1. Support Slots For Unsigned Bands 2016
2. Support Slots For Unsigned Bands 2017

Oct 23, 2014  How to get Gigs or Support Slots as a Band / Artist / Musician Unsigned Tips With so much competition from other bands and artists looking for the chance to perform live, it can be difficult to.

An unsigned artist, unsigned band or independent artist is a musician or musical group not under a contract with a record label. The terms are used in the music industry as a marketing technique. Bands that release their own material on self-published CDs can also be considered unsigned bands. Often unsigned bands primarily exist to perform at concerts.

In more recent years, the Internet has helped promote the music of unsigned bands. Artists often post their music as MP3s on websites such as Bandcamp, SoundCloud, Myspace, PureVolume, GarageBand.com, Tunecrank.com and SoundClick.

In 2016, the Unsigned Music Awards was established in the UK as the first ever televised international awards ceremony to champion artists without the backing of a record label.

UK unsigned bands and musicians are able to use such services as The Unsigned Guide and to gather music industry contact names, phone numbers, websites and social media links, as well as information on how to get signed or market music independently.

Song pitching websites, such as TAXI allow unsigned musicians to see which record labels (and other music companies) are currently seeking new music.

Further, companies like Sentric Music and the royalty payment service offered by Last.fm can help in generating income streams for unsigned bands.

• 3Record labels

History and current scene[edit]

Many unsigned artists used to sell their music and music-related merchandise without the financial support of a record label, while often seeking a recording contract through the recording of demos. Recently, the Internet has helped promote independent artistic material. Artists tend to post their music on websites such as MySpace, and ILike, and sometimes have their music played on podcast shows like Kooba Radio. In recent times, artists such as Nine Inch Nails and Radiohead, who once had major label record deals, have started to release their music independently.

Various musicians remain independent in their beginning of their music career but later on get a record deal and continue as a signed musician. But this concept changed when major artists such as The Eagles and Nine Inch Nails became independent and parted their ways with record labels such as Interscope.

Many services are offered to independent musicians like Cdbaby, Feiyr, Nimbit and Tunecore by which the artists can retain the copyrights of their songs and also deliver their music to various stores including iTunes Store, Amazon MP3, Napster, Spotify, etc.^[1]

Internet promotion[edit]

Internet promotion has been the key for some bands for getting popular. Bands like the Arctic Monkeys, Owl City, and solo artists like Lily Allen have gained popularity through Myspace, although the Arctic Monkeys did not even know what MySpace was, and claimed that fans made it for them.

Unsigned bands have become more popular with Internet users and have been able to break into the mainstream charts. They are now finding many resources across the Internet to promote, market, and sell their music almost free of charge.

Unsigned charts are now being promoted on almost all the underground music sites and has seen many of the domain owners spending large amounts of money on developing these charts to bring bands to them. A number of these are now additionally registered with the official charts.

Blog sites have become popular, as they regularly feature reviews or interviews with unsigned artists. Other blog sites have offered helpful guidance and resources for new unsigned artists. Similar to bloggers, music curators including podcasts, DJs, and Youtube channels are all dedicated to finding quality new songs from unsigned artists for online audiences to discover.^[2]

The music promotion site, Feature.fm, has emerged to allow artists to promote their music natively directly inside music streaming services.

Record labels[edit]

Major record company Universal Music entered into a joint venture with Tunecore to distribute albums online on major stores.^[3]The record labels which entered into venture are Interscope(Interscope Digital Distribution), Universal Motown (Unimo Digital Distribution), Island Def Jam (IDJ FirstLook) and Universal Republic (Republic Digital Distribution).^[4]Island Def Jam Music Group partnered with Tunecore to launch IDJ Firstlook, a new web portal that provides unsigned artists with potential access to such coveted major label services as worldwide distribution and marketing.^[5]

Independent vanity record labels[edit]

Artists can also create their own record labels and sell their music under the label's imprint as well. Services such as Nimbit gives facilities for independent musicians to release their music independently as well as under a record label create by artist itself. Other efforts made in this field include Magnatune, an independent record label based in Berkeley, California, United States.

Notable unsigned artists[edit]

Support Slots For Unsigned Bands 2016

Notable artists who have never been signed to a record label include Chance the Rapper, macklemore, Noname (rapper) and David Choi.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

1. ^Kevin Lynch (2006-01-30). 'Does Tunecore sound the end for labels?'. mirror.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2009-11-25. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
2. ^'Submit Music To These Places | Push Power Promo'. www.pushpowerpromo.com. Retrieved 2018-05-07.
3. ^'Universal/TuneCore deal opens major doors for indie artists'. Ars Technica. Retrieved 2018-05-07.
4. ^'Digital music distribution | Music Consultant'. musiciancoaching.com. Retrieved 2018-05-07.
5. ^'IDJ FirstLook Debuts'. All Access. Retrieved 2018-05-07.

ACODA are a four-piece alternativemetal band from Corby, Northamptonshire, United Kingdom. Formed in 2008, the band consists of vocalist/guitarist Damon Tang, bassist/vocalist Stephen Crook, guitarist/vocalist Jake Crawford and drummer/vocalist Jay Russell. The band are known for their energetic and emotive live shows^[1] and blending the musical influences of rock, metal, progressive metal and post-hardcore.^[2]

They were named in the top 10 best unsigned UK bands by Kerrang! magazine in September 2011.^[3]

Their debut EP ACODA was released on 19 March 2012 and received commendations from Kerrang!, Rock Sound Magazine and Metal Hammer magazine. The release saw the band tour extensively, including appearances at Download Festival and Slam Dunk Festival.^[4]

On 12 August 2013, Acoda signed to Best Before Records^[5] and released their debut full-length album Yours to Defend on 28 October 2013. They have also gone on to release their 6-track EP, Round the Sun in May 2014. Their new album 'TRUTH SEEKER' ^[6] is released through Best Before Records^[5] on 30 March 2015 featuring singles 'Whispers Like Roars', 'Make It Up As You Go', Round The Sun' and 'Face Everything'.

• 2Discography

Biography[edit]

In 2009, Acoda recorded a home studio demo of six tracks. On the back of shows in mainland Europe, the band continued to tour the UK DIY circuit, whilst writing new music.^[7]

In 2010, the band teamed up with local music producer Justin Gleich to record the single 'Finding Your Feet' and its B-side 'Paint By Numbers' at Premier Studios, Corby. Acoda signed to Small Town Records for the single release.^{[8][non-primary source needed]}

In April 2011, Acoda entered the studio to record twelve tracks with producer Dan Lancaster. The drums were recorded at Middle Farm Studios, Devon and the remaining instrumentals at Studio Glasseye, Hertfordshire.

In June 2011, the band played their first major festival performance at Download Festival on the Red Bull Bedroom Jam stage,^[9] followed by a gig on the River Thames on HMS Metal Hammer.^[10] The remainder of the summer saw performances at Sonisphere Festival,^[11] T in the Park,^[12] Hevy and Underage Festivals.^[13]

Acoda ended 2011 being named one of the Top 10 best unsigned bands in Britain by Kerrang! magazine.^[3]

On 19 March 2012, Acoda released the four track EP ACODA to critical acclaim from Kerrang!, Rock Sound and Metal Hammer magazines. The lead single 'I Creep' received airplay on the Radio One Rock Show.^[14]The band supported the record with performances at Download Festival, Hevy Music Festival, Camden Crawl and Slam Dunk Festivals^[15] and played gigs in places such as London and Nottingham, amongst others.^[16] On 20 August 2012, the band released This Is Life and supported it with shows in England, Scotland and Wales.^[17]

In February 2013, the band returned to Studio GlassEye, Herts to record five tracks with producer Dan Lancaster.

2013 saw the band continue to play gigs in places such as Birmingham, Southampton, Bristol and Sheffield, amongst others^[18] and support slots for bands like Funeral for a Friend.^[19]

On 27 June, Acoda released the track 'The Future Is Yours to Defend'^[20] and announced that the debut full-length album Yours to Defend would be released through Best Before Records worldwide on 9 September 2013.

On 12 August 2013, Acoda signed to Best Before Records^[5] for the release of Yours to Defend and announced a new release date of 28 October 2013.

ACODA's new album 'Truth Seeker' is released through Best Before Records 4/2015 featuring the singles 'Whispers Like Roars', 'Make It Up As You Go', 'Face Everything' and 'Round The Sun'.

Support Slots For Unsigned Bands 2017

Discography[edit]

Albums and EPs[edit]

• 2009: Characters (EP)
• 2012: ACODA (EP)
• 2013: Yours to Defend Album
• 2014: Round the Sun (EP)
• 2015: 'Truth Seeker' 2nd Album

References[edit]

1. ^Slessor, Dan (24 September 2011). 'ACODA 4K live review, Brighton'. Kerrang! Issue:1380. London. p. 16.
2. ^Hidden, Chris (September 2013). 'ACODA 'Yours To Defend' album review'. Rock Sound Magazine: Issue 178. London. p. 78.
3. ^ ^abParsons, Katie (10 September 2011). 'The 10 Best Unsigned Bands in Britain'. Kerrang! Issue:1380. London. p. 11.
4. ^'ACODA'. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
5. ^ ^abc'ACODA sign to Best Before Records'. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
6. ^'ACODA'. Archived from the original on 20 February 2015. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
7. ^'Bring The Noise: ACODA'. Bring The Noise. 17 May 2010. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
8. ^'ACODA release debut single'. Archived from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
9. ^'ACODA interview at Download Fest '11'. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
10. ^'HMS Metal Hammer Boat Party'. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
11. ^'Rock Sound photoset: Sonisphere Festival'. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
12. ^'No sleep till Balado for metalheads''. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
13. ^'RBBJ final 3 bands announced'. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
14. ^'Rock Show with Daniel P Carter'. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
15. ^'Acoda feature'. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
16. ^'Acoda gigography'. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
17. ^'Vents Magazine: ACODA release 'This Is Life' and announce tour'. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
18. ^'Acoda announce tour'. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
19. ^'Northampton Chronicle: FFAF return to Roadmender'. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
20. ^'ACODA announce debut album'. Retrieved 16 September 2013.