Many musicians and bands think in terms of getting that much coveted "record deal" from the major record labels in New York and Los Angeles, and expend all their energies toward that goal. They fail to realize that there is a great big world out there, one with a myriad of opportunities for getting their music heard. It includes markets for all kinds of material, including some which may be out of favor in the US.
For example, if you play '80s pop metal, your chances of getting a record deal in the United States are slim and none. However, the market is still potent in Japan, with smaller outlets in Europe also looking for that type of sound. This scenario applies to just about any music you might be making. There's always going to be somewhere to go with a quality recording. Finding the right outlet is the challenge.
The first place to look is in local retail music stores that sell import CDs and magazines. Look on the labels of bands that are releasing albums in a vein similar to what you may be doing, and you can usually find an address for the label that released the album. Look in magazines from Europe and Japan, and see what the advertisements for various labels are touting. You may find something akin to your own music, and getting in touch with that label might be the key to getting yourself heard.
The Internet is an obvious place to find great sources of information. There are sites devoted to just about any style of music you can think of. Examples include hard rock sites such as
, which has weekly listings of the top singles and albums sales in countries around the world. You will see some familiar names, but there will be many you don't recognize. This underscores the point that the markets in other countries will accept things that the US won't. Check out the foreign labels putting out these albums and see if one might fit your category of music.
While you may reap some lucrative financial rewards from the overseas releases, it can also lead to the interest by the major labels in the US. If you demonstrate sales in another part of the world, the labels will definitely take notice and be anxious to hear what you're doing.
Don't limit yourself. The list of groups that started with success elsewhere and then translated that success into the worlds biggest market here in the United States is long and growing every day. Get out there and find a label suitable for you, and you to may be on your way.
