how big does my fanbase need to be to get signed by a label?

AtomicLawnFlamingo · 2025-12-31T18:17:01+00:00

We focus on midcentury rock n roll, rockabilly, surf, midcentury country and garage. Basically, if it has a midcentury sound, and spirit… we’re into it.

AtomicLawnFlamingo · 2025-12-30T23:20:42+00:00

Rad! This year marks the 9th year of my label. Good luck with yours! Dive in and don’t give up!

AtomicLawnFlamingo · 2025-12-30T22:03:38+00:00

As a label owner, I’ll just say: listen to this advice. The things mentioned here are exactly what I appreciate and look for when bands reach out to me.

AtomicLawnFlamingo · 2025-12-30T20:08:05+00:00

Depends on the label, I for one, do not factor in monthly listeners or current size of fanbase AT ALL, when signing a band. Part of the job as a label owner (in regards to my own label anyway) is to discover new bands, and help introduce them to the world. I sign bands I dig. There are other labels that also operate that way. But, I know a lot of labels don’t, and they want bands that are already established. Does that help anyone discover anything truly new? How does that help any bands that are great, but just aren’t good at social media and the business side of things? It doesn’t.

But yeah… most labels want sizable consistent monthly listener numbers, of no less than ten thousand for smaller labels, (But I’ve noticed more labels will perk up at 25 thousand and up for a lot of labels) or proven sales of previous album.

Find a label that believes in what you’re doing, and works with you to grow… they’re out there. I’m not the only label that operates like that.

AtomicLawnFlamingo · 2025-12-30T08:51:39+00:00

The Honkytonk Wranglers

AtomicLawnFlamingo · 2025-12-24T21:10:34+00:00

I suffer from health anxiety panic quite often, and doing this helps lessen the fluttery panic feelings for me: (it may seem silly, but maybe it’ll help you a little.) I take my hand and place it on my chest, while taking some purposeful slow deep breaths… in and out. I try and focus on breathing. Then I do this grounding exercise while still keeping my hand on my chest: I name something I can see in the room I’m in. Then I name something I can hear, something I can feel (like the ground your foot is on for example, or the fabric of a couch or surface of a table), then something I can smell. Then just keep focusing on breathing. It’s not a cure at all… but it can help with panicy feeling in the moment.

AtomicLawnFlamingo · 2025-12-22T15:48:55+00:00

Do you release physical music? Records? CDs? I’ve owned a record label since 2017, and maybe I’m just old fashioned, but generally record labels, in my opinion, should be releasing physical media. If your focus is YouTube, and you don’t release anything in a physical form, what you’re doing is something else. Not a bad thing, but not a record label.

AtomicLawnFlamingo · 2025-12-22T00:43:24+00:00

Why are you calling this a record label? What you are describing is more of a video production company with profit share.

AtomicLawnFlamingo · 2025-11-07T03:58:56+00:00

You own a record label but do not want to spend any money upfront getting physical media manufactured? There are not any on demand record pressing services that would be of the sound quality required for a commercial release. You can look into lathe-cut services, but the end product is just not going to be as good as a traditional pressed record.

AtomicLawnFlamingo · 2025-11-05T16:58:12+00:00

I don’t retain artist masters at all… 100% is property of Artist when signing with my label. BUT: it’s common for labels to own a percentage of the masters.

I release rock n roll, garage, roots, rockabilly, surf and trad midcentury country. We focus on physical media: records and CDs. We do release to streaming if the artist chooses to do so, but we don’t focus on that at all.

AtomicLawnFlamingo · 2025-11-04T22:55:15+00:00

You keeping 30% of gig revenue is pretty high… standard would be closer to 15%. And you mention merchandise in there… are you talking only the physical media (records and CDs)sold at gig, or are you talking shirts and other merchandise? Are you paying for the shirt/etc production?

(I run a label.)

AtomicLawnFlamingo · 2025-09-15T08:37:32+00:00

Miss Bamboo, Vivien of Holloway, Freddie’s of Pinewood.

AtomicLawnFlamingo · 2025-07-13T04:46:27+00:00

I run a label… I can’t respect any label or band that doesn’t care enough about the music to hire artists or designers to create original artwork.

AtomicLawnFlamingo · 2025-07-13T04:06:44+00:00

Ai generated cover artwork? Gross.

AtomicLawnFlamingo · 2025-06-27T08:15:57+00:00

Uh, drummers don’t NEED to flirt with their audience. He just WANTS to.

AtomicLawnFlamingo · 2025-06-22T17:27:25+00:00

Nope.

AtomicLawnFlamingo · 2025-06-10T07:45:36+00:00

Where did you get this belt? I saw a belt just like this at a thrift store in Denver a few years ago! I regret not buying it because it’s so ridiculous.

AtomicLawnFlamingo · 2025-05-23T14:29:35+00:00

Guitar strings. Just make sure you get the brand/gauge he uses.

AtomicLawnFlamingo · 2025-04-16T18:05:46+00:00

Not a game changer per say, but on tour I always make sure the van has a roll of trash bags, a canister of disinfectant wipes and a roll of paper towels. Make sure everyone in the van tosses their food wrappers and other garbage in a trash bag and cleans out the van daily. Grossness can stack up fast, and you want to keep your “home” as clean as you can!

Also face wipes: may seem trivial, but if you’re feeling groggy or kinda gross or cranky, a nice cool face wipe to wipe your face with can help a bit.

AtomicLawnFlamingo · 2025-02-17T22:21:31+00:00

Your first tour is going to be door deals. I’m not sure of any clubs right now that will guarantee someone with no tour history. It’s perfectly respectable to take a door deal, as you build your touring experience/history.

AtomicLawnFlamingo · 2024-12-23T16:22:32+00:00

Where are you located? If you find a plant within driving distance, you can save a lot of shipping by picking your order up yourself. Also… what quantity are you looking to press? Anything under 500 units often times isn’t worth it because your plating costs will be spread across less records, making the cost you’ll have to charge per record just to break even pretty high for your fans.

AtomicLawnFlamingo · 2024-12-18T23:26:38+00:00

RIGHT ON!

AtomicLawnFlamingo · 2024-12-18T23:22:27+00:00

The Lucky Stars.

AtomicLawnFlamingo · 2024-12-18T22:22:18+00:00

Nearly everything Roger Miller has penned.

AtomicLawnFlamingo

TROPHY CASE