned act.

As far as distribution goes, Kramer offers that there are many excellent online retail outlets such as CDBABY, which now also allows artists to digitally distribute and sell their music tracks on legal downloading sites such as the new Napster, Sony Connect and EMusic, and right alongside major label acts like Sting, Elton John and a host of others. For those who need retail distribution in stores, there are new indie distribution companies that can now accomodate the unsigned artist or band.

Today the savvy unsigned artist who knows how to properly work their career can do pretty much everything only the majors could once do..worldwide airplay, digital and retail distribution, co-op advertising...just on a smaller but more focused scale. An added plus to self-management is the artist gets to keep a much higher percentage of earnings, but must still pay attention to the details.

"Don't expect it to happen overnight.." says Kramer. "You have to work like you mean it..there are no free rides in this business..you have to live and feel it 24/7, or don't bother.."

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