As an electronic music producer for the past twenty years, I’ve seen a multitude of preferences for record labels and a demo box. From Distributor based services, to plain old e-mail, the demo box for record labels is poised for streamlining.
Distributor Demo Box Issues
As an artist I’ve found that a lot of the demo box for record labels provided by distributors such as Label Worx or Label-Engine occurs when the label doesn’t allow submission of a Soundcloud link. This prevents the artist to know whether their song has been downloaded, let alone listened to. Additionally, it’s hard to keep track of what songs you have submitted to what labels through their demo box. If you do send a link that can get some analytics data for you, they could be not logged in, so you won’t know if the A&R has actually listened.
These problems can result in uncertainty and confusion from artists that can manifest in negative feelings and thought patterns. It can also result in them signing the song with another label only to get. a response from the first label later saying they want the songs.
Issues From E-Mail As A Demo Box
A lot of record labels still use good old fashioned e-mail with a dedicated e-mail address. While e-mail is the most direct form of communication with businesses, having a demo e-mail address as a demo box presents its own challenges for both artists and labels. Artists may not know what to write most of the time, often conflating the e-mail and just a bare Soundcloud link is impersonal and will result in a song not getting listened to.
Enter Trackstack
Trackstack first came on my radar when searching the best way to get demos submitted to underground house music label Issues. The process was super simple, just upload some songs, input your name, a subject for the submission and your e-mail and click submit.
Trackstack collects all of your submissions for any label or artist on their platform into one page that you are able to keep track of submission statuses. This also allows you to see what tracks you’ve sent in to what labels before. Some new features recently added include searching for artists or labels to send music as well. asthe ability to upload revisions while a track. is waiting review.
As a label or artist receiving demos from Trackstack submissions, you can categorize each submission into different lists to test out before signing records. All of the problems that I have encountered as an artist when submitting demos to record labels is solved by Trackstack. This is the demo box to use for labels of any size.
Some notable record labels using Trackstack as a demo box include Hot Creations, Plump Records, Issues, and Solid Grooves. I expect we’ll see more as the platform matures and launches in a more public manner. Find labels, artists and send them your demos or promo tunes at Trackstack now.