What are the differences between music label company, music publisher and distributor?
November 292009
Please help me to understand that what exactly a music label company does for a musician and also same thing about music publishers. In the other word what are the services that these two business offer to musicians or suppose to offer.
Thank you.
A music label may provide different things for an artist, it all depends on the label and it’s size/finances. In general, labels book tours for artists (or at least provide a booking agent/company that will do it), provide transportation for touring, and fund the recording and pressing of the record. They will also have distribution deals in place with distributors so that the finished products gets out and in people’s hands. Labels are also responsible for promotional material and advertising (this may include getting artists on the radio).
A distributor does exactly what it’s name says it does: Distributes music. They control where the record is available; what stores it is in.
I’m not sure exactly what you mean by a music publisher, but as far as my understanding goes, publishers mainly deal with copyright issues and rights to the music.
November 29th, 2009 at 8:36 am
A music label may provide different things for an artist, it all depends on the label and it’s size/finances. In general, labels book tours for artists (or at least provide a booking agent/company that will do it), provide transportation for touring, and fund the recording and pressing of the record. They will also have distribution deals in place with distributors so that the finished products gets out and in people’s hands. Labels are also responsible for promotional material and advertising (this may include getting artists on the radio).
A distributor does exactly what it’s name says it does: Distributes music. They control where the record is available; what stores it is in.
I’m not sure exactly what you mean by a music publisher, but as far as my understanding goes, publishers mainly deal with copyright issues and rights to the music.
References :
November 29th, 2009 at 9:06 am
The distributor is essentially a wholesaler that moves the product from 1 place to another.
The Publisher is actually the company that ‘publishes’ or writes the music.
The label is the company that signs the artist, manufactures the product and promotes the product.
Source – a friend was VP Finance at TVT Records.
References :