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 Capitol Christian Music Group, 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 Capitol Christian Music Group Recording, a Universal Music Group imprint responsible for the release of some Christian music, Contemporary Christian music, Christian rock, Gospel artists you may know of, such as: Hillsong Worship, We The Kingdom, Amy Grant to name a few.
And, still highly relevant today, Capitol Christian Music Group is home to current artists including Anna Golden, CeCe Winans, and, Newsboys 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 Capitol Christian Music Group and a couple of rules that you need to follow...
Capitol Christian Music Group Info Card
Capitol Christian Music Group (Capitol CMG), originally EMI Christian Music Group, is an American music label that has been owned by Universal Music Group since 2013. It has its headquarters in Brentwood, Tennessee. Christian gospel music is produced by Capitol CMG.
Year Founded: 1976
Founder: Billi Ray Hearn
Website: https://www.capitolcmglabelgroup.com/
Primary Genre(s): Christian music, Contemporary Christian music, Christian rock, Gospel
Parent Label: Universal Music Group
Prominent Artists:
Hillsong Worship, We The Kingdom, Amy Grant, Anna Golden, CeCe Winans, Newsboys, Michael W. Smith, TobyMac
The Two Main Ways to Send Capitol Christian Music Group a Demo
There are generally two main methods to getting your demo into the ears of the Capitol Christian Music Group 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 Capitol Christian Music Group 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 Capitol Christian Music Group. (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 Capitol Christian Music Group.
What to Know BEFORE Submitting a Demo To Capitol Christian Music Group: Demo Submission Rulebook!
Once you figure out how you plan to get your demo to the Capitol Christian Music Group 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 4: Build Relationships
• It is always beneficial to build relationships and network in the music industry. The music industry can be a very tough business to crack, and it is important to have as many connections as possible.
• By getting out and connecting with people, you never know what opportunities may arise. It is important to meet other artists, producers, DJ's, publicists, booking agents, label staff, fans, and anyone else involved in the music industry.
• These connections could one day lead to your big break. However, it is important to approach these potential connections in a professional manner so that you do not come across as a stalker.
• Establishing and maintaining healthy relationships in the music industry is essential for success.
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 Capitol Christian Music Group 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 Capitol Christian Music Group 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.