“9 Reasons Why You Aren’t Getting Signed” by Paul Resnikoff Article:  https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2016/05/18/get-band-signed-within-two-years/ Author: https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/author/presnikoff/   In his article Paul Resnikoff interviewed a few industry executives to find reasons why bands are not getting signed today. Blasko and Mike will take you point by point through these reasons, give their personal opinions and real world experiences.   (1) You want it too much. The most interesting artists are the ones that don’t need a label, yet are most likely to get signed by one.  They have strong followings, great music, work hard (and usually tour), and can survive on their own.  In fact, labels often prefer artists that well-developed identities and mini-machines going, because it saves them the work of having to build something from scratch.  It also lowers their risk, which is huge in such an uncertain environment. More importantly, it also gives the artist far greater leverage in a negotiation, because the only reason they need a label is to get to another level.     (2) Your songs won’t appeal to broad enough group of people. There are definitely niche labels that focus on specific genres.  Nuclear Blast wants crushing death metal artists, not Jason Mraz look-a-likes.  But the bigger labels and publishers want big songs, because those get the most mileage across radio, TV, streaming, and touring.   (3) You aren’t getting real engagement on Spotify. If you’re buying plays on Spotify or paying for playlist inclusion, they can tell.  So it has to be organic, and it has to be real.     (4) You don’t have a strong, no bulls–t following on social networks. It doesn’t have to look like Demi Lovato, but there has to be something going on.  “The song is paramount, but I use a lot of other criteria to evaluate it,” said Ron Burman, president of North America at Mascot Label Group and a 15-year veteran at Roadrunner Records “If I go and check out their socials and there’s nothing going on, it makes me a little bit leery to get involved because we don’t have a huge machine so it means I’m going to have to start at zero.”   (5) Your little brother is your manager. A real manager knows the deal, he isn’t an amateur and he isn’t wasting anyone’s time.  Preferably, your manager has done this before.  “They’ll know the ropes they will do a better job of negotiation,“They’ll help you establish the right contacts, or already have them.   (6) If you do get signed, you don’t know how STAY signed. Artists that think getting signed means ‘making it’ are sorely mistaken.  Labels have always dropped underperforming artists, but the risk of losing a deal has only intensified over the years.  All of which translates into increasing the commitment and intensity after getting a deal, instead of slacking off.   Email any questions or comments to askblasko@gmail.com Find Blasko on Twitter and Instagram: @blasko1313 Find Mike Mowery on Twitter and Instagram: @mikeoloop ManageMental is part of the Jabberjaw Media Network. www.jabberjawmedia.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices