Registerin a Name For your Label?
- Thread starter da_rippa
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WingsOfAnAngel
Banned
ill o.g.
Battle Points: 3
Hello,
here are some articles you might find interesting.
1. DIY: Start Your Own Music Label: http://www.slm-net.com/signum/Issue4/detritus/music2.html
2. HOW TO...START A RECORD LABEL » - http://www.rwdmag.com/music_articles/come_again/03705-9591067/how_tostart_a_record_label/
3. Setting Up an Independent Record Label - www.fmc-ireland.com/worddocs/indp.doc
4. COPS - Starting an Indie Record Label - http://www.cops.co.uk/starting_label_biz_page.html
5. Starting A Record Label - http://www.rapcointelpro.com/Start A Record Label.htm
i have read all of those articles, and found the info you were looking for. here's the quote:
"CHOOSE A NAME
Choosing a name for your new label can be the most fun activity in this process, and also the most time consuming. That's because in your best efforts to come up with a creative, original name that fits your music or personality perfectly, you may pick a name that's already being used -- by a record label, production company, band, or even a dry cleaner. Legally you can use the same name as a dry cleaner (example, Cyclone Records and Cyclone Cleaners), you just may prefer to avoid direct name recognition competition with established businesses in your area. You obviously can't choose a name in use by someone in the same line of business.
There have even been cases where very large companies whose products and services are available around the world have prevented businesses (through lawsuits) from using their names or trademarks in any other business For example, Apple Computer did not have to change their company name, but they were prevented from entering into business activities involving music by the Beatles' record label, Apple Corps. I suggest avoiding the following label names: McDonald's Records, IBM Music, Microsoft Records, Xerox Music, etc. You might even be advised to avoid names like Microshaft Records; corporate lawyers are so powerful they might be able to cause plenty of headaches for you just when you finally secure that national distribution contract.
Having said that, choose a name that you really would be proud to be associated with if it wasn't your own label. It can give the music buyer a sense of the type of music on the label (Shrapnel Records, Earth Beat!, Higher Octave Music, Concord Jazz, Guitar Nine Records); it can be the last names or initials of the owners (A&M Records); it can be generic to reflect a wide variety of music on the label (Electra, Critique, Capitol). This label name will be your calling card when distributors, record stores, or larger labels refuse to deal with you as an individual artist or band.
To see examples of the wide variety of names in use out there, check out some of the lists of record labels and record companies on the WORLD WIDE WEB Use a search engine like AltaVista on the Internet to help you find this information. After your record label is established, make sure you e-mail sites like these with your label name and mailing address, so the world knows your new record label exists.
Once you've chosen a name for your label, always use the word 'we' when talking about the label, even if you're a solo artist. "We started this label to bring more industrial world acid punk music to the thousands of fans who can't find it in their record stores," or "We plan four releases over the next three years". Even if you are alone at first, more than likely you will have people helping you and the label's product is really a collective effort, even if you are personally taking all the financial risks and reaping all the financial rewards".
Good Luck,
Wings
here are some articles you might find interesting.
1. DIY: Start Your Own Music Label: http://www.slm-net.com/signum/Issue4/detritus/music2.html
2. HOW TO...START A RECORD LABEL » - http://www.rwdmag.com/music_articles/come_again/03705-9591067/how_tostart_a_record_label/
3. Setting Up an Independent Record Label - www.fmc-ireland.com/worddocs/indp.doc
4. COPS - Starting an Indie Record Label - http://www.cops.co.uk/starting_label_biz_page.html
5. Starting A Record Label - http://www.rapcointelpro.com/Start A Record Label.htm
i have read all of those articles, and found the info you were looking for. here's the quote:
"CHOOSE A NAME
Choosing a name for your new label can be the most fun activity in this process, and also the most time consuming. That's because in your best efforts to come up with a creative, original name that fits your music or personality perfectly, you may pick a name that's already being used -- by a record label, production company, band, or even a dry cleaner. Legally you can use the same name as a dry cleaner (example, Cyclone Records and Cyclone Cleaners), you just may prefer to avoid direct name recognition competition with established businesses in your area. You obviously can't choose a name in use by someone in the same line of business.
There have even been cases where very large companies whose products and services are available around the world have prevented businesses (through lawsuits) from using their names or trademarks in any other business For example, Apple Computer did not have to change their company name, but they were prevented from entering into business activities involving music by the Beatles' record label, Apple Corps. I suggest avoiding the following label names: McDonald's Records, IBM Music, Microsoft Records, Xerox Music, etc. You might even be advised to avoid names like Microshaft Records; corporate lawyers are so powerful they might be able to cause plenty of headaches for you just when you finally secure that national distribution contract.
Having said that, choose a name that you really would be proud to be associated with if it wasn't your own label. It can give the music buyer a sense of the type of music on the label (Shrapnel Records, Earth Beat!, Higher Octave Music, Concord Jazz, Guitar Nine Records); it can be the last names or initials of the owners (A&M Records); it can be generic to reflect a wide variety of music on the label (Electra, Critique, Capitol). This label name will be your calling card when distributors, record stores, or larger labels refuse to deal with you as an individual artist or band.
To see examples of the wide variety of names in use out there, check out some of the lists of record labels and record companies on the WORLD WIDE WEB Use a search engine like AltaVista on the Internet to help you find this information. After your record label is established, make sure you e-mail sites like these with your label name and mailing address, so the world knows your new record label exists.
Once you've chosen a name for your label, always use the word 'we' when talking about the label, even if you're a solo artist. "We started this label to bring more industrial world acid punk music to the thousands of fans who can't find it in their record stores," or "We plan four releases over the next three years". Even if you are alone at first, more than likely you will have people helping you and the label's product is really a collective effort, even if you are personally taking all the financial risks and reaping all the financial rewards".
Good Luck,
Wings
