Dropcards speaks to Century Media
[As part of our continuing client spotlight series, we are exploring the opinions, advice, and experiences of some of the brightest minds in the entertainment industry. Please feel free to be part of the conversation by emailing us hello@dropcards.com.]
Century Media Records became a major independent label in the 1990’s with the signing of bands like Iced Earth, Eyehategod, and Nevermore. These bands would go on to become quite popular in their respective genres. Century Media has broken major metal bands like Lacuna Coil and Shadows Fall, and has had tremendous success in the past year in developing great new bands like Turisas and Vampires Everywhere.
Dropcards VP Steve Ceragno sits with Brian Sharp, COO at Century Media.
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Steve: How long have you been with Century Media and how did you get started there?
Brian: I’m about to start my 15th year with Century Media. I originally started working at Metal Blade Records in 1993 while I was simultaneously working at a record store. I worked at Metal Blade until the end of 1997 when a former Metal Blade employee, Marco Barbieri, convinced me to come to Century Media. So I started with Century Media in January, 1998.
Steve: What was your reason for going into the music industry?
Brian: I have always been a huge music fan for my entire life so when I graduated college and was about to start grad school I decided to take some time off from school and got a job at a local record store. From there I started interning at Metal Blade Records and eventually started working there fulltime. So I guess my reason for going into the music industry is because I’ve always loved all types of music and got tired of going to school.
Steve: What should bands be doing that will get them noticed by a label?
Brian: As far as rock bands, I think the key is putting on a great live show and creating a buzz through your live shows. If you start consistently selling out local shows, promoters will notice and will talk. Other bands will notice and want you to play with them or promoters will want you on shows when national acts come through. All of this will lead to being noticed by the people either at labels or who talk to labels.
Steve: As a musician in a band, I was always focused on understanding how the business side of music worked. What do you think most bands are lacking in understanding how the music business works?
Brian: Now days I think bands have a much better understanding of how the music business works. There is a lot more information available and you can even take classes in how the music industry operates. One thing that musicians need to be aware of is that if they do get a deal with a record label, that’s when their work really starts. Especially with rock bands it means they need to tour constantly to build their reputation as a live act and establish a fan base. It means doing interviews with as many outlets as possible and always being available. There is a lot of work involved if you want to make a career out of being a professional musician and it can be very rewarding and lucrative but it is still a job and you need to recognize that with that comes responsibilities and sometimes it can involve tedious stuff that you don’t want to do. Most of the bands on our label can tell you about signing thousands of promo materials for give-aways and specials or having to get up early for interviews when it was the last thing they wanted to do.
Steve: What’s the difference between a distribution deal and a recording deal?
Brian: From an artist’s point of view, a distribution deal could be for distributing a master which has already been recorded in the final version. This could also be a licensing deal where an artist would own the copyright to the master and license it to a label for a determined amount of time. During the term the label would have the rights to produce, distribute and hopefully profit off of the master. A classic recording deal is when the label pays for the recording of the master and typically owns the master for perpetuity afterwards. This means that the label has the rights to produce, distribute and profit from the master forever.
Steve: Century Media has set up pre-release campaigns for new albums by offering a ‘limited edition Dropcards’ on a lanyard with collector art and having the bands sign the cards for sale at venue that the artists are playing at. Has it increased awareness for the artists?
Brian: I think it has increased awareness for the bands to the degree that the Dropcards have probably gotten into the hands of fans who might not have listened to the bands otherwise. Dropcards are an inexpensive bonus that we can add to our specials. Anything we can add helps the pre-order look more attractive especially if it is exclusive digital content.
Steve: Lastly, Yankees or Red Sox?
Brian: Since I grew up in Los Angeles and remember all too well how Reggie Jackson and the Yankees would demolish the Dodgers during the championships in the 1970s, I’m inclined to say Red Sox. I never had any ill will for the Red Sox, especially since they had such a long dry spell without winning the World Series, but I’m starting to get tired of them recently. Although I will say, as a Dodger fan, I’d root for either the Yankees or the Red Sox over the San Francisco Giants!
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