{"id":85368,"date":"2021-05-12T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-05-12T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/?p=85368"},"modified":"2021-05-13T14:31:53","modified_gmt":"2021-05-13T13:31:53","slug":"the-advantages-disadvantages-of-running-a-diy-label","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/the-advantages-disadvantages-of-running-a-diy-label\/","title":{"rendered":"The Advantages & Disadvantages Of Running A DIY Label"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Image credit: Kieran Webber<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

DIY labels play one of the most important roles in any DIY music scene and although the internet has made it easier for them to exist, it\u2019s still has its positives and negatives.<\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

We recently chatted to a variety of DIY labels<\/a> from across the world, taking a deep dive into how they operate, how they help artists, and much more. A fruitful selection of interviews helped us discover more about the many DIY labels that are around today. Our discussions helped us uncover the many advantages and disadvantages that DIY labels face on a day-to-day basis.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout this article, we will be highlighting the answers regarding the ups and downs of running a DIY label<\/a> with direct quotes from its owners.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do DIY labels have more control and freedom?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Much like DIY artists, DIY labels<\/a> much prefer the outlook due to the freedom to create without limitations or big business holding you back. Not to mention interfering with artistic integrity. This is why both DIY artists and labels work so well with one another.<\/a> As Lee Grimshaw, of Spinout Nuggets, explains<\/a>: \u201cThe natural advantage is that you are able to do what you want, what you like and what you feel people should be listening to.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This sentiment is backed by Joe Booley of Beth Shalom Records<\/a>: \u201cThe obvious advantage is control. Being able to work on every aspect of a release and see it through to the end is incredibly rewarding.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meeting like-minded people and being part of something  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like most people who work in the music industry, those that run DIY labels are music fans. So, as a label owner, you get to work and meet like-minded individuals as well as integrate yourself within the music scene. Fil of Blitzcat Records sums this up:<\/a> \u201cthe friends you make with like-minded people along the way \u2013 artists, designers, writers, promoters, other labels \u2013 is banging.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Callum who owns the London via Australian psych label Copper Feast Records<\/a> adds: \u201cBeing able to meet and work with all these incredible bands and make the big decisions involved to get their records out can have a massive payoff when the LPs arrive for the first time and all the hard work has a tangible result which we\u2019re all incredibly proud of. It\u2019s also really fulfilling when we can get the records to the bands as in a lot of cases, vinyl is only something they could have dreamed about releasing when they first started.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The empowerment of the internet <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The internet has become a powerful tool for creatives, never before has it been so easy to create a profile, a storefront, and target a global audience with such ease. Much like DIY artists<\/a>, DIY labels have also thrived on the internet and used it as a tool to help them grow and even exist. As Joe from Beth Shalom explains:<\/a> \u201cWe certainly wouldn\u2019t have worked with some of the bands that we have in the past or even be able to have the customers we have which are stretched across the globe. So having the internet definitely makes it easier to operate the label and I\u2019d struggle to know how to run it without it I think.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Talking about the power of the internet Callum of Copper Feast said:<\/a> \u201cWithout that resource in terms of reach to bands, customers, scenes, record shops, and other key people in the industry, I\u2019ve no idea where I\u2019d have even begun with starting a label, never mind making it beyond the first release.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is backed by Angus of Double A-Side Records who explains:<\/a> \u201cThat\u00a0the internet has made everything more accessible. The information on offer and ways to interacts with fans and your favourite bands are easier than ever now.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s also allowed for labels to be able to communicate easier too, as Charlie Wyatt of Eeasy Records says:<\/a> \u201cIf I had it my way I wouldn\u2019t bother with any sites or channels but it\u2019s stupid to think like that in these times. I mean emailing or DMing someone is infinitely more convenient and fast than cold calling Or writing a letter isn\u2019t it?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As ever with DIY lack of funding and time management can be issues<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As is always the plight of any DIY creative funding and time management can be an issue. Chris of Blitzcat Records explains: <\/a>\u201cWhat you quickly find out is that everything costs a lot of money.\u201d This is something that is felt by all DIY labels, Joe Booley of Beth Shalom expands:<\/a> \u201cA huge disadvantage is not having the same financial backing that either bigger labels have or could have available through funding and partners.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Callum from Copper feast gives an insight into how this affects his label:<\/a> “It can definitely be difficult just finding the time to do everything that needs to be done around here when you\u2019re also juggling a day job and your personal life. I get by just about but there are inevitably things that we either can\u2019t do or things that get pushed much further down the road than I would like until I actually have time to get them done. Of course, there\u2019s also the financial side of things in that at least for these first few years, it only takes one unsuccessful release to put an end to our plans for the year until we can afford to release something again. We\u2019re still very much reliant on every single order that comes in, so I can never be appreciative enough of all the fans that have supported us over the past 3 years.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet even in the face of all this, these labels make it work. Their dedication, passion, and drive are incredibly inspiring. Showing that it\u2019s possible to chase your dreams, even if it doesn\u2019t make you a millionaire. Each label is helping new and amazingly talented artists get discovered <\/a>and allowing them to have their music pressed onto wax. DIY labels are the backbone to any solid DIY scene, not to mention vital for the growth of the wider music industry. If anyone deserves your support, especially after the pandemic it\u2019s the DIY labels and communities in general.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

DIY labels play one of the most important roles in any DIY music scene and although the internet has made it easier for them to exist, it\u2019s still has its positives and negatives.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":85375,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[24798,11109],"tags":[25909,25913,21924,21928,25911,25912,25910,25914,25211],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nThe Advantages & Disadvantages Of Running A DIY Label - RouteNote Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/the-advantages-disadvantages-of-running-a-diy-label\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Advantages & Disadvantages Of Running A DIY Label - RouteNote Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"DIY labels play one of the most important roles in any DIY music scene and although the internet has made it easier for them to exist, it\u2019s still has its positives and negatives.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/the-advantages-disadvantages-of-running-a-diy-label\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"RouteNote Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-05-12T14:00:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2021-05-13T13:31:53+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/KBW_0269-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1709\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Kieran Webber\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/#organization\",\"name\":\"RouteNote\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/\",\"sameAs\":[],\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/#logo\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/routenote-logo.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/routenote-logo.jpg\",\"width\":1000,\"height\":1000,\"caption\":\"RouteNote\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/#logo\"}},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"RouteNote Blog\",\"description\":\"The World of Digital Music - Distribution - Stores and Free Music\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/the-advantages-disadvantages-of-running-a-diy-label\/#primaryimage\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/KBW_0269-scaled.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/KBW_0269-scaled.jpg\",\"width\":2560,\"height\":1709},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/the-advantages-disadvantages-of-running-a-diy-label\/#webpage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/the-advantages-disadvantages-of-running-a-diy-label\/\",\"name\":\"The Advantages & Disadvantages Of Running A DIY Label - RouteNote Blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/the-advantages-disadvantages-of-running-a-diy-label\/#primaryimage\"},\"datePublished\":\"2021-05-12T14:00:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2021-05-13T13:31:53+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/the-advantages-disadvantages-of-running-a-diy-label\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/the-advantages-disadvantages-of-running-a-diy-label\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/the-advantages-disadvantages-of-running-a-diy-label\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"The Advantages & Disadvantages Of Running A DIY Label\"}]},{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/the-advantages-disadvantages-of-running-a-diy-label\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/the-advantages-disadvantages-of-running-a-diy-label\/#webpage\"},\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/34c4629fa0467082e7058afba4517f0d\"},\"headline\":\"The Advantages & Disadvantages Of Running A DIY Label\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-05-12T14:00:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2021-05-13T13:31:53+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/the-advantages-disadvantages-of-running-a-diy-label\/#webpage\"},\"wordCount\":1059,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/the-advantages-disadvantages-of-running-a-diy-label\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/KBW_0269-scaled.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Advantages of running a DIY label\",\"Disadvantages of a DIY label\",\"DIY label UK\",\"DIY labels UK\",\"Do DIY labels have more control and freedom?\",\"Has the internet empowered DIY labels\",\"how do DIY labels work?\",\"Should I sign to a DIY label?\",\"What do DIY labels do?\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Artists Advice\",\"Music News\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/the-advantages-disadvantages-of-running-a-diy-label\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/34c4629fa0467082e7058afba4517f0d\",\"name\":\"Kieran Webber\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/#personlogo\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0212bdacc3650cbf74f4e94cbbdf6dcc?s=96&d=blank&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0212bdacc3650cbf74f4e94cbbdf6dcc?s=96&d=blank&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Kieran Webber\"},\"description\":\"Music journalist and photojournalist based in Cornwall.\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/routenote.com\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/author\/kieran\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"The Advantages & Disadvantages Of Running A DIY Label - RouteNote Blog","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/the-advantages-disadvantages-of-running-a-diy-label\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"The Advantages & Disadvantages Of Running A DIY Label - RouteNote Blog","og_description":"DIY labels play one of the most important roles in any DIY music scene and although the internet has made it easier for them to exist, it\u2019s still has its positives and negatives.","og_url":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/the-advantages-disadvantages-of-running-a-diy-label\/","og_site_name":"RouteNote Blog","article_published_time":"2021-05-12T14:00:00+00:00","article_modified_time":"2021-05-13T13:31:53+00:00","og_image":[{"width":2560,"height":1709,"url":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/KBW_0269-scaled.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Kieran Webber","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"RouteNote","url":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/","sameAs":[],"logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/#logo","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/routenote-logo.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/routenote-logo.jpg","width":1000,"height":1000,"caption":"RouteNote"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/#logo"}},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/","name":"RouteNote Blog","description":"The World of Digital Music - Distribution - Stores and Free Music","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/the-advantages-disadvantages-of-running-a-diy-label\/#primaryimage","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/KBW_0269-scaled.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/KBW_0269-scaled.jpg","width":2560,"height":1709},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/the-advantages-disadvantages-of-running-a-diy-label\/#webpage","url":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/the-advantages-disadvantages-of-running-a-diy-label\/","name":"The Advantages & Disadvantages Of Running A DIY Label - RouteNote Blog","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/the-advantages-disadvantages-of-running-a-diy-label\/#primaryimage"},"datePublished":"2021-05-12T14:00:00+00:00","dateModified":"2021-05-13T13:31:53+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/the-advantages-disadvantages-of-running-a-diy-label\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/the-advantages-disadvantages-of-running-a-diy-label\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/the-advantages-disadvantages-of-running-a-diy-label\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"The Advantages & Disadvantages Of Running A DIY Label"}]},{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/the-advantages-disadvantages-of-running-a-diy-label\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/the-advantages-disadvantages-of-running-a-diy-label\/#webpage"},"author":{"@id":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/34c4629fa0467082e7058afba4517f0d"},"headline":"The Advantages & Disadvantages Of Running A DIY Label","datePublished":"2021-05-12T14:00:00+00:00","dateModified":"2021-05-13T13:31:53+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/the-advantages-disadvantages-of-running-a-diy-label\/#webpage"},"wordCount":1059,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/the-advantages-disadvantages-of-running-a-diy-label\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/KBW_0269-scaled.jpg","keywords":["Advantages of running a DIY label","Disadvantages of a DIY label","DIY label UK","DIY labels UK","Do DIY labels have more control and freedom?","Has the internet empowered DIY labels","how do DIY labels work?","Should I sign to a DIY label?","What do DIY labels do?"],"articleSection":["Artists Advice","Music News"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/the-advantages-disadvantages-of-running-a-diy-label\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/34c4629fa0467082e7058afba4517f0d","name":"Kieran Webber","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/#personlogo","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0212bdacc3650cbf74f4e94cbbdf6dcc?s=96&d=blank&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0212bdacc3650cbf74f4e94cbbdf6dcc?s=96&d=blank&r=g","caption":"Kieran Webber"},"description":"Music journalist and photojournalist based in Cornwall.","sameAs":["https:\/\/routenote.com"],"url":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/author\/kieran\/"}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/KBW_0269-scaled.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85368"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/23"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=85368"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85368\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/85375"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=85368"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=85368"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=85368"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}