MUSO’s – think you can crack it in the UK market?
Muso’s – have you saturated the SA market, had enough of local radio stations that don’t play local music? Need to spread your strings a bit?
If you’re looking for that elusive UK break, our man Dave Chislett knows the ou’s –
The SA rock and pop music scene is littered with stories of bands who have reached the apparent ceiling of the SA market, who thought they could crack the …
international music scene or who just got plain bored and wanted to try something else. Think Dorp, Fetish, No Friends of Harry, Pyramid Tongue and too many others to mention. Most of them simply disappeared once they left, or came back very fast. It’s a big bad world out there, and contacts and exposure are very hard to come by.
However, thanks to DCPM and Matchbox records UK, there is now another way to try and break into the lucrative UK market for SA bands. Matchbox Recordings is a music promotion and plugging company that caters exclusively for the Independent artist. Owned by an ex South African and musician, Dale Oliver, they deliver to and service over 120 off-line U.K Radio stations through their Radio plugging network.
What they have to offer SA bands is inclusion in the compilation albums of new, unsigned artist that Matchbox regularly releases. This Platinum package is specially designed for new Independent and unsigned artists. It allows a new artist the chance of officially releasing and advertising their songs to the public, music industry and obtaining possible airplay on Internet and U.K off-line Radio stations. Our CD’s and artists are also officially released, promoted and distributed through a network of well-known CD retailers, worldwide music publications and legitimate digital distribution companies. It is designed to further the artist’s career and bring their music to the attention of the public and industry. It is a way of getting your music onto the same release platform as major label artists while retaining 100% copyright and publishing rights.
Matchbox has the same stringent A&R policies as a major label but they like to do it differently when it comes to signing and promoting bands. They prefer that you stay free as artists and own your full copyright and publishing. They prefer that you know exactly what the promotional activities are going to be and how much they will cost. They also guarantee the promotion and pay you 70% of your digital and retail sales. All they ask for is a small contribution from the bands towards the overall costs of a huge release and promotion like this. This is very similar to what Factory Records did in the 80’s/90’s with bands like Joy Division, Happy Mondays and more.
Your song will be licensed, digitally mastered and included on a various artists CD new music album that is released worldwide through the Matchbox Recordings CD Shop, Matchbox MP3 Store, Tower Records and CD Baby with its own reviews, webpage, info and sound samples. The albums will have a 4-page colour booklet, colour traycard, unique product barcode and full colour on body disc print made from a glass master. A professional in house designer will take care of all photography, artwork and graphic design. In addition all songs will be delivered for free with the distribution above to legitimate digital distribution websites including:
Apple iTunes, MSN Music, Sony Connect, Alive
Audio, Audio Lunch Box, Buy Music, Catch Music, EMEP3, eMusic,
Etherstream, Rap Doc, New Views Music, Lindows, Music4Cents, Music Is Here,
Music Match, Music Net, Napster, Net Music, Puretracks, QTRnote,
Listen.com’s Rhapsody, Rule Radio, Viztas, OD2 Network (MSN Europe, HMV,
Virgin, Belgacom, Tiscali, MTV, Ministry of Sound, Alapage, LoS40 and
Wanadoo.
In other words, you go EVERYWHERE in the UK market. If you are an independent band, you own all your own work and you play pop or rock music, this is an opportunity for you. If you are interested in this unique opportunity, you need to understand that all songs will be vetted through the Matchbox recordings A&R process. If your song is approved for inclusion on the compilation CD, you have to pay ý300.00 (or about R3 500.00) to be included and to benefit from this deal.
If you’re still interested, contact David Chislett at DCPM and he’ll help you get the ball rolling, as well as provide you with loads more information.
For more info, contact David Chislett
or phone 011 486 1411
