Related pages: Getting started with music DIY • What is DIY and indie?
These are the main steps in setting up a DIY artist label. Many of these steps are optional and depend on how you want to work. Most labels would need the Basic steps and some of the Extras.
You should also look at the Recommended books and read these guides.
The government Business Link site has information about setting up a formal business from scratch.
| 1. Sorting out your names | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Step | More info here | Web site | |
| Basics | Check your brand names are not already in use | Band, web site | |
| Check your ‘business’ names are not already in use | Label, publisher | ||
| Reserve your names on any key sites and forums | Social networks, etc. | ||
| Extras | If you decide you need a Company | Company name | Companies House |
| If you decide you need a Trademark | Trademark name | Patent Office | |
| 2. Joining professional bodies | |||
| Step | More info here | Web site | |
| Extras | If you want MU, legal advice or professional support | Professional bodies | MU, BACS, AIM |
| If you publish work by other writers, or expect royalties | PRS membership | PRS | |
| If you perform your own material regularly at licensed venues | Gigs & Clubs Scheme | PRS | |
| If you record work by other writers, or expect royalties | MCPS membership | MCPS | |
| If your recording copyrights generate royalties | PPL (labels) | PPL | |
| If your recorded performances generate royalties Performer ID from the Performer Registration Centre | PPL (performers) | PPL | |
| 3. Do you need any legal stuff? | |||
| Step | More info here | Web site | |
| Basics | Proof and copyright statements for your material | Music copyright | Patent Office |
| Extras | If you keep personal details for your business | DPA registration | ICO |
| 4. Do you need any contracts? | |||
| Step | More info here | Web site | |
| Extras | If you’re in a band you must have partnership agreement | Band partnership | |
| If you have a manager you must have a contract | Management contract | ||
| If you have a publisher you must have a contract | Publisher contract | ||
| If you are signed to a record label you must have a contract | Record label contract | ||
| If you employ anyone you must have a contract | Employees | Business Link | |
| If you have other contributors you should consider contracts | Other contributors | ||
| 5. Keeping accounts | |||
| Step | More info here | Web site | |
| Basics | Keep a record of money in and money out | Simple account | |
| Extras | If you pay VAT, or form a Company or employ anyone | Get an accountant | |
| 6. Paying tax | |||
| Step | More info here | Web site | |
| Basics | Be aware of government income and tax rules | Trading status | Business Link |
| Extras | If you form a Company (Inland Revenue) | Company Tax | HMRC |
| If your turnover exceeds the VAT threshold | VAT | HMRC | |
| If you employ anyone (Inland Revenue) | National Insurance | HMRC | |
| 7. Setting up a web site | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Step | More info here | Web site | |
| Basics | Buy a name (24 hours for registration) | Web site name | InterNIC |
| Buy web hosting (72 hours to connect your site name) | Web host | ||
| Design, write, test and upload web pages | Make the site | ||
| Select a format (MP3), prepare and upload | Downloads | ||
| Submit to search engines, check results and tune | Submit and check | ||
| If you don’t want to set up your own site | Other web site and host options | ||
| Extras | If you use additional formats (Ogg, WMA, …) | Download options | |
| If you want site stats, virus checking, spam filter, … | Host services | ||
| If you want to stream audio files, … | Host options | ||
| If you want a database, guest book, forum, … | Host software | ||
| If you want guaranteed bandwidth, more space, … | Host upgrades | ||
| If you want to take credit card payments online | Online payment | ||
| If you want to use other online payment methods | Dedicated accounts | ||
| If you want to accept donations or tips | Donations | ||
| Additional promotion or advertising for the site | |||
| A web presence on a relevant blogging site | |||
| A web presence in relevant music communities | |||
| Uploads and feedback in relevant review forums | |||
| 8. Making and releasing a CD | |||
| Step | More info here | Web site | |
| Basics | Jewel case, Digipak, spider, booklet, inserts, etc. | Choose CD package | |
| Design art-work for CD, inserts and booklet printing | CD art-work | ||
| Notification of No Claims for your own recordings | MCPS clearance | MCPS | |
| Get a run of pressed CDs with cases and inserts | CD duplication | ||
| Extras | If you need bar-code (EAN) numbers for EU only | CD bar-codes UK | |
| If you need bar-code (UPC) numbers for USA + EU | CD bar-codes US | ||
| If you need ISWC song/work numbers (PRS) | Song identifiers | PRS | |
| If you need ISRC track numbers (PPL) | Track identifiers | PPL | |
| If you have outside songs to clear for duplication | MCPS clearance | MCPS | |
| If you use outside songs in full or part | PRS clearance | PRS | |
| If you have other outside songs to clear for use | Publisher clearance | PRS | |
| If you have outside samples to clear for use | Label and publishing clearance | MCPS, PPL | |
| If there are other performers on your tracks | Notify PPL (via CatCo) | PPL CatCo | |
| To register details of your recordings (CatCo) | Join PPL | PPL CatCo | |
| To register eligible releases for the music charts | Notify OCC (via CatCo) | OCC | |
| Clear graphics, text and any other content | |||
| Promos copies and other publicity for CDs | |||
| 9. Selling downloads through other sites | |||
| Step | More info here | Web site | |
| Basics | If you want to sell downloads through third party sites | Online music distro aggregators | |
| If you want to sell downloads through third party sites | Bigger indie sites Other sites | ||
| 10. Mail order | |||
| Step | More info here | Web site | |
| Basics | Choose and get CD mailers | CD mailers | |
| Check the package weight and get stamps | CD postage | Royal Mail | |
| Keep a record of orders, payments and shipments | Paperwork | ||
| Extras | A postal address for web registration and other mail | PO Box | Royal Mail |
| Compliment slip, mailing list card or other inserts | |||
| T-shirts, posters, or other merchandise | |||
| 11. Local and online record shops | |||
| Step | More info here | Web site | |
| Basics | If you use local record shops, online record shops, … | CD sales offline | |
This is a summary of the main ways to sell your CD online and offline.
| 1. Download sales | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Type of outlet | Main features | More info here | Example web site |
| Branded music retail site | well-known, traffic | Digital distribution | Napster—mainly deals with majors EMusic—only deal with indies Apple iTunes—deals with both |
| Digital distribution aggregator | feed to many sites | Independent aggregators | IODA |
| 2. CD sales online | |||
| Type of outlet | Main features | More info here | Example web site |
| Branded music retail site | well-known, traffic | — | CD Street Miles Of Music Unsigned as yet Starpolish |
| Branded general retail site | well-known, traffic | — | eBay Amazon Marketplace—Amazon catalogue Amazon zShops—non-catalogue items |
| Your own site | whatever you like | More DIY artist sites | Chick Atkinson |
| Low volume fulfilment | sell copies from masters | — | CafePress |
| Low volume DIY portal | sell copies you supply | — | CD Baby |
| Merchandise portal | shopping by label | — | Recordstore.co.uk Host Baby |
| Community site | established visitors | More community sites | Overplay |
| 3. CD sales offline | |||
| Type of outlet | Main features | More info here | Example |
| Gigs | sell to your fans | — | (Your gigs) |
| Indie CD shops | sell CDs you supply | Unsigned Guide | |
| Mail order CD warehouse | sell CDs you supply | Unsigned Guide | Townsend Records |
| High street shop counter | sell CDs you supply | Local co-op scheme? | (Your high street) |
| Mainstream distribution | distribute CDs you supply | BBC One Music MusicTank RapCoIntelPro | Cargo Vital Pinnacle |
| P&D (pressing and distribution) | fund pressing and distribute | BBC One Music MusicTank RapCoIntelPro | Norman Records |
| License to a bigger label | distribution and promotion | — | Damien Rice |
You might think some of these options are beyond you, but artists who made their own records have used them all. High street shops sometimes take CDs from local bands. It helps if you’re well-known locally and friendly with the staff but if it will sell they’ll probably take it (generally charging about £5/disc). The last three are pro distribution but DIY artists have broken through with their own CD, as Damien Rice did. You need to have a solid CD with wide appeal to sell in the mainstream.
This is a summary of the main ways to take payment for your CD online and off, with links to more information. Obviously, if a third party retailer (like Snocap) collects payment you won’t need these.
| Payment type | Example | Online/ offline |
|---|---|---|
| Credit card | WorldPay WorldDirect | online |
| Download payments | PayLoadz BT Click & Buy | online |
| Online payments | NoChex | online |
| Donations | PayPal Donate Amazon Honor System | online |
| Mail order cheque | — | both |
Related pages: Getting started with music DIY • What is DIY and indie?