Record labels have been around for a long time and have helped to find and develop the talent we all know and love. From today’s artists to the artists that are no longer with us, record labels are and remain an essential part of developing the music landscape.
Through a combination of online platforms, making connections in the industry, and scouting talent directly, here’s a look into the world of record labels and how they find and develop talent.
Scouting for new talent
The first step to record labels acquiring talent is to first scout for it. These are professionals who are gatekeepers, seeking out new talent in a variety of settings. Whether it’s through online platforms or live music venues, it’s people like Clive Davis who are responsible for finding the top talent available and the stars of tomorrow.
Many A&R reps will therefore be on the lookout for local gigs with new acts, scouring the online platforms and getting to know people who are just starting in the industry and might be the next big star, like Adele or Lewis Capaldi.
Making use of social media and streaming services
There are a lot of social media platforms and streaming services now readily available, and as such, record labels will use this to their advantage in order to find the next new artist or talent that’s blowing up online.
These websites and platforms give the opportunity for artists to upload their music, while not necessarily needing the help of record labels to begin with. It’s a great way of forming a talent pool for record labels that are looking for new artists who have a stronghold on the general public.
A lot of the artists you’ll see in the charts nowadays have come from the popularity of existing on social media first.
Industry connections and collaborations
Networking at events, festivals, and through word-of-mouth is another way that record labels are able to discover new artists. Labels can take advantage of these events in order to network with the people who are likely closer to the acts themselves or interact with more people on the ground, as it were, to discover new artists.
As networking opportunities grow, new artists are nurtured and added to the roster for various collaboration opportunities.
Developing the talent
The development of talent is an important step, from financial investment to the production and recording of new material. Labels will provide advances for most artists to help with recording, living expenses, and other career-related requirements.
Not only that, but with deep pockets, record labels can help out with production and recording, as well as marketing and promotion of new artists. They’ll also handle the legal aspects of an artist’s music, which may include publishing and sync licensing, too.
Making use of technology to learn and adapt
Technology has changed the music landscape significantly, and now record labels are leaning on this to help learn and adapt to ways in which new artists come about and how they’re influenced by those who listen to them.
Labels can use data to understand streaming trends, market insights, and audience demographics. They can also look at investment into staff, infrastructure, and technology to help support artists, too.
It’s a landscape that’s constantly evolving, with new platforms and technologies to take advantage of. Record labels are still relevant but have to change with the times as the music industry evolves.
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