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Contests, White Collar Criminals

YOU DON’T NEED NO STINKIN’ RECORD LABELS ANYWAY

Thursday, January 7th, 2010 at 4:30pm by

scion no label needed

[MetalSucks will be involved in this very cool contest for unsigned bands, brought to you by Scion and Metal Insider. We hope you like what we have in store... it's going to be really cool and we're quite excited. -Ed.]

Your band shows tremendous promise. You have accumulated a solid following, written memorable songs, put together a great live show and have real momentum. With help from MetalInsider – including advice from industry professionals including a mentoring session with Shadows Fall and the opportunity to record with super-producer, Machine – you’ll be well on your way to the next level.

The No Label Needed Contest and Series presented by Scion in collaboration with MetalInsider will help one band leave labels behind and take on the industry all on their own.  The series will show readers how it’s done, all while helping one special contest-winning band get ahead in a spectacular way.

From 1/18 through 2/1, unsigned acts can submit demo packages at www.metalinsider.net/nolabelneeded. Twenty finalists will be selected and one winner will be voted on by a panel of label heads, A&R executives, writers, and site readers to win all the help and education they need to become a truly self-sufficient artist without having to sign a traditional record deal.

The winning band will receive a personalized, all-encompassing tutorial focused on the secrets and tips needed to achieve success in the music industry through DIY means of marketing. Winners will be mentored by the members of Shadows Fall, will record an EP produced by Machine (Lamb of God, Every Time I Die, Suicide Silence), will shop for their stage and photo shoot clothing with Maria Brink (In This Moment) and Blasko (Ozzy) and receive advice from the likes of Ben Weinman of The Dillinger Escape Plan.  Their website will be re-designed, their merch re-imagined and radio and press campaigns mounted to promote their EP by the best in their fields.

The series is not only meant to be a learning experience for one band, it is meant to teach any dedicated musician who wants to learn how to properly market their craft.  Readers will be able to interact with contest partners and contributing musicians and professionals through the site to get some real insight into specific areas of expertise.

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  • Kye

    This is exactly what we need more of. I’d tip my hat if I wore hats.

  • http://thenumberoftheblog.wordpress.com/ groverXIII

    That’s pretty cool, but being forced to go shopping with Maria Brink borders on cruel and unusual punishment.

    • http://www.metalinsider.net Dan Metal Insider

      Um, I’m not the biggest fan but I wouldn’t mind the eye candy and some scratch for new threads.

      • http://thenumberoftheblog.wordpress.com/ groverXIII

        Eye candy? Maybe it’s just me, but she looks like a heavily tattooed Real Doll. She really doesn’t do much for me.

        I suppose if it keeps her from singing, then that’s a good thing, though…

        • Kye

          I’m with grover on this one.

          • http://www.metalinsider.net Dan Metal Insider

            I used to think that, but I ran in to her way too many times in a short period, and I decided to change my opinion. If she lost all the tats (which i’m not a fan of) she’d be a really pretty girl with an awesome body.

  • http://themetalgrinder.com Matt Kraatz

    Finally, American Metal Idol.

    • Honeynutzz

      Nothing really wrong with the idea behind American Idol. Just the musicians it puts out.

      • Kye

        And the way the winner’s record deal is set up. You’re better off being the runner up in that show.

    • Avoid The Light

      Umm, don’t you remember Battle For Ozzfest?

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_for_Ozzfest

      • Kye

        Or as it’s known now “Have a really cool idea, but then just waste a lot of money on a band that sucks and will break up, a band that is actually decent but will take 4 more years to release an album and still won’t go anywhere, a band that will get signed by Century Media and no one will care, and a bunch of other bands that will fade away almost immediately after the show’s conclusion”

  • Brownsound

    I was going to make a joke about The Binary Code but this sounds really awesome, I hope a good band wins!

  • Tonberry

    It’s gonna be funny when the winning band gets signed.

    • Kye

      I was thinking the same thing. Or that Scion would be starting a record label soon after all of this music involvement as of late.

      And +100000000000000000 for the whole Tonberry thing. Knife wielding little bastards…

      • Tonberry

        Or -9999 as it were

  • Ziltoid

    This is REALLY fishy. I don’t like the sound of this at all. It sounds like one of those shitty infomercials where they tell you how to “run your own business” from home.

    Why is a band that won’t have a label being voted on by label heads and A&R goons? Also, note that the rules say that the band won’t need a “traditional” record deal. The word traditional is key. The band still might have to sign some unorthodox contract of sorts. Also, they mention how the marketing will be through DIY means, but how about the recording? How will all of these costs be covered? Also, the band is forced to have this relatively big producer who may not even fit their sound? The clothing thing is overkill IMO, and what qualifies as “advice?” That could just be a quick word or two. Who will control how the website and the merch is designed (better yet, if a band likes what they have now, especially in terms of merch, will they be forced to change it)?

    I am suspicious.

    • http://www.metalinsider.net Dan Metal Insider

      Ziltoid -

      I can tell you, and if you trust the MS guys, who are a part of this, that it’s legit.

      The winner will not be forced into any long term contract at all. After the series is over, they will own the music recorded, and are free to do with it whatever they like – release themselves, license it, whatever. The “traditional” thing isn’t trick wording.

      ALL costs are part of the prize – the band’s recording, mixing, mastering, hotel, travel, photo shoot, press & radio services, wardrobe spree, etc etc has already been paid for as part of the contest. I’m processing the checks myself. The winner will not be forced to spend a dime.

      I’m overseeing this whole thing. All the creative and image stuff – merch, clothes, art, etc. Is going to be a collaboration. I’m helping put the pieces in place and hold everyone’s band, but OF COURSE the band will be the ones telling us exactly what they want. We’re not going to take a Baroness-like band, give them a Slipknot font and dress them in Affliction clothes.

      We picked Machine because he’s a versatile, smart producer who pioneered home and digital recording in metal that lead to the proliferation of DIY techniques unsigned bands use. He’s worked with Lamb of God, White Zombie, Every Time I Die and Suicide Silence. Will Putney at the Machine Shop will be integral in the production, and he’s been working with doom and hardcore bands. It doesn’t get more diverse than that, so I think we’re pretty covered for whatever comes our way. We didn’t go with some typical big-name hot-shot producer guy.

      Scion’s been very dedicated to legitimately helping metal – the Scion Rock Fest wasn’t some pop-metal shameless corporate fest, it was the real deal. And Metal Insider, Metal Sucks and everyone else involved are doing this because it’s something real and something we believe in.

    • http://www.metalinsider.net Dan Metal Insider

      And the expert judges are A) only 20% of the final vote anyway, and B) won’t be many label people, for the reason you listed. Just a few who are good, smart people who care about the scene. It will be more managers and agents and band members than anything else.

  • matt

    really wish i had a demo haha

    • Alex_P

      Really wish I had a band. This is incredible.

  • http://www.deathalizer.com Antonio

    I think this is a very cool contest and I hope my band wins.

  • Dannibal

    Really awesome contest! I wish we had our shit together enough to compete…

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jason-Lekberg/779008102 Jason Lekberg

    I find it interesting that every band mentioned, involved, or referenced in this contest all have label deals which got them to where they are. Good luck with that. Everyone has to have dreams.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Steven-J-Henningsgard/1024517365 Steven J. Henningsgard

    Hell, may as well throw my band’s name into the hat. Worst-case, we could make a huge mockery of the whole thing!

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Steven-J-Henningsgard/1024517365 Steven J. Henningsgard

      * That is, if it turns out to be non-legit. If it turns out to be an honest try at something new/cool, I’m sure whoever wins will be fuckin’ stoked and hopefully make the most of this opportunity that they can!