| Since the creation of the music industry, artists have | | | | paperwork, you can make it legal too. The first thing |
| been scrambling to find the address to major record | | | | you will need to do is choose a label name and file a |
| labels in hopes of effectively shopping their demo and | | | | Fictitious Name Statement, which is basically a form of |
| signing a record deal. Those days are long gone, | | | | copyright. This way you are not illegally using a name |
| though because new technology is making it easier to | | | | that someone else owns, but it also protects you from |
| not only record and distribute your own music, but now | | | | someone else using your name, intentionally or |
| you can start your own record label with very little | | | | otherwise. It also protects you from slander and libel. |
| effort, and nowhere near the capital. | | | | Next you will need to decide if you want to manage a |
| Shareware, freeware, and open source software are | | | | sole-proprietorship, a partnership, or a corporation. This |
| typically free or extremely inexpensive to obtain. | | | | depends on how many people are involved in decision |
| Programmers and software developers create these | | | | making, investing, and who makes profits. Obviously, |
| accessible programs in order to establish their credibility | | | | the first option is a solo, independent business. The |
| in their field of expertise. This benefits you because it | | | | second option explains that multiple people equally |
| allows you to get your hands on the equipment you | | | | invest and benefit and third represents most of the |
| need to record your own demos and albums. | | | | record labels that you know about. These are large |
| Social networking and social media programs on the | | | | businesses with varying levels of employment and |
| internet also make it very easy to share your music | | | | require legal counsel before establishing. |
| with friends and family, and also to start building a fan | | | | Once you know what kind of business you want to |
| base. You can establish yourself as a credible, quality | | | | run, you need to file for your tax ID. This puts you into |
| musician or artist without the usual marketing and | | | | the IRS, so you have to pay the necessary taxes, but |
| production that can take months to create. | | | | it will also allow you to take advantage of the tax |
| Once you are able to distribute music, you can officially | | | | benefits that go along with owning your own business. |
| consider yourself a record label, and with some | | | | |