The music industry is changing every day, and despite people questioning, if record labels are dying, the fact remains that signing with reputable labels like Blue Note Records, is still a goal and dream for many!
You've built up a buzz, you're getting insane views on your music videos, and now you want to get your music out there even more.
You've got your eye on Blue Note Records Recording, a Universal Music Group imprint responsible for the release of some Jazz artists you may know of, such as: Lou Donaldson, Art Blakey, Lee Morgan to name a few.
And, still highly relevant today, Blue Note Records is home to current artists including Cannonball Adderley, Geri Allen, and, Tony Allen So how do you do it? How do you reach such a company? Let's explore the two main methods of how to send a demo to Blue Note Records and a couple of rules that you need to follow...
Blue Note Records Info Card
American jazz record company Blue Note Records is owned by Universal Music Group and managed by Capitol Music Group. The blue notes of jazz and the blues are where Alfred Lion and Max Margulis got the idea for their 1939 establishment. The label started focusing on modern jazz around 1947 after initially focusing on recording traditional jazz and small group swing.
From then, Blue Note developed into one of the most prolific, significant, and renowned jazz record companies of the mid-20th century, renowned for its signature modernist aesthetic direction as well as for helping to shape hard bop, post-bop, and avant-garde jazz.
Year Founded: 1939
Founder: Alfred Lion, Max Margulis, Francis Wolff
Website: https://www.bluenote.com/
Primary Genre(s): Jazz
Parent Label: Universal Music Group
Prominent Artists:
Lou Donaldson, Art Blakey, Lee Morgan, Cannonball Adderley, Geri Allen, Tony Allen, Artemis, Sweet Peak Atkinson
The Two Main Ways to Send Blue Note Records a Demo
There are generally two main methods to getting your demo into the ears of the Blue Note Records team, as well as any of the other Universal Music Group labels. These methods differentiate between how involved in the wider music industry you are and who you're already connected with.
Method 1
The most typical and arguably easiest way to get your demo into the hands of the Blue Note Records A&R team would be to have it handed off to them.
This would be through someone like a manager, agent, producer, radio DJ, or some other kind of industry professional. (Universal Music Group)
The reason that this is one of the easiest ways to get your demo to this label is that Universal Music Group, and all of its record labels, refuse to take or listen to any unsolicited media.
They do this because of the sheer amount of music that they receive. If you send it through the proper channels, though, the odds of them checking it out are much higher.
Method 2
If you're an independent or otherwise unsigned musician, you do have other options. Universal Music has a platform called Spinnup that provides services like digital distribution and access to a whole network of talent scouts who have relationships with a variety of labels in the group, including Blue Note Records. (Universal Music Group)
Spinnup is a great platform as it has been designed to do just this, discover artists! Sadly, Spinnup has announced the switch to invite-only. This changes this submission option in the same way that AWAL changed when Sony acquired it in a $430M deal in March 2022.
AWAL now filters out around 90% of submitted tracks! So why am I telling you this?
Spinnup ❌
AWAL ❌
Well, Spinnup is not completely off the table, UMG is just shifting to a more curated artist discovery and distribution platform.
As a result of this, most indie artists who had been using Spinnup have been asked to take down their releases. It is worth following along with the publications to keep up with what they are doing on the platform.
There are a few other kinds of platforms that you can find that provide similar services and help you in an attempt to get involved with Blue Note Records.
What to Know BEFORE Submitting a Demo To Blue Note Records: Demo Submission Rulebook!
Once you figure out how you plan to get your demo to the Blue Note Records A&R department, you'll want to make sure you do these key things to increase your chances of getting in the doors:
Tip 1: Preparing Your Demo
•Before submitting a demo to a record label, ensure the music is of high quality and sounds polished.
If your demo sounds like it was recorded in a bedroom on a laptop, it's not going to make a good impression. Likewise, you might have a certain, marketable look - but if the music is trash, it won't be enough.
• Ask for feedback from experienced people in the industry to get an idea of whether your tracks are ready for release.
• Make sure you export your tracks in the correct format and that they are properly tagged with clear file names and ID3 tags.
• Do not send demos with copyrighted material or remixes/mashups as these will likely be rejected by labels.
Tip 3: Read The Submission Guidelines
•Most labels have a demo policy that is displayed on their website. This policy outlines the guidelines they require for demo submissions.
• Unsolicited material is often rejected by labels for legal reasons.
• Most labels ask for original, full-length tracks and reject remixes, mashups, previews, unfinished tracks, etc.
• Some acceptable demo formats include private SoundCloud or Dropbox links and MP3 or WAV attachments.
• Mastering and mixdown preferences may be specific (i.e., mixed down track with -6db of headroom).
• Email format should include artist name, track names, and contact info but some labels prefer an EPK (Electronic Press Kit), bio, music career achievements, photos, etc.
• Contact instructions could include email or submission form guidelines and other contact information.
Many label policies explain that they will only contact those whose music has been accepted and offer follow-up instructions if necessary
What Next?
Of course, the last thing you want to do is make sure that you're not sending unsolicited material or anything that infringes on copyright. From there, if you do what is asked of you while sending out a demo, you should really be good to go.
At the end of the day, record labels like Blue Note Records receive hundreds of demos. It takes a lot of both skill and luck to get chosen to sign with them. That doesn't mean you should ever give up on sending out your demos. It just takes time and determination to find a record label that fits best with you.
If you decide not to use one of the submission platforms above, it might be worth contacting Blue Note Records directly to check if they have an additional process or contact you can deal with directly.
You also want to get clued up on the different types of record deals out there and be prepared to consult with an entertainment lawyer.