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Label lowdown: Lot 49
In the first of an exclusive new series, leading tech/breaks imprint Lot 49 talk to us about running a label, the industry, and what they look for in demos
Headed by tech-funk giants Meat Katie and Dylan Rhymes, Lot 49 has been responsible for the careers of some of the biggest dance acts around. With more than 300 tracks and remixes in their catalogue, they have worked with artists from Arthur Baker and Phil Kieran to Rennie Pilgrim, Elite Force, Alex Metric and D. Ramirez. They also have two sample packs on Sounds/To/Sample. We track down head honcho Dylan Rhymes to talk downloads, demos and DJing.
What do you think is the secret to your success as a label?
We have always remained eclectic by releasing cross-genre music with strong remix packages. We have also kept a strong presence in the club scene: most of our artists are well established Djs.
What special ingredient are you looking for in tracks you sign?
We look for strong tracks that aren't too busy and that have great production. If we receive something with a strong idea that is let down by its production then we get involved and co-produce to get the track to our standard.
What advice would you give to budding producers wishing to have a track out on Lot 49?
Keep your music simple, with lots of energy, and keep your production level high. Maximize your online presence and get yourself out DJing if you can. All this can be a catch 22 situation if you have no outlet or contacts, but good music always finds a way. We're doing a competition starting in November looking for a new producer so look out for that.
How important is self-promotion to getting a record deal?
In the current climate it is key - particularly a strong online presence. A well-promoted artist will catch a label's eye and the awareness and intrigue will give them a much better chance of getting a deal. This will give the label a much better platform from which to begin promoting the artist.
What technological advances can you foresee in the dance music industry and how do you see that affecting labels, clubbing and DJs?
The biggest advances at the moment are technological, particularly in the area f DJing hard and software. Laptop DJ packages - although contentious - are more popular than ever. Many people have fought these packages until now, but some are so good that we're seeing staunch vinyl/cd DJs make the transfer.
Where do you see the dance music industry in five years time?
The dance music industry will remain in a similar shape, although income streams will increasingly come from publishing as opposed to sales and licensing.
Do physical formats have a future in electronic music?
Yes, but it will be a strictly collector's market.
How is illegal downloading affecting your business and is there a solution for stopping it?
There are two ways to look at illegal music downloads. On the one side, they eat into your sales and therefore lose you income. On the other, they promote your tunes to previously unaware listeners. So long as there remains a healthy balance between the two the situation should be OK.
What new releases/projects have you got coming up in the rest of the year?
We have a very busy release schedule, including Lee Coombs' artist album - out now. We've got a great collaboration between Dylan Rhymes and Meat Katie, who've been working on new tracks with guest vocalists such as Ashley Slater and Roland Clark. We have releases set from Odissi (who is creating a vocal pack for Sounds/To/Sample), Vandal and Dopamine too, so yeah - we're busy at Lot 49 HQ :-).
Do you invite demos? If so, where should people send them?
Sure we do. To send demos for Lot 49's consideration please use our Soundcloud drop box - http://soundcloud.com/lot49/dropbox
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More from Lot 49: www.myspace.com/lot49records
(c) 2009 Sounds/To/Sample