“How do I start a record label?” That is one of the most asked questions when someone comes up with the crazy idea that they would like to start selling their music.

That’s the question I had nearly 9 years ago. I had no experience in either setting up a business or even any experience about the music industry. I’m just a music fan.

I’m not a musician of any sort, nor could I write lyrics. As I mentioned before, I just like music. Sorry I mean “love” music.

So, when the idea of starting a record label came up I was weary and excited at the same time, as any one in their right mind can just imagine that selling music is not the most stable of career choices.

One of the many experiences I quickly learnt about starting a record label all those years ago was the spiraling costs of every thing you do. Especially when you’re just starting out. It was expensive to get a contract drawn up, expensive to book studio time, expensive to release a record and not to mention marketing costs (if you knew what you was doing).

And if you’re on a tight budget, you’ll start to wonder where all the money is going to come from to get you to be successful. Before you know it, you end up sounding like some hopeless dreamer that family and friends tell to get a “proper” career (God forbid)!

Now, I know many people juggle normal life with life as an artist quite well, but eventually something will have to give and ultimately one thing or another suffers.

So, what do you do? That is the million dollar/euro/pound question. What I did was segment my time between my day job and my time building my network of music industry links.

Yeah,I know, that might not suit everyone, but that is what worked for me.

Once you have go good handle on your time and you need to get some rest as also, you need to prioritize what it is you are trying to achieve – Are you doing this as a hobby, or do you want to get serious?

This, my friend is what I will leave you to think about for a minute.

At least until next time…..