Breaking onto a label doesn’t require money, connections, or cosmic luck. What it does require is clarity, patience, and music that actually lands. This is a no-nonsense guide built on the kind of insights label owners usually share off the record.
While most of the advice in this post applies across genres, we’re speaking primarily from within the minimal and techno ecosystem — where EP structures, label dynamics, and expectations follow their own unwritten rules. Let’s get started.
Build Your Foundation: Make Good Music First
Before you start chasing labels, spend time learning how to produce properly.
You don’t need paid courses. YouTube is a whole university if you treat it like one. Listen to a lot of music. Break tracks down. Rebuild them. Fail. Fix. Fail again.
If you do have a bit of budget, workshops help — but skill doesn’t magically appear. For most producers, it takes years to produce something truly release-ready.
Getting feedback from other producers is essential. A few honest ears can help ground your perspective and make sure your music is ready for the next step.
Two Ways to Build a Demo (Both Valid)
There are two workflows that actually make sense:
Option A: Create first, label later.
- Produce a few tracks that represent where your sound naturally goes.
- Then look for labels whose catalog already resonates with that vibe. This way you stay fully authentic and find a home that fits organically.
Option B: Label first, create later.
- Find a label you genuinely like.
- Study their catalogue, the energy, the textures.
- Then craft a demo influenced by that direction, but still fully you. Labels can smell imitation from miles away. Inspiration is fine, mirroring is not.
What Makes a Good Minimal Techno EP
Most minimal/techno EPs follow a simple structure:
- 2–4 originals, or
- 2–3 originals + 2–3 remixes
Don’t worry about lining up remixers yourself — a serious label curates that.
We know who fits our roster, who can expand the EP’s reach, and who brings the right texture. Remixes are strategic: more names, more networks, more support.
Choosing the Right Label (This Is Where New Artists Mess Up)
Let’s be blunt. Big labels rarely sign completely unknown artists out of nowhere. Not because they don’t care about new talent, but because their entire ecosystem runs on trust, reputation, and consistency.
Can it happen? Sure.
Should you bank on it? No.
Where you actually have a real shot:
- Mid-sized labels with personality
- Small but curated labels
- Labels run by producers who are active in your scene
This is where people actually open demos and actually respond.
How to judge if a label is worth sending to
Artwork, follower counts, and branding contribute to image, but they’re easy to manufacture and shouldn’t be trusted on their own.
Instead ask yourself:
- Do they release with intention, or do they dump music every Friday just to stay visible?
- Do they have a philosophy, or are they just “another minimal label” in a sea of clones?
- Does your demo realistically sit next to their last 10 releases?
- Do they support newcomers, or only recycle the same three artists?
- Do other respected artists play their releases?
Your first release sets your trajectory. Choose a label you’d be proud to grow with — not just one that replied first.
A practical strategy that saves you months
Build a three-tier list:
- Tier 1 — dream labels (low probability, send anyway for experience)
- Tier 2 — realistic, mid-level labels that match your actual sound
- Tier 3 — small but intentional labels that care more about quality than hype
Hit Tier 2 and 3 with focus and respect.
Treat Tier 1 as a long-term horizon.
Submitting the Demo: Keep It Human
Once you have your tracks, find the label’s demo email or submission form.
A few non-negotiables:
- Do not send music that doesn’t fit our sound. It’s the fastest way to never get a reply.
- Be concise and real. Two paragraphs max: who you are, why you chose them, and a link to your demo.
- Name your files properly. ArtistName – TrackTitle.
- Send full tracks, not cuts.
- Use links that never expire. Dropbox/Google Drive/Private SoundCloud are safe bets.
And here’s a big one:
Do not send the same demo to multiple labels simultaneously.
It looks unprofessional. And if two labels say yes, you’ve created a problem for everyone — including your future self. The scene is small. People talk.
Exclusivity, Silence, and Moving On
Don’t send the same demo to multiple labels at the same time. It’s unprofessional and creates problems if more than one label shows interest.
At the same time, silence is normal. Labels are busy, and no reply usually means not right now, not that the music is bad. A reasonable waiting period is 3–6 weeks. If you haven’t heard back by then, it’s completely fine to send the demo to another carefully chosen label.
What matters is intent and timing. Don’t chase, don’t spam, and don’t resubmit unchanged demos to the same label — but don’t let your music sit in limbo either.
Final Notes From the Inside
- Quality beats quantity, always.
- Authentic artists stand out more than trend-chasers.
- A label is not a lottery ticket. It’s a partnership.
- Your craft is your leverage.
- Every release builds your story — pick labels that elevate it.
If you stay consistent, intentional, and self-aware, your music will find its home.
Labels aren’t looking for perfection — we’re looking for artists who know who they are.
Conclusion
We hope this guide helps you navigate the process a little more clearly and avoid some of the common traps along the way. There’s no formula, but intention, patience, and authenticity go a long way. And yes — we’re always open to receiving honest, well-crafted demos from artists who genuinely resonate with what we do.
Join the conversation
We’re curious to hear about your own experiences with demos and labels, what worked, what didn’t, and what you’ve learned along the way. Do you approach labels with finished music, or create with a specific release in mind? Feel free to share your thoughts, questions, or perspectives in the comments — the exchange is often just as valuable as the release itself.