How to get a contract with the Universal Music Group? (more info)?
Question by Pedro: How to get a contract with the Universal Music Group? (more info)?
PLEASE HELP ME. By reading this, and giving me a serious answer, you are helping me in MY LIFE. This is serious for me..So please, read everything I wrote. So, here it goes…
You know, lots and LOTS of kids/teens (say, from their 8th birthday, up to their…let’s say 13) want to be a famous musician (generally pop).
Well, I’m 16. I’m in high-school already. EVERYONE else has forgotten that “dream” (and I mean everyone.. up to a point where if you talk about that, you get laughed at).
I still have that “dream”.
Couple of things I wanna know..do many teens my age want to be famous as well? I mean…but not for the fame. Seriously not. Just to KNOW that millions of other people listen to your music…which I compare to my thoughts, my personality. Do many teens my age still chase that dream, for the same reasons as me? (not money..I wouldn’t even need to be paid, seriously)
Also, I know for a fact that Universal Music Group (UMG) is the best company to sign a record label contract with.
I live in Portugal. In an island. I’m kinda isolated, not many music schools here (although there is 1 professional arts school, which I’m joining this year). I’ve been learning how to play the guitar for 4 years now. Always been passionate for music, and I’ve taught myself how to play the piano, the drums and I know a bit of bass as well. I’m told (genuinely) that I have a good voice. I’m also joining, in the professional arts school, a vocal class, a guitar class, and piano class (including music theory class).
What if I truly, and I mean TRULY, am passionate for music, and want to become famous? I don’t really care what genre of music anymore, because I used to hate pop/mainstream music, because it is obvious that it is fabricated music, but it’s still music. Hell, I wouldn’t mind if I was Justin Bieber right now..
I need SERIOUS advice on how to reach my goal..I mean..Sometimes I feel lost. I feel it, in my guts, that I’m not meant to have an ordinary job (don’t have anything against it though), I feel I’m destined for greatness..Maybe I’m just fooling myself..
Other qualities: I have a professional English diploma (if I made any kind of serious mistake here in this question, you have my permission to laugh your *** off :P) and I’ve done some modeling, in the past (just to make it clear that I’m not ugly as hell.. Not bragging myself either, just pointing out the facts)
So.. advice?
Also, I know that, if it was that easy (you, if everyone knew how to do it), everyone would be famous, and all… I don’t need a whole tutorial, just a few candles lighting the way for me 🙂
Best answer:
Answer by Russell E
Well, since you asked a serious question intelligently and are not (seemingly) an air-headed American teenager who wants to be in a band or a model or in movies with no effort or serious study or experience, I’ll give you my humble opinion.
I’ve never heard of UMG, so I’ll not pretend to have an opinion. I can only say that a label must want you, not the other way around.
You are not the first or last youngster to want to do what you want to do. The problem is getting to do it
I’m sure most artists or wanted-to-be don’t feel like working and dreamt of making it.
I myself started stage acting and playing music at 8 yrs old.(I’m 50) I was good at it. I can play drums, bass, some keyboards, used to play trumpet, sang acted blah blah blah.
I was one of the best guitarists in my City for my age.
I dreamed of being big time.
Oh well…life intervenes, reality intervenes. You gotta get a job if you want to eat and have a roof over your head. I tried many attempts at finding musicians my age good enough to play with me and form a decent band.
Never really did.
I played music, recorded cover songs of bands I liked in a home studio playing all the instruments, and kept up as much as I could. Played Jam nights in clubs.
Eventually filled in one night as the lead singer with a band that had real musicians a few of whom had played and recorded with “real” artists, a Grammy award winning group or two. I ended up doing about 300 gigs in 2 years, played with Original members of Santana and even opened up a show for a legendary guitarist.
I’m still living at a regular house, still working ( or looking for work)
The problem is, you need to be either a talented songwriter and musician, PLUS be seen by people who have connections PLUS interest those people and so on.
My former bandleader is still performing nightclubs in a prominent “gambling” city on band circuit.
He recorded records years ago, but he is a nighclub act.
So I guess I’m not being too much help, but I’m one of the many stories of a talented person who had a little taste of minor success but in the end fizzled and crashed.
Being in Portgal isn’t a great place to be noticed and I just checked your UMG label:
Quote:
“How do I submit a demo to Universal Music Group?
Unfortunately, Universal Music Group does not accept unsolicited material. Your material must be recommended to one of our labels’ A&R departments by a well-known manager, agent, producer, radio DJ or other music industry professional.”
So you have your work cut out for you.
Try to make a little video of yourself or a band you are in.
Put in on Youtube
If it’s good, maybe you’ll get a lot of hits, and someone of the above mentioned music industy folks will notice you.
If you are a “true musician” you will be happy just playing your music and if you are lucky enough to even get a crappy little label to give you a dinky little contract, then you will be more fortunate than 99% of all the people who have your dream as well.
There is no better feeling than playing or acting on front of people and gaining their approval and applause. I know…I’ve been there. But you should do it mainly for love and not fame.
because fame is a fleeing mistress who is very coy.
So do what you are doing, keep learning, growing and performing.
Just don’t quit your day job!!!!!
or you’ll end up like so many others, poor and lonely and with no retirement fund.
other than that…HAVE FUN!!! 🙂
Good luck to you.
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