Why Record Labels Won’t Sign You (and What to Do Instead)
- musicbyLukas
- Sep 16
- 3 min read
👇 For decades, artists have dreamed of getting signed.
But there's a problem:
Record labels aren’t signing artists anymore...
They’re signing audiences.
Meaning you need a following, not just good music.
The good news?
This puts the power back in your hands.
Because once you know how to build an audience…
You can actually succeed with or without a label!
🔥 In this guide, I’ll show you:
Why labels aren't what they used to be
The fastest way to grow your own audience
Whether you even need a label once you have fans
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Free guide continues below!
1. Why labels aren't what they used to be
🚫 They are no longer the "gatekeepers" Back in the day, labels decided which artists would make it or not. Now? Anyone with a phone, good music, and the right content has a chance to blow up.
😅 They got bad at guessing
After years of signing unknown artists who didn’t connect with listeners, labels realized it’s safer to pick artists who already have an audience.
📊 They're not into taking risks
Labels see artists with an audience as low risk. Low risk = higher chance of signing.
2. The fastest way to grow your audience
You need to answer two questions:
👤 Who is your ideal fan for my music?
Example:
If your song says, “I don’t want to work this 9–5, I just want to rave & live my life”, your ideal fan is someone tired of their day job and loves to rave.
📲 How can you make content that stands out to them?
Example:
Film a “before and after” video - first you in a boring office outfit, then you DJing, raving, or just having a great time. That’s relatable. That’s shareable.
⭐️ To make it even easier: You can download Daily Personalized Content Ideas 🎉, including all the top content ideas gaining artists millions of views! This is the secret to staying consistent & growing your audience!
3. If you have fans… do you still need a label?
Here’s the irony:
Labels want you to have fans before they’ll sign you.
But if you already have fans, you can:
Release music on your own
Sell-out shows
Keep 100% of your money
Play by your own rules
Not to say you shouldn’t sign… but you get to decide on your terms.
Take a look at this quote from Spinnin' Records A&R Ortzy Arbinaga:
Takeaways
Labels sign audiences, not unknown artists.
Find your ideal fan and make content that speaks to them.
Whether you sign or stay independent, building your audience is a top priority.
🔥 Reminder: You can download our New! Daily Content Ideas List 🎉 including all the top content ideas gaining artists millions of views + personalize to your style! (⭐️ most popular!)
Stay creative,
Lukas (musicbyLukas)
Founder & CEO, SocialSound
