Music Makin Cents Podcast

3 Ways Indie Labels Let Artists Down—Avoid These Traps

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Are you an indie artist thinking about joining a label? Or maybe you’re already on one and questioning if it’s the right fit. This episode of the Music Makin Cents Podcast dives deep into the complexities of indie labels and why so many fail their artists. Harkos explores how labels can either uplift or limit your career, emphasizing the importance of control, budgeting, and authenticity in artist-label relationships.

In this episode, Harkos uncovers three major pitfalls indie labels fall into: self-promotion over artist support, poor budgeting strategies, and the fear of artists outshining the label. He walks you through the critical steps to identify if a label has your best interests at heart or if it’s part of the “90%” that’s holding artists back. Whether you’re aiming for indie success or hoping to eventually break into a major label, this episode provides essential guidance for both artists and label heads.

Previous Episodes Mentioned:

  • Crafting Your Unique Brand as an Independent Artist

    • Resources:

    • Connect with Harkos:

      • In this episode, you will learn:

      • Why 90% of indie labels fail their artists by prioritizing self-promotion over genuine support.
      • How poor budgeting choices can waste resources, leaving artists without a proper promotional strategy.
      • The importance of artist branding and why control over your image is key to reaching fans.
      • Practical tips on building brand solidarity across social media for artists.
      • The value of budgeting smartly to allocate funds between creation and promotion effectively.
      • How to avoid labels that have a fear of losing artists to bigger platforms and focus on growth.

        • Key Moments:

        • 00:00 - Why do indie labels often fail their artists?
        • 03:12 - What’s the importance of maintaining creative control?
        • 05:41 - How does label self-promotion affect an artist’s growth?
        • 10:14 - Why should promotion happen on the artist’s platform?
        • 15:46 - How does budgeting impact an artist’s reach?
        • 20:25 - Why is an album release party a waste of resources?
        • 30:15 - What should a label’s role be in an artist’s career growth?

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