Make sure to discuss credits, splits and band agreements before collaborating and releasing work
Understand budgeting and accounting to make sure you stay solvent
You can use flat-fee digital distributors like Ditto and Believe to release your music
Why go indie? As AIR (Australian Independent Record Labels Association) GM and CFO Maria Amato said, "There is nothing more empowering to do what you love on your own terms."
We sat down with Maria, and Bec Callander from indie band Rackett, to discuss how to manage it all and sustain a fulfilling career. Here are some of the questions, answers and insights that really hit home.
Whether you're going into a studio with a producer or co-writers or something spontaneous happens in collaboration, all parties should agree on credits and splits before registering and releasing your work. It will save strained business talks further down the track.
It might take just a short consultation from a lawyer or researching contracts yourself, but get a band agreement in place.
Maria suggests starting out with a flat fee digital distributor that gets your music to the essential outlets. Services that upload to ALL platforms can cost more, and you may not need that level of distribution when starting out. Check out Ditto, Believe as well as the Friends of AIR alignments.
You have to be able to read a balance sheet and once you do you can talk assets and liabilities with the best of them. Maria's advice: stay solvent. Don't go into debt.
Bec Callander from Rackett describes breaking down goals in different sizes: the five-year goal (touring the world), the one-year goal (getting onto a major festival), the next 3 months goal (releasing a single and setting up a tour).
Check out Level Two's Disco service, or look into distributors who might offer the service.
In the case of Rackett, you might think your fans are 18 year old females, but it turns out males 27-35 are the biggest audience. Use your socials analytics, collect email addresses whenever you can, and use Spotify for Artists to know where the fans are and what is connecting.
Say hi to punters after a gig, hand them a sticker, get them to sign up to the newsletter, put some thought into how to display your merch.
"You want people to be able to find and follow you," says Maria. We think that's a yes to websites! List your socials, keep your bio current, and have promo photos there that can be accessed by media. Check out Squarespace and WordPress.
An audience member told us how they uploaded a track to unearthed and a few days later got an email from a company offering to take a single into triple j for $150. Too good to be true? It might be. Google the company, ask for a contract before doing anything.
That question is one to answer for yourself. Remember, when you get to a certain point with your music and you're getting busier, it's ok to outsource, think about what will help you the most with your goals.