How do I get a recording contract/agent?

Question by Elizabeth-Riley: How do I get a recording contract/agent?
I am an underaged singer and I have a very unique voice. It is a jazzy, slow, Janice Joplin sort of deep voice. I also play guitar. I play jazz, rock, alternative, acoustic, and any sort of slow music. I also can play faster music though. Anyways, I am really looking for an agent or recording contract. If there is any way at all that anyone could help me out, that would be greatly appreciated.
P.S. If anyone could direct me to a specific website or anything, that would also be great!

Best answer:

Answer by Steve S
Didn’t you get the memo? Artists are moving away from recording companies and agents in droves these days.

Current trends in the music industry are quickly moving toward independent (you’ve heard of ‘Indie’ rock, right?) recording, production and distribution of music. Radiohead just released their latest recording on their website and are letting listeners decide how much they want to pay for the music. Joni Mitchell has vowed to never do another recording on a major label. Madonna is releasing her latest tunes independently.

For nearly a century, unscrupulous and greedy record companies and agents have destroyed the lives of so many artists and it is a crime! Have you read about the RIAA suing a mother earning $ 35K/Year for over $ 200K? Why would you want anything to do with that type of industry?

Seriously, if you are talented and really want to do this, you really need to look into setting up a personal web site and have someone (or do it yourself) record and produce your songs for distribution on the web. By the way, it is spelled JANIS Joplin.

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