Beatport’s curation and label experts will host a live webinar session on September 14th, 2023, — delivering invaluable advice on how to promote and sell your music on Beatport.
Calling all label owners and artists! You are invited to a special free webinar to help you understandhow to promote your music on Beatport.
During this exciting session, we will guide you through the various opportunities to help increase your release visibility and clarify what the curation team looks for when selecting features on Beatport.
From this webinar, you will walk away with the following information:
1. How to get your music onto Beatport
2. Understand the pitch-to-curation process
3. How to get visibility on Beatport
4. Refining your label’s brand identity
Save the date on September 14th, 2023, at 5:00 pm BST, 6:00 pm CEST, 9:00 am PT, and be part of this informative event!
This live webinar is hosted by Raphael Pujol (Vice President of Curation) and Marina Palacios (Head of the Label Relations Team, UK), who will be available to answer questions on the day from labels attending.
Revisit the second installment of Beatport’s new three-part panel series, “Decoding The Music Industry.”
The second installment of Beatport’s live panel series ‘Decoding The Music Industry’ took place at their new London HQ on 17th August. Titled ‘The Shifting Landscape of Releasing Music’, the session was hosted by Beatport’s own Alex Branson joined by three guest panelists – Kitty Amor (DJ, producer, and promoter), Sarah Wilson (TuneCore), and Titus Moore (EMPIRE).
The panel illuminated a range of topics – from ways to navigate the release and publishing of your own music, to the importance of being business savvy and understanding what it takes to be a truly independent artist.
Listen below to the panel discussion below.
The Shifting Landscape of Releasing Music
“I think a few years ago, people thought of self releasing platforms as an option when you’ve tried everything else. Whereas now it’s been proven with so many artists that actually you can make it a long term success for yourself, by putting the right teams, the right knowledge, around you. So it’s not just a short term option.” – Sarah Wilson
With the advent of the internet and social media the music industry has transformed considerably, challenging legacy institutions and creating more opportunities for artists across the spectrum.
In that time, a number of innovative companies have come to market offering more transparent and flexible services for artists. Services such as TuneCore and EMPIRE offer a suite of options for artists at every stage of their career. Their success lies in an adaptive strategy that can cater to almost any kind of deal – whether it’s just digital distribution for small early-stage artists, or a more complex 360 service – including everything from marketing, publishing, and sync, to merchandising, business development and more – for global top tier artists.
Such a business model also enables artists to curate their own teams and manage each component as they see fit, whether it is a case of delegating everything or being more hands-on in the day-to-day running of things.
There was a clear emphasis on understanding the artist as a business, if they are to be commercially successful. In order to make that happen, the artist requires a solid team behind them. According to Moore, “You really need a good team who can take you on that journey, and understand how to actually build a business from zero.” He went on to say that this is especially important if you’re trying to stay independent for as long as possible.
Similarly, Wilson explained that “if you’ve got the people that have got your back and you want to keep them, it’s a great way of using a [distribution] service, keeping that team around you that you trust.” The added benefit of working in this way means you have complete control and transparency over each element of your process – from the business side to the creative.
As a seasoned artist, Kitty Amor provided valuable insights for those earlier in the journey. Taking the time to know the landscape can set you up for long term success:
“I can say that I’ve done myself a service by pumping the brakes a little bit, understand and watch what’s happening before my time, so that I’m going in, in a way that’s more authentic to myself.” – Kitty Amor
She attributed a big part of her success to being fully engaged in the process and doing the diligent work that was necessary – whether it is networking, funding your own trips and research, or understanding who you are as an artist and what you want. She also expressed the importance of sitting down with the numbers, understanding the goals of the label or distribution company you’re working with, and being dialled in to the process and the teams involved – referring positively to her working relationship with Defected. Moore also emphasized this point for emerging artists:
“I think preaching good business for artists and for the teams early on is so key to having a long career where people want to actually be involved.” – Titus Moore
The key theme that emerged from the panelists was understanding the relationship between business and art, and ensuring you have ownership of both. Rather than rejecting one or the other, the two must be harmonized in order for an artist to achieve financial and creative success. As Kitty Amor admits: “It does take a lot of time, but at the same time, it’s your investment into your own business – because that’s what it is at the end of the day.”
The closing points highlighted the challenges of surviving in a fast moving world dominated by social media, tech and algorithms. With so much expectancy artists can easily get caught up in the machine, taking on extra pressure and anxiety that can start to negatively impact creativity. Sound advice from the panelists affirmed the need to stay authentic, to continue to tell your story even during quieter periods, to pivot where necessary, and maybe even take a contrarian position to stand out from the masses.
Join us on Thursday 24th August for our final installment ‘Rising Above the Noise’, with Lynda Phoenix, Jay Ahmed, and Aly McHugh, hosted by Emilie Birks and a DJ set from Paris Cesvette.
Beatport pays respect to a label that is rapidly becoming one of the drum & bass scene’s biggest and most essential brands, Invicta Audio.
Hailing from Bristol, the rate at which the record label and events company Invicta Audio has embedded itself in the hearts, minds, and eardrums of the global drum & bass scene is simply astonishing. Established in 2020 amid the depths of lockdown by its founder Anton Bailey, this award-winning D&B brand has cemented itself as a trailblazer in giving rise to the genre’s new wave of talented DJs and producers. Some artists they have signed to their label include Anais, Formula, Harley D, Jam Thieves, Magenta, Latte, Burt Cope, Phibes, and many more emerging acts that are making a name for themselves with Invicta Audio’s dedicated assistance.
The unique and wholly memorable showcases the label hosts have landed at some of the UK’s biggest stages, including Printworks, Warehouse Project, Motion, Boomtown, and Rampage Open Air. The label also walked away with the accolade of ‘Best Newcomer Label’ at the 2022 Drum&BassArena Awards.
We caught up with Invicta Audio founder Anton Bailey to learn a little bit more about the imprint’s origins, its high-caliber drum & bass attitude, and some of the label’s most essential tracks. See below.
The UK’s breakout melodic techno star, Massano, celebrates the arrival of his freshly-minted Simulate Recordings imprint with some high-voltage selects for Beatport’s Playlist of the Week.
I am Massano, an electronic music producer and DJ from Liverpool. The genre that my music currently fits into is melodic techno, but through my own music and my label, Simulate Recordings, I would say the words that best describe my sound are aggressive and energetic. Something I love to do with my music is combine contrasting moments in tracks, to keep things unpredictable and always have that element of surprise for the listener. For example, I love transitions between moments of emotion and raw aggression to catch people off guard, both in my individual productions and my DJ sets. This playlist captures that, with plenty of high-energy tracks that get people engaged to create special moments, emotional breaks bringing people together, and interesting rhythms keeping everyone moving on the dancefloor.
The idea behind Simulate is to present futuristic sounds that link the ever-evolving digital world to our physical existence. The label explores the possibility that life could be a simulation, whilst imagining what the future of that simulated existence could look and sound like. I aim to bring together a new forward-thinking family of artists whose futuristic sounds completely emphasize what the label is all about. Today’s playlist features a range of these artists, including a selection of our vision-announcing compilation, The Infrastructure 1.0.
I aimed to structure the playlist somewhat in a way that I would structure a DJ set, starting off a little deeper and groovier, before moving up towards an explosion of energy and pushing the tempo higher and finishing on something big…
I love how this track creates a great starting point to build things up in a set, it’s deep and groovy but still has that moment to get people excited for the start of a set. I’ll often use this one on the dancefloor when I want to start things a bit deeper and build things up slowly, perfect for longer sets.
Un:said – Escalate [Simulate]
But because this is only a 12-track playlist, I thought we’d go straight into something a bit more energetic. An amazing track from a hugely talented friend of mine Un:said. I love his unique sound design and structuring of tracks, they are always so creative but functional for use on any stage.
Massano – Nodosuba [Simulate]
A different style track for me, which is what made it perfect for the debut Simulate VA, The Infrastructure 1.0, to show people a different side to my productions. This track was originally intended as just a DJ tool, something where the energy never really drops, so it keeps people moving from start to finish, but yet still has lots of energy and a powerful drop. After testing it on the dancefloor many times, I knew I had to find a way to release this one and show I can create tracks not just for the peak time moment.
19:26 – Luminescence [Radikon]
Another insanely talented producer, 19:26 seems to come back every month with more and more bombs with catchy hooks and perfectly matched synths. This track is no exception to that.
Massano – The Blaze [Simulate]
Another track I was testing for months and months, I can rarely resist the urge to play this one. This track was originally called “Forrest,” but someone on YouTube randomly uploaded it as “The Blaze,” then more and more people were asking me, “when is ‘The Blaze’ coming out” until it got out of hand, and I had no choice but to call it “The Blaze” (LOL). But on a serious note, “The Blaze” is possibly a more appropriate title for this one for its raw aggression and powerful drops.
Pacs – Tansient [Simulate]
Such a well-constructed, energetic track from my Brazilian friend Pacs. So simple yet so powerful and effective, this track sounds so clean and always gets people going on the dancefloor! For sure one of my favorites from The Infrastructure 1.0 and a real statement from Pacs showing that he is one to watch for the future, and a key member of the Simulate family.
Massano – Shapeshifter [Upperground]
This a track from my first release on Artbat’s UPPERGROUND label, this one I love for how different the two drops are. Both really high energy but unique in their own ways. Another thing I love in this track is some of the random sound recordings I included in it from the real world. Listen out for some SFX made using voice notes from friends and a football crowd cheer!
Artche – Adrenaline [Simulate]
A track I first played in the club room of Hi Ibiza last year, I feel this track is perfect for that room, something a bit darker and leaning towards more of a techno style. With its powerful kick, driving bassline, and raw synths, I love the simplicity of this track and its ability to transition things a little darker.
Massano – Breathe [Upperground]
The other track from my Upperground EP, this track is one of the faster tracks I have produced in recent times, but this one really captures what I mentioned about contrasting moments of emotion and aggression. The breakdown arpeggiator and pads stops things, makes people take notice and brings through an epic moment of euphoria. This is then followed by a swift transition into metallic, powerful sounds that create a more heavy and impactful drop.
KAS:ST – 2084 [Flyance Records]
KAS:ST need no introduction. Year after year, they prove their insane creativity and ability to merge the techno & melodic techno genres. I love how different their vocals are from what everyone else is using, along with their hypnotic soundscapes and dark acid melodies.
Disfreq – Batida [Truesoul]
Something a bit different I always use to lift the tempo and create a more ravey moment on the dancefloor. The power in this track’s drums, vocal and acid synth line always helps to push the energy of a room that little bit further, just when people might be starting to feel tired, I use this one to lift them back up.
Depeche Mode – Ghosts Again (Massano Remix) [Columbia]
A track I am incredibly proud of, not only for the amazing opportunity to work with some absolute legends of the scene in Depeche Mode but for how the track turned out. This one took a lot of work to get it how I wanted it, but the finished result is something that always sends people crazy on the dancefloor. I love how the track combines so many different stages to keep things constantly evolving.
