Through his contacts at major record labels, which include VPs and A&Rs, Joshua P. Binder works diligently to promote his clients and secure record deals with major and indie record companies. As such, he has successfully shopped for recording deals for his clients at labels such as Warner Bros. Records and Capitol Records. Mr. Binder's direction, expertise, and musical sense can help guide a client through the arduous process of obtaining a record deal.
Introduction
Let the music speak for itself. A fundamental requirement of securing a record
deal is presenting a record label with an excellent musical demo. Record companies
want hits. As part of the shopping process, Mr. Binder will evaluate your
material and we will decide whether it is necessary for you to hire a producer
who will assist you in creating a professional demo. Good artists who merit
record company interest generally get it by doing what artists should do:
writing great songs, playing great music, and performing great shows. Once
a demo is finished, the next step is preparing a "package," which
he will personally oversee and then present to record companies.
Only shop your best three to four songs to record companies. Many artists
produce a full length CD expecting that the A&R representative will sift
through all the material. Actually, most will only listen to about the first
minute of the first few songs and decide whether it piques their interest.
If the A&R person wants more songs, he/she will request them. During some
instances, Mr. Binder will be present with the A&Rs to ensure that they
give your music the attention it deserves.
First, an artist must put together a package that is representative of his/her
style and music. Part of this process requires that an artist understand his/her
own image in order to pitch it to the A&R at a record company. As part
of pitching an artist, he will oversee and help compile a package, which includes:
photographs, a bio, and a demo of the artist's music. After the package is
finalized, Mr. Binder will deliver it to his contacts at all suitable record
labels.
The music industry is quickly evolving; A&R reps come and go. It is Mr.
Binder’s duty to be well informed and stay current on all developments.
As part of ensuring that a deal is struck, he will deliver your package to
the right contact person at the right record label. It is imperative to figure
out where you, as an artist, fit it in and what record label can best promote
and market your genre of music and image. Making sure that the right person
hears your material is crucial. Over the years, Mr. Binder has developed a
extensive network of A&Rs in genres including rock, pop, hip-hop, rap,
R&B, and electronica. His insight, skills, connections, and expertise
can be instrumental in landing you a deal.
When performing the "showcase" for the A&R person, you should
play all the songs that appeared on the demo you sent him/her weeks earlier.
It is wise to keep the well-liked, road-tested songs from your set. The A&R
people want to hear them. The ideal length of a "showcase" for an
A&R person is 30-35 minutes. It is important for you to perform your best
songs for the A&R reps. Once you hook someone on the first few songs,
they will stay for the whole set. The best thing to do is to keep them interested.
Let the A&R people do their job. They are valuable resources who will
help you produce, market and promote your music. View yourself as an important
contributor to the process, not an expert. It is unwise to refuse to listen
to the record company and may cause the A&R to lose interest at this stage
even if the music you have produced has passed the test. Pay attention and
listen - you may learn something.
