A successful music career is a team sport. This guide breaks down every role on a professional artist's team, when you need each person, and how to find and vet them.
A good manager can transform your career. A bad one can derail it. This guide explains when you actually need a manager, what they do, how to find one, and what to look for in a management contract.
How to become an A&R, build your ears, leverage data, and network to discover the world's next great musical voices.
What do record labels actually do? Explore how they fund production, manage master rights, and drive global promotion in today's digital era.
What is A&R (Artists and Repertoire)? The bridge between raw talent and stardom, where data-driven scouting meets creative artist development.
An industry plant is an artist presented as independent who secretly had major label backing from the start. This guide explains what the term actually means, why fans use it, who it gets applied to, and what it tells us about how the music industry actually works.
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.
Record label distribution deals explained for independent artists: ownership, revenue splits, contract terms, advances, and how to negotiate better terms in 2026.
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.
What artists actually earn from platinum records, covering streaming royalties, major label recoupment, and the power of independent ownership.
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.
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.
Learn to build a modern record label in 2026 focusing on music rights, digital distribution, and sustainable artist-friendly growth.
The Japan Record Awards are the longest-running and most prestigious music awards in Japan, presented annually by the Japan Composer's Association since 1959, combining jury evaluation with commercial performance data to recognize excellence in Japanese recorded music.
Record Union is a Sweden-based digital music distributor founded in 2008 in Stockholm. Per-release subscription model starting at $14/year for a single (Top Dog, 5 platforms) or $19/year (World Domination, 150+ platforms). 100% royalty retention with 0% commission. 14-day standard delivery, 5 days with Rapid Delivery add-on. Spotify Platinum Partner. YouTube Content ID available as add-on. No publishing admin or sync licensing. Releases removed if subscription lapses. AI music policy not publicly stated. 4.7/5 Trustpilot rating from 1,270 reviews. 53 employees, $3.6M annual revenue.
AudioSalad is a B2B music distribution and metadata management platform based in New York and London, founded in 2010. Parent company is SESAC Performing Rights, LLC. Built for record labels, aggregators, and label services companies, not individual artists. Apple Music Preferred Partner and Spotify Preferred Delivery Platform. Distributes to 100+ DSPs with DDEX-compliant delivery. Supports WAV, FLAC, MP3, Dolby Atmos, MQA, and video formats. Offers white-label capability, multiple label and sublabel management, powerful API, bulk ingest, complex delivery scenarios, detailed royalty reporting, and physical and digital distribution. No public pricing. Best for labels with 50+ releases per year.