How to Get a Record Deal

In this video, a group of rappers, producers, entrepreneurs, and proud-to-be hustlers demonstrate some tricks of the trade that have helped them make careers in the music industry at the local and regional levels. The hosts, who together have formed a small rap record label, demonstrate a great deal of street-level smarts and determination in producing, selling, and promoting their sounds. Viewers will get a glance at some key ingredients in successful music production and promotion, including commitment, tenacity, budget control, copyright protection, and marketing (including a humorous look at charging what the market will bear in selling one-to-one to people on the street--in this instance, young males get charged the most, while a mother-to-be gets a bargain on the same CD). On the down side, the camerawork is shaky, and too little time is spent hashing out some of the finer points, but the do-it-yourself ethic at the heart of much street-level popular music (including rock, punk and other genres) is central here, and despite the production flaws, the core advice is solid. A strong optional purchase. Aud: P. (C. Block)