How do I make business relationships with real Music Executives who can write a check?

 I have been doing music as an R&B artist since 1989 unprofessionally. In 1996, my daughter came into this world and she loved it when I sang to her. Her mother played the keyboard, wrote songs, played the drums and guitar for our Church since she was 8 years old. We decided to start back doing music in 1998. In 1999, I decided that I could do what the people in the studios were doing at a fraction of the cost. In 2002, I am still buying music gear, computers etc., just to keep up with the trends without making any money from the studio. Sifting through the leaches in the music business, I decided that my studio was not a place of charity but a place of business. A use to have a house full at the studio. Now it has become a poor and barren land, after I told everyone that they had to pay for my services, $40 an hour for studio time which included me as a sound engineer. I put all of my money that I have saved up, it wasn't much, and the change left over from paying bills off my real job, Law Enforcement. My studio is located beside my residence in a very rural area 15 miles from a real grocery store (Bilo, Ingles, resturants etc. ) but I am located just 5 miles from I-20 that connects Atlanta and Augusta Georgia. I have tons of instrumentals in Hip Hop, R&B, Pop and Gospel but they are just collecting dust. I am everywhere (just about) on the internet. I have my own website www.dregnocandbenkproductions.com that I set up myself because of revenue problems. What do I do? I've been networking with people who is trying to make it also. If you don't know already, Real Music Executives do not like unsolicited music nor do they deal with new people. I want to do film scoring, commercial songs and everything else that deals with the music industry. I got an independent label with 4 artists ranging from 11 to 35 years old, males and females. What do I do?

Not easy!

You need to get resources together such as; music industry directory (listings) in the US; the Indie Bible, Wilkipedia both indie and major labels listing is a start. And if you're a registered indie label and/or manager get yourself listed.

You act as liaison between the artists and the label.

Send them a one-page cover letter that includes 6x10 photo and brief details-info, follow up with one brief phone call, you'll get rejections but there's a slight chance you may get in which you then forward a CD.

Basically finding positive connections, slowly building up that list of contacts.

You may also want to consider taxi.com

You may also want to consider getting your artists out there performing as this helps hone their skills, but first impressions is important therefore they need to have great songs to begin with, excellent musicianship along with showmanship (stage presentation) skills.

Also attend opportunities such as music day events and workshops. Sites such a Taxi and ReverbNation (members only) will receive  upcoming events - opportunities.

- Late Edit:

I've put together a listing: Click Here

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Taxi, as has been mentioned, is a good source of industry listings. The listings they have a generally good ones for film, TV and artists.

Another thing you might do is get a copy of the Songwriter's most recent market guide. Search through it and find the pubs that are into your genre of music.

Then it's a matter of writing songs that people want, and making the connections.... be persistent, learn all that you can about the business, writing, and making connections........

BTW: it's not easy to do... either writing a hit song or making the connections to make money with your music..... if it was, everyone who played an instrument and wrote a song would be living the good life.....

Find and pay the right lawyer.

The best way....I have to agree.... is to start working in your local market. If it's as a recording studio, or a songwriter, or an artist. Get a cash flow.... hopefully positive (yeah capitalism!!!) happening so you can actually have a good reason for doing what you do.

If you can't get local people interested in coming to your studio or your shows, or local bands (of the correct genre) playing and recording your songs, how in the world do you expect the "big boys" to be interested in you since, to them, you are a "nobody" in the biz. You have to be a regional act attracting crowds and making money...AND... you have to have done ALL the legwork AND have a CD ready to go, and already selling well in your local market... then....MAYBE....just maybe.... you will be able to attract the attention of the national companies.

Great advice. You have a very excellent point. This is something I must agree with. I am well known in my area and everyone do come to me for recordings. They just dont like to pay for the work being done because they want something for absolutely nething.... you must agree with that one. Two I sell very well in my area and I am the best producer in this area beside my cousin Big Toombs who done B.o.B. sing "Camera" Big Toombs real name is Toomb McClendon III who owns a funeral home in Washington Georgia....my home town. He is the one that did Pastor Troy's album when he made it big in the Hip Hop Scene who is originally from Augusta Georgia. So you are right.

Be prepared for when you are in the right place at the right time. I recently just completed my first movie soundtrack and it all came about by a chance meeting, friend of a friend type thing. Met the director and music supervisor, I had some of my work with me, they liked it and the rest is history. Now if I get anymore work of this nature it will depend on several things- 1. the movie being successful so the producers are able to make more than just this one film 2. someone else hearing my work and wanting me to work for them.

I don't know that there is a sure fire way to break into the business and make money. There are a million people out there trying to do something with their music. The only thing I can say is try to build as big a following as you can and someone may eventually hear you and connect you with the right people.

I think the thing we all have to remember is that while we all want to make money with our music hopefully we all make music because we enjoy it and that is the reason we keep doing it. However a big payday does help toward having time to enjoy this thing we all love so much.