One of the most common questions I am often asked from aspiring artists are: What should I be looking for when choosing an Artist Development company? This is not an uncommon question or thought even. All Artist Development companies will offer different things within their programme, so it is important you take the time and think long and hard before signing with a company. Do they match your goals? Do they see your vision? Are you just going to be churned out like their previous developed artists, singing same old songs, dressing similar etc.
You will have heard the general rule: 'if it sounds to good to be true, it generally is!' and this saying is never a truer saying.
Always be aware of what a company promises you. If for example they promise they can make you as big as Britney Spears or The Beetles, this is seriously one to avoid! First of all question, how can they possibly guarantee that you will sell 100 million albums. Put simply, they cannot. Music is a fickle industry, for every one artist that makes it big, thousands don't. Even very few winners of The X Factor have gone on for major success, remember Steve Brookstein, he was the winner of series one in 2004. Ok, yes, One Direction has made it and they came from The X Factor. But the point is even with millions of pounds being put into development and a major platform like The X Factor doesn't guarantee you anything.
So, how do you choose an Artist Development company to develop you into an music artist? You need to firstly think about who you are? What genre of music you like? What type of artist you want to be? And remember above all else what is your budget? You need a budget to cover Album/EP recording, promotion, artwork, vocal coaching, songwriters, photography, social media, choreographer, videographer, web design, fashion stylists, etc.
Remember earlier I mentioned about people making big promises? At the same time Artist Development costs and you need to be aware if a company is saying that their 12 month programme fees are around £50-£100 per month, you are not going to get much if anything for your money. You should avoid them too! Realistically if they're recording your EP/Album and that is all they are charging you, you are either going to end up with a naff quality sounding recording by some amateur music producer/engineer or nothing at all, in which speaking with a band recently, the latter happened to them! Realistically to record an industry standard and quality album/EP, with an industry recognised producer will cost around £3,000/£5,000+. A professional vocal coach who has worked with artists that have Top 40 hits will cost around £50 per hour. A professional music industry recognised photographer will cost around £50 per hour, a professional website will cost around £395, if anyone is offering you a web design packages from again £50-£100 you are more than likely going to end up with a free template design from Wordpress or Webs. If an artist development company can only come up with a free template website, you should question their real creativeness. The problem with Wordpress, Webs and other free template website designs are they have no true individual look about them and someone somewhere will have the same website as you. When looking for a artist development company take time to check out their website, check out who they currently have developed and where is that artist now?
Most professional artist development companies will not promote the artist until the artist is ready to be released to the music scene, a lot of hard work goes on behind the scene. The problem with constantly promoting the artist whilst in development, consumers see the artist before they are professionally ready and as everyone knows, first impressions count! Do you want your potential audience seeing you before you have under gone the full development.
When choosing an artist development programme, ensure to ask the company, to map out a timeline of the programme so by the end of the programme you know what and where you will be. It is important for you to know in advance, at what point will each task take place, this will also allow you to know if you are on target too.
Anyone who wants a serious career in music has to take the development seriously and realise that you cannot do it on a shoestring budget. Unlike the old days where major record labels threw big money at you to try and turn you into a star. Now you have to do this, you have to show labels you are serious and have what it takes. There has long been a saying that aspiring music artists need to view their career like other self-employed people, sometimes you have to take a loan out to investing your business.
So remember, never sign up with anyone who promises you the world, remember cheapness doesn't signal good things either. Also, check out their website, it will give you an indication of their creative flare. Always ask for a timeline map this will allow you to know what and when you are doing things and also more importantly, if you are on target. Always ensure you shop around for the right artist development company for you, don't just go with the first one who shows interest in you. Remember to compare artist development services and programmes with other companies.
Well many thanks for taking the time to read this, I hope you found it useful. I wish you every success on your musical journey.
