
What Do Record Labels Actually Do?
What do record labels actually do? Explore how they fund production, manage master rights, and drive global promotion in today's digital era.
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What do record labels actually do? Explore how they fund production, manage master rights, and drive global promotion in today's digital era.

Everything you need to know about record labels in 2026. Understand deal types, distribution agreements, contract red flags, and when it makes sense to stay independent. Includes real examples and negotiation tips.

A clear breakdown of every type of record deal in 2026, including royalty splits, advance ranges, master ownership terms, and how to spot red flags before you sign.

Major labels, indie labels, 360 deals, distribution-only, artist-run: a plain-English breakdown of every record label type, what each one takes from you, and how to decide which structure fits your career.
Independent artists now generate 43% of all recorded music revenue globally according to MIDiA Research. Major labels still control 68% of global streaming market share. Both numbers are true. The question is not whether labels are relevant but whether they are the right tool for where you are in your career.
The best TuneCore alternatives for independent artists in 2026. Real pricing, royalty splits, payout speeds, and honest pros and cons for DistroKid, CD Baby, AWAL, UnitedMasters, and more.
A 360 deal gives a label a percentage of nearly every dollar you earn, not just record sales. This guide explains what 360 deals cover, why labels push for them, and how to decide whether to sign one.
The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is a two-weekend music festival held annually in April at the Empire Polo Field in Indio, California, featuring headliners across pop, hip-hop, indie, and electronic music. The 2026 edition ran April 10-12 and 17-19, headlined by Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber, and Karol G.
Corona Capital is a major rock, alternative, and indie music festival held annually in November at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City, featuring predominantly English-language artists. The 2026 edition is headlined by Gorillaz, The Strokes, and Twenty One Pilots across a lineup of more than 70 acts.
St Jerome's Laneway Festival is a touring indie music festival held annually across Australia and New Zealand since 2005. The 2026 edition runs February 5 to 15 across six cities, headlined by Chappell Roan with a lineup including Wolf Alice, PinkPantheress, Wet Leg, Lucy Dacus, and Yung Lean and Bladee.