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These days
it's a pretty hard job to get your music heard by the public, never mind
gain the attention of major record labels. Sometimes you have to create a
major buzz, achieve huge airplay, moderate sales and even a chart position
before any labels will even look at you twice. A lot of
artists from The Kaiser Chiefs to The Darkness, David Gray and more went
down the route of pressing up and releasing their own records in order to
gain attention.
It does however cost a lot of money to press up, release,
advertise and distribute your own record. Our Platinum package is designed
for artists and bands that want to achieve this sort of release and
exposure but don't have the budget for a full release or Sterling
package. We release a " New music compilation" approx
every 3-4 months that features our choice of the best new worldwide
Independent bands/artists. Our compilations have now achieved
"cult status" and we are experts in this field we should be
we've been doing it since 1997. You could have a song included on one of our albums
and gain massive worldwide exposure ( see exactly what we do below
).
WHO GETS
FEATURED AND WHY ?
We get
about 200 demos a day and we only release an album like this every 3-4
months with approx 20 tracks per disc. We are very selective about what
songs we work with.
WE DON'T
JUST CHOOSE ANYONE and are not interested in bands who still have
the " Get a record deal from 1960 " yearbook, are
not willing to spend a penny on their music and want a cheque for
£1000000 and to be famous by Friday.
We want hard
working real quality Independent bands who are willing to put their money
where their mouth and music is and work hard with us to spread the
word.
We are
looking for good original brilliant songs that we can get behind and plug
to the public and industry + of course help you build sales. We are
open minded and don't just work with one genre but we have been known to
release songs that are Indie, rock, pop, electro, punk, goth, new wave,
acoustic and more. If it's a great song we can work with we will take you
on but if it's rubbish we will turn you away or bin it.
As we are
lucky enough to be a combined label and P.R plugging company we include valuable
P.R, advertising and promotion in the deal. Our Platinum package is fee
based and we share costs with the artists BUT we keep you 100% free
and Indie. We operate on the basic principle of
Independent music.
THE
COMPILATIONS
We have
been releasing new music compilation albums since 1997 and our compilations
have achieved cult status at the same time as major worldwide Radio and
press attention. Acts we have worked with in the past have signed
deals with major labels, achieved album of the week in NME, Toured with
Paul Weller and Razorlight, had full page articles in Q magazine, Signed
with ACDC's label, been voted best rock act of the year by classic rock
magazine, hit the top 100 official UK chart, charted in the top 60
official Irish charts, been seen on Top Shop TV screens and BBC TV shows,
Hit the World Indie top 40 countdown, hit the USA official airplay charts
above U2 and Alanis Morrisette, appeared on MTV, been played on almost
every station in this country and worldwide including daytime Radio 1,
Radio 2, XFM, BBC and many
more. A
lot of our artists are now selling 1000's of CD's and downloads worldwide
in their own right.
Here at Matchbox we have many resources
and associations with other major companies that can allow you to
distribute, promote and release your song on our album as an Indie artist via a reputable well known company such as us.
BUT remember you need to be good before we can do anything at all.
STEP
1 - PRESSING AND BARCODES
Our
compilations are pressed up to shop standard and have barcodes and ISRC codes
for your songs which are registered for the official U.K chart. They are
made from a glass master and are NOT cdr's.
The album
will have a 4 page
full colour booklet,
colour dbl sided inlay/traycard and a full colour onbody disc print. We will also shrinkwrap
them and send you free copies when the album is out. We will supply you with your
own ISRC code for your track, distribute it and then register it
with the official UK chart company via Catco etc so it becomes eligible for the UK
chart. We are a PPL member.
STEP 2
- DISTRIBUTION
We will
make the album available to buy and download through our distribution
network that includes: Matchbox
Recordings CD Shop, Amazon ( 6.5 million customer base
) ,
Best Buy.com and
CD Baby and distributed for
FREE as part of the deal to the following digital legitimate sites: Apple
Itunes USA, Itunes Australia, Europe, US, UK and Japan, Arvato, Audio
Lunchbox, Bitmunk, Buymusic, Catch Music, Chondro, Destra, Digital Kiosk,
E Music, Great Indie Music, Hearmusic, Inprodicon, Interia, Liquid digital
Media, Karma Download, loud eye, Muzika, Liquid digital extension, MSN
Music, MP3 Tunes, Mperia, Music is here, Music Match, Music net, Napster,
my kids tunes, Next Radio, new views music, pass along, playIndies, pure
tracks, Rhapsody, QTR note, Rhapsody, Ruckus, rule Radio, Sonic Garden,
Sony Connect, Tree tunes, wrap factory, OD2 Network, weed , digipie, tasty
audio, Nareos and Isound.
STEP
3 - RADIO AND PRESS DISTRIBUTION
We
will deliver the album through our Alternative/Specialist Radio mailing network in
the UK and worldwide. This includes major stations like Radio 1, XFM, BBC
regional stations and various worldwide Internet and alternative stations.
Our
Radio mail out's in the past have resulted in daytime Radio 1, Radio 2, XFM, BBC TV
airplay not to mention a wealth of worldwide Internet airtime and reviews. Although
previous artists we have worked with have achieved airplay on 1000's of
worldwide stations we cannot guarantee that every single station or show
we send to will definitely play your track. Those decisions are made by the
producers of the shows and stations NOT US. We will also distribute
the album to the U.K online and off-line press for reviews, feedback and
opinion.
STEP
4 - ADVERTISING, REVIEWS AND ONLINE PROMOTION
As
well as promoting your music to outside companies we will also plug/advertise you
songs directly to our own audience of 6.5 million visitors a year on our website
and to 180,000 + Radio listeners on Matchbox Radio 24 our very own
Internet Radio station. We will broadcast audio adverts that are recorded in
house especially for the album. We will also broadcast special artist
messages and of course your songs
which we play and promote to our regular listeners all day.
We will also
do a special Radio show/Podcast for Matchbox Radio 24 that will include
songs off the album with special guests spinning and chatting about the
tracks off the album. Listen
to some previous shows now . Thousands of people per month listen to our shows. Our Radio
station is broadcast through the worlds largest Internet Radio network
Live 365, www.matchboxradio24.com
and My Space.
We
will also produce a professional TV advert, get it approved by the BACC
and have it delivered to and aired on MTV2 for thousands of viewers
to see.
The albums are also reviewed by a professional music journalist who gives
his " honest " opinion of your track and these reviews along
with photos, web links and more will be advertised on our website to millions
of visitors.
STEP 5 - PAYING YOU YOUR ROYALTIES AND
COPYRIGHT ISSUES - YOU KEEP ALL YOUR RIGHTS.
We will pay you 70% of all sales that
we receive after 3rd party commissions ( average 9% ) including digital
downloads and retail. You can request a sales report including info about
who bought your CD/download and on what date at any point after your sales
start coming in. Of
course we cannot guarantee a certain amount of sales but previous artists
we have worked with are now selling 5000+ units or more.
You will keep 100% of your
copyright and publishing
and the deal is non-exclusive so you are free to sign with potential
labels and companies that may want to work with you as a result of
this release. We cannot in anyway guarantee any deals or specific sales
figures. This varies from release to release and depends on how much
airplay and exposure you gather.
STEP 6 -
REALTONES FOR YOUR SONGS
We will
create a mobile phone Realtone for your song and set up a shortcode
for people to TEXT eg: yourband to 82822. Your fans will then get a
ringtone of your song in an instant and you will get paid 50% of all the
sales that come in from it.
STEP 7 -
ARTIST SUPPORT
As a
company who has been around for approx 10 years working with new music and
artists we are also happy to lend a helping hand and advise you on what to
do next with your music, supply you valuable gig and A&R contacts and
more.
HOW LONG
DOES IT TAKE ?
A Platinum package
is not something that happens instantly it takes a lot of working
together, effort and time to fulfill. There are many things to do
from designing artwork and recording your audio adverts to manufacturing
which can take 10-12 working days in itself. We also need to set up
your distribution which can take up to 6 weeks for retail and from 3 weeks
to 4 months for digital. I think you get the message there is a
lot of work to do for both parties and the more you work together with us
the more chance of success we will all have.
We usually like to
start preparing about 3-4 months prior to a release. It can sometimes take from 6 months to a year
or more to start
achieving good sales, airplay and success. We cannot guarantee to make you the Beatles
or Oasis by Friday. If
you're looking for a quick paying ticket to fame we are not the guys for
you.
I WANT
TO GO AHEAD NOW, HOW MUCH DOES IT ALL COST ?
If you're interested in our
Platinum package and would like to feature on one of our compilations please
send an MP3 of the song you want us to consider to demos@matchboxrecordings.co.uk.
All packages and songs featured are subject to review. You could also mail a CD to:
Matchbox
Recordings LTD
Platinum
Packages
PO
BOX 551
Abingdon
Oxfordshire
OX14
9DW
We will have a listen and then OK
your song for a Platinum package if we like your music. If we both then agree to go
ahead a representative will contact you with full prices,
instructions, an agreement to sign and more.
Good
luck.
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