What Makes a Record Label Successful?


Asking this big question to a handful of indie reocrd labels

Recently, I asked some record label owners what they thought were some of the common denominators of successful record labels.

Let me summarize a few of their answers, and we’ll see how we can apply this advice to our own record labels¦

Beggar's Group

Be super involved with your releases. Release things you love. No one will be able to promote these records better than you!

Beth Shalom Records

Being able to scale and sustain your authentic indie identity as your label grows. Continuing to do what you did on a small scale but just for a bigger audience. Staying true to your origins and your original intent.

Kelefa Sanneh author of “Major Labels”

Record labels are unique in that they are first to identify great music. A great record label is often the first people to champion a new artist or a new sound. This fact is something we should be proud of, and something we should continue to do!

Moderna Records

Creating a beautiful musical universe for people to discover. Creating a scene and a community for like-minded music fans. This is the ultimate goal of a great record label, to focus on the culture of the music.

Minaret Records

“Be close to failure!” Not everything you release will resonate with an audience. Success comes and goes, or perhaps remains evasive for a long period of time. Their approach as a label focuses on critical self-assessment and pushing creative boundaries.

Refresh Records

“Record labels are nothing without their artists.” A great record label is one that supports artists and facilitates their needs.

Kiam Records

“You just have to care” you have to know the why behind your record label. You have to be in it for the right reasons. We should treat this job as if it were a religion, releasing music and taking care of artists with a strong conviction!

how to run a record label

This exercise reinforces that there is no single blueprint for success in the indie record label world.

Instead, it is a tapestry of dedication, growth, cultural impact, resilience, and artist-centric approaches that together weave the fabric of a successful label.

LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE

and catch other videos on our YouTube Channel

Free Record Label Toolkit

Resources and tools to help you quickly and creatively launch your new label…

record label toolkit

Helpful Articles for Record Labels

How to Make a Business Plan

Record Contract Template

How to Start a Record Label

Branding & Album Artwork

Releasing Music on Vinyl

Music Publishing for Labels

How to Make Cassette Tapes

Bandcamp Best Practices

How to Start a Record Label: A 30 Day Guide

If you want to go a little bit deeper at your own pace, check out my new book called How to Start a Record Label: A 30 Day Guide.

RECORD LABEL

ACADEMY

The Complete A to Z of Building and Growing an Independent Record Label.

RECORD LABEL

ACADEMY

Instant Lifetime Access to all our courses, books, and templates!

Record Label Academy - (Every Single Product!)
$297.00

Starting a record label business is exciting, but also overwhelming…

Where should you begin? What is essential and what is a waste of time?

Our courses and tools are here to help demystify the process, and to provide you with a step-by-step plan!

Included in The Record Label Academy - Premium Edition

  • Your “Start Here” Guide

  • How to Start a Record Label (Online Course)

  • Marketing for Record Labels (Online Course)

  • Profitable Record Label (Online Course)

  • Record Label Decision Tool (Online Course)

  • New Release Blueprint (Online Course)

  • 10x Micro Courses (Sync Licensing, Music Publishing, Bandcamp Basics, Spotify Basics, Pressing Vinyl, Email Marketing, Income Generating, Social Media, Artwork + Design, Web Design)

  • 8x Micro Books (Email Marketing, Music Publishing, Sync Licensing, Web Design, Artwork + Design, Spotify Basics, Bandcamp Basics, Pressing Vinyl)

  • Record Label Business Plan Template - Premium Version

  • How to Start a Record Label (eBook)

  • Marketing for Record Labels (eBook)

  • Why We (Still) Need Record Labels (eBook)

Don’t listen to bad advice, don’t get overwhelmed with information, and don’t waste money!

Tackle one music industry topic at a time until you’ve built a record label that is bespoke to who you are as a music curator and fan!

A record label that allows you to earn a living telling people about great music!

Let’s get started!

    • How to Start a Record Label (Online Course)

    • Record Label Marketing Strategies (Online Course)

    • Record Label Decision Tool (Online Course)

    • Profitable Record Label (Online Course)

    • All 8 Micro Courses

    • All 8 Micro eBooks

    • How to Start a Record Label (eBook)

    • Record Label Marketing Strategies (eBook)

    • Tons of bonus templates and extra resources

RECORD LABEL

ACADEMY

Instant Lifetime Access to all our courses, books, and templates!

The Record Label Academy - (4 Month Payment Plan)
$77.00 every month for 4 months

Starting a record label business is exciting, but also overwhelming…

Where should you begin? What is essential and what is a waste of time?

Our courses and tools are here to help demystify the process, and to provide you with a step-by-step plan!

Included in The Record Label Academy - Premium Edition

  • Your “Start Here” Guide

  • How to Start a Record Label (Online Course)

  • Marketing for Record Labels (Online Course)

  • Profitable Record Label (Online Course)

  • Record Label Decision Tool (Online Course)

  • New Release Blueprint (Online Course)

  • 10x Micro Courses (Sync Licensing, Music Publishing, Bandcamp Basics, Spotify Basics, Pressing Vinyl, Email Marketing, Income Generating, Social Media, Artwork + Design, Web Design)

  • 8x Micro Books (Email Marketing, Music Publishing, Sync Licensing, Web Design, Artwork + Design, Spotify Basics, Bandcamp Basics, Pressing Vinyl)

  • Record Label Business Plan Template - Premium Version

  • How to Start a Record Label (eBook)

  • Marketing for Record Labels (eBook)

  • Why We (Still) Need Record Labels (eBook)

Don’t listen to bad advice, don’t get overwhelmed with information, and don’t waste money!

Tackle one music industry topic at a time until you’ve built a record label that is bespoke to who you are as a music curator and fan!

A record label that allows you to earn a living telling people about great music!

Let’s get started!

    • How to Start a Record Label (Online Course)

    • Record Label Marketing Strategies (Online Course)

    • Record Label Decision Tool (Online Course)

    • Profitable Record Label (Online Course)

    • All 8 Micro Courses

    • All 8 Micro eBooks

    • How to Start a Record Label (eBook)

    • Record Label Marketing Strategies (eBook)

    • Tons of bonus templates and extra resources

Other Record Labels Podcast

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