Many People On Record Label Mailing Lists Any Tips?

[RonanRaver 0]

Having worked on the radio in the past and been on some mailing lists and received some goodies.Recently i want to get back onto these lists,but i know longer work in radio but do a :cense: load of gigs.

So guys any of you on these lists and was it easy etc..Please state if you are radio/pub club,mobile jock as i think the labels have different lists for the different types.

I have gotten onto one mailing list recently and its pretty cool as my personal type of music is free:)

Any tips then from any of you who have managed to get on the sought after mailing lists?????

Ronan

[Dave80s 0]

Good question. There isn't a lot of info out there as maybe people are protective about being on lists and don't want outsiders to join their 'club'. (not on this site I might add).

 

If you know the book 'how to dj (properly)' then there is a section in there with tips, websites, addresses etc.

 

Applying is a lot easier these days as most mailout companies have a website and email, not like a few years ago when you would struggle to find the elusive addresses and person to write to.

 

You say you are on one list so that is a good start. Which one?

 

Depends what sort of music you are into (or need) but some company names are Power, Music House, Upshot, Cool Delta, Rush Release, Wild. And there are the labels themselves - SonyBmg, EMI Virgin, or try smaller labels like Def Jam, Ministry/Data, AATW.

Edited November 30, 2006 by Dave80s

[stevemarshall 0]

Yes once you are on 1 list you tend to get on a few

 

There's Power, Hyperactive,Soul2streets, The Playcentre, Rush Release etc amongst others, of course there is more than one list, they will put you on the list which suits the amount of promotion you are going to give the tracks.. the important thing is to return reaction forms promptly along to weekly charts to Music Week etc

 

 

Send them a nice little package with your info and a bio and also some flyers and stuff, along with a current chart, they will then send you an application form..and eventually they will drop someone from their list, and put you on it...

[Dave80s 0]

It might not be worth the hassle. If you are doing club nights where you need a load of 'upfront' promos it is useful, but for most mobile jocks you could probably get anything you need from downloading. Suprising how many big hits would have already been released in the US or Europe.

 

If you want to be ahead of the game then keep an eye on the release schedules, you can always get the 'next single' off the album.

 

With Power and Hyperactive you have to pay them, and they contact you regularly to check you are 'prioritising' certain tracks (i.e putting them high in your chart), but they are probably the best. Look on their website and see what they service - you would have had most of this weeks top 40 I would say.

Edited December 4, 2006 by Dave80s

[brianmole 0]

It might not be worth the hassle. If you are doing club nights where you need a load of 'upfront' promos it is useful, but for most mobile jocks you could probably get anything you need from downloading. Suprising how many big hits would have already been released in the US or Europe.

 

If you want to be ahead of the game then keep an eye on the release schedules, you can always get the 'next single' off the album.

 

With Power and Hyperactive you have to pay them, and they contact you regularly to check you are 'prioritising' certain tracks (i.e putting them high in your chart), but they are probably the best. Look on their website and see what they service - you would have had most of this weeks top 40 I would say.

 

I think I agree with Dave80s, also, it's a hell of a job to get reactions back and to wade through the piles of dross, as well as compiling and submitting charts every week. If you have nothing better to do, it may be something worth getting engrossed in. Neil Brown - (DJU member shortvehicle) is an expert in this, he is on many mailing lists including all the major ones mentionned earlier, and I am sure you can drop him a PM to ask for his help. He spends huge amounts of time keeping on top of all this.

[shakermaker 0]

I must admit that sometimes it is a real chore having to listen to loads of stuff each week and then sending back the reactions but at the end of the day, there are a lot of people who would bite your hand off to be in the same position and get loads of free music. I am on Renegade (who are part of Hyperactive etc...and I have never paid to be on there), Wild, Sony/BMG, Upshot, Peller Eventions, ACP, Virgin, Cool Delta, Beatwax and Mute. I get tons of stuff each week, mainly Indie but also a lot of dance stuff too. I generally get dance stuff via Renegade and pass it on to a mate who plays mainly dance but I make sure I rip it first so that I have got it just in case it's asked for when I do my mobile stuff. A lot of the time it's not used but just lately I have had some real crackers and last week I got Sharam - Party all the time, Eric Prydz Vs Pink Floyd - Proper Education, Queen Vs (can't remember who it is) - Another one bites the dust and Public Domain - I feel love.. All of these will be useful.

 

The main thing with these lists is keeping up to date with your reactions and charts. They are pretty hot on that and with a waiting list od DJ's in the 1000's, there will always be someone ready and willing to take your place if you can't be bothered to keep up with it. I spend one day a week (usually a sunday afternoon) writing my reactions, either online or paper. I would suggest as above...Send some kind of biog which includes the names and contact details of the main venues / clubs that you play at plus written confirmation from the owners / managers that you play there. The promo companies do check up on this and if everything is cool, they'll start sending you stuff. It's always a good idea to say the type of music you are generally interested in. They get a bit suspect if you put down that you play absolutely everything. On the other side of that, it's no good saying that you play everything when you don't because you will get sent so much stuff that you won't be able to use yet you will still have to react to it and then you will be in the position where you either (a) react to everything saying you don't like it or it's not working, therefore they will wonder why they are sending you stuff in the first place, or (b) you will get so bogged down with reactions that you won't have time to do them all and therefore you will be taken off the list.

 

 

[stevemarshall 0]

Some great advice from everyone, as Shakermaker says Hyperactive and Power are probably the best promo companies for dance stuff.

 

And Soul2streets and the Playcentre are hot for R and B etc...along with Jetstar and Greensleeves for Dancehall/Reggae stuff...

 

 

 

Like Shakermaker I spend a couple of hours a week, usually a Sunday, doing the reactions and charts etc...

 

 

It does take some time to do reactions etc, and send out those charts, but you do get to play some great music too!

[shortvehicle 0]

It is very difficult to get onto lists, and it does take time and dedication. It is however well worth being involved in the upfront scene if that is what you desire.

The best way to start is pretty obvious really...

 

Contact your favourite record labels... only two or three mind....Speak to their promotions or A&R people, and find out who they use to do their own promotions. Some do it themselves, and some use the Promo companies mentioned in this chain.

GET A NAME....

 

very important that you know NAMES... If you want to get anywhere, or do anything you must know THEIR NAMES...

 

I have deliberately used capitals above to emphasise how important it is for you to get them to remember YOUR NAME... now maybe you understand.

 

Also, if you are passed to another department, or another company, you can NAME drop to give yourself some credibility.

 

If you are more precise, and have a favourite artiste, or band, then try to contact their management or maybe even the person directly.... It's all about balls really (Sorry girls, no sexist remarks please)

If you build it... they will come (where did that come from?) but it is true really.

You won't get a chat with madonna, or Timberlake, but you will know a man that can, and one day you may need to get permission for the portion of track you have used in your remix. (or is that too far ahead for you to think?)

 

Now, if you think this is jibberish, you missed the point, or got bored after the second line, but if you understood what I have said, you are on your way to being a well respected DJ who is aware of trends before they happen. you will also find that you have a lot more work on your plate than you actually bargained for. Be ready for that, and be honest when you react to a track. Remember it is easy to say a tune is Cr*p, but the person who created it worked hard and spent studio time, production and design budgets, and seeks your honest Constructive critiscism or praise. Even great tracks get benefits from remixes into another genre. Also remember that the track you may have said was Cr*p that gets to number one will destroy your credibility as a reviewer. Best of luck to you if this inspires you to want more.

 

Please refer to my website through the link included in previous replies.

 

[Dave80s 0]

Sorry to confuse people. To clarify, Renegade, which is part of Music House along with Hyperactive, is free. Hyperactive and Power offer 'Music Power' which you have to pay for. (£60 per quarter).