The document outlines a 3-5 year plan to start an independent record label to promote three bands - Volifonix, PartiBand, and Team Banzai. In the first year, the bands will record new albums and EPs, develop websites and social media presence, and tour locally. By the second year, the label will be incorporated, establish a headquarters, and book larger venues. Distribution deals will be pursued nationally by the third year along with an in-house recording studio. The long term goal is international distribution and worldwide touring for all bands. Constant production of new music and aggressive promotion are key to growing the label.

1. Where we are now
Volifonix - Actively touring
1 agent, 1 road manager, Rodie/sound tech
1 album: oregonisms, enough material to make a
2 nd or an EP
Fans spread around the NW, no real fan club
No real merchandise
No promotion for shows other than what the
venue does.

2. Van + Trailer
PA system suitable for indoor venues.
Sponsors: Cornerstone, Ninkasi, possibly Jody
Myspace and Facebook but without constant
feeds

3. PartiBand
Enough material to record a
full length album
Few gigs scheduled by band
mates
Pat's truck as PartiMobile
Fans in Eugene and Corvallis
Myspace and Facebook sites
with some updates

4. Team Banzai
Some gigs scheduled
Enough material to
record an album
Distributing through
SounCloud
Myspace and
Facebook with active
updates.

5. Overall we have good and varied product
(music) to sell, but no engine to make it heard
.
This is where the Label comes in.

6. Why start our own label?
To maximize profit.
The artist is always the last one to get paid for
the art he/she worked so hard to produce
More control, or more freedom for the artist.
Another angle to approach the music industry.
As a corporation the label can be owned in part
by the artists themselves via Shares

7. Typical structure for a fair sized
record label (Wikipedia.com)
Incorporate the artists
too by being part
owners
Begin as a Partnership
Agreement
Once there is real
structure into a
Corporation with a
Board of Directors.

8. Board of Directors
People elected by the owner/owners (majority
shareholders)
Oversee the company's buisness and
performance.
Make sure things are done in the benefit of
shareholders

9. How and where do we start?
Structure (most likely hierarchical) with goals,
responsibilities and accountability
Investment capital (investors)
Loans or investment?
Cash injections during critical times
The amount of money and structure needed
depends on the duties we want the Label to
take over.

10. What to we want the Label to take
care of?
Recording? What kind of licencing
All promotion and deals? (time)
marketing? Contracts?
Band management? Splitting profits?
Agents? (Idealy 50/50, since
Touring expenses? band members are
shareholders anyway)
Distribution?

11. In order to successfully start this
label we need to combine forces
In the next six months we need to:
Volifonix: WEBSITE! record new EP as teaser for next years
album. New music video Begin changing the way we book.
Take over some of Linda's duties (mainly promotion and
management). She is an excellent agent. Actively touring
in OR, WA, CA, ID
PartiBand: WEBSITE! New album recorded before new
years. Video of a single. Actively touring in OR
Team Banzai: WEBSITE! A new album recorded before new
years. Video of single. Remix some VFX and PB songs to
release with promo EP's. Actively touring in OR

12. Label – Come up with a name
Make sure all the artists get in with either BMI or ASCAP for
royalties purposes.
Tunecore.com and SouncCloud.com for online distributing.
By new years there should be a contract between label and
bands
Be able to press and and print all new releases by the artists.
Able to do some in house distributing and actively looking for
some deals in OR and WA
BEGIN STAGE ONE OF PROMOTIONAL CAMPAIGN

13. Target our different audiences differently.
Pre-release campaigns
Promotion and PR: Web and print advertising
Guerrilla advertising with street teams in high
schools and college to create hype.
Fan clubs with “special” rewards
Radio play in non commercial radio spectrum (8000
to 9100)
Merchandise – clothing and accessories, This is
where “Bud Labs” will get its start. Providing
promotional material for bands, street teams and
fan clubs (all clothing will have the Bands logo, the
labels logo and Bud Labs logo.) Image!
WEBSITE for Bud Labs too!

14. As CD release date approaches
Plan CD release parties for PB and TB in
Eugene, Corvallis and Portland. All super
hyped up (see previous slide) advertising VFXs
teaser EP
Close to release dates begin our “industry”
parties where influential people in the
community are invited for a screening of the
new album and to show our “professionalism”
Press coverage with album reviews, band
interviews and live show reviews

15. After the release of albums and
teaser EP
Follow up with a CD relase tour of about 1 - 2
months in OR and WA. All shows promoted and
arranged by label.
Culminating with a big show where the three
bands play all together (VFX, PB, TB mashup!).
Maybe one in Eugene and one in Portland.
These next 6 months will be crucial to
establishing ourselves as indispensable in the
music scene in the NW

16. We will need a Headquartes for the label to
happen. If not possible yet, we at least need a
PO box and a land line
LOTS and LOTS OF BUISNESS CARDS! asap
Maybe more sponsors?

17. 1 year (next summer)
VFX: new album recorded before summer starts.
Video to go with a single
PB: New EP? Actively touring promoting their
new album. New video?
TB: New EP. More remixes of VFX and
Partiband. Actively touring promoting their new
album. New Video? (the nature of TB music
requires them to pump out more material
[remixes mixtapes] than a rock band)

18. Label
This would be about the time the Label changes
into a corporation with shareholders and a
board of directors.
Label will start growing in complexity with its own
separate branches (promotion, merchandise,
etc..)
By now we should be able to book shows where
we want to (Doug Fir, Crystal ballroom and the
likes) or throw our own shows by renting
locations.
Label will need an established HQ

19. Keep establishing the Label and
bands name
We will continue our “industry” parties building
our contacts
We will also throw just “parties” to helppromote
the label and bands to different audiences.
Spread the word is the name of the game.

20. Cd and EP releases
Big CD release parties for Vfx in Eugene,
Corvallis and Portland
Summer Northwest tour for all three bands
(together or separately, depending on logistics)
This will be the first big tour under the (hopefully)
established label.
The constant release of albums and EP's should
help acquire distribution deals in WA, ID, OR
and CA through licensing
This should be seen as the propeller into the
national scene.

21. cont.
We can take over the NW scene this way.
Most likely will need a capital injection from
investors to afford our tour + promotion +
maybe begin building a record studio?
Insurance for bands?
Promotion will be its own branch within the label.
Begin tackling commercial radio and TV
Bud Labs should be more established as its own
business, being able to sell more to the public
(maybe its own store)
Scouting new talent?

22. 3 Years
In house recording studio – for label's bands and
for rent to the public
Bigger HQ, possibly in Portland.
VFX, PB and TB all with at least one new album.
Possibly have them all come out at different
times during the year to keep a steady flow of
material. (keep outside distributors happy)
National distribution deals through licencing

23. 3 year cont.
In house event maker.
Profits possibly. Begin paying back investors.
Scouting more talent
DVD of a tour, or a show, or something.
All bands actively touring all year round

24. 5 years and more (this one has
room to grow)
Expand recording studio and HQ
Distributing deals in the UK and all of Europe,
Latin America, Japan
Touring all of the US, maybe Canada and Mexico
The key it to keep on moving, producing and
most of all ROCKING!