How to Start Your Own Independent Record Label
- 10 Nov 2026
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Many independent labels start as one artist releasing their own music under a label name. That alone makes releases look organised and gives you a name to grow other artists under. A real label adds agreements, accounting and responsibility for other people's music. Here is how to start properly.
1. Choose and check the name
Check that no other label or company uses the name in music: search stores, the web and trademark registers. The label name appears on every release and in the ℗ line, so treat it like an artist name. See how to choose a name; the same checks apply.
2. Decide the business structure
You can start as a sole trader or register a company. A company can separate the label's money and liability from yours. Tax and registration rules differ by country, so speak to an accountant before you sign other artists.
3. Set up the label in your releases
- Use the label name in the label field and in the ℗ and © lines, for example ℗ 2026 Harbour Records.
- Keep the name identical on every release.
- Custom label names are available on SpaceMedia's paid plans; see the pricing page. The Label plan is built for managing several artists.
4. Put agreements in writing
Every artist you release needs a written agreement covering at least:
- which recordings are covered and whether the label owns them or licenses them for a period;
- the territories and the length of the agreement;
- how income is split after costs, and which costs can be recouped;
- how often you pay and send statements;
- what happens to the recordings when the agreement ends.
Licence deals, where the artist keeps ownership and the label releases for a set term, are common and fair for small labels. Have agreements reviewed by a music lawyer.
5. Codes and identifiers
- ISRCs and UPCs: your distributor can assign them. Larger labels sometimes register their own ISRC prefix with their national agency, which in the UK is PPL; PPL also handles neighbouring rights registration for UK labels.
- Keep a catalogue sheet with catalogue numbers, ISRCs, UPCs, release dates and contracts for every release.
6. Royalties and accounting
- Track income per release and per artist from your distributor statements.
- Pay artists on a fixed schedule, for example every six months, with a clear statement.
- Use royalty splits where you want earnings shared automatically.
- Register the label's recordings for neighbouring rights. See neighbouring rights explained.
7. Build an identity
Labels that grow have a clear sound or community. Consistent artwork, a label playlist, a release schedule and a mailing list for your fans make every new artist easier to introduce.
Common mistakes
- Releasing other artists' music on a handshake.
- Promising advances or promotion the label cannot afford.
- Mixing label money with personal money.
- Changing the label name after the first releases.
Ready to release your first catalogue number? Create your SpaceMedia account and compare the plans for labels on the pricing page.
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Register on SpaceMedia
Begin your music publishing journey by signing up and creating a free account on SpaceMedia.
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Choose the plan that suits you best
Select from a variety of membership options to find the one that aligns perfectly with your music distribution needs.
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Submit your music for distribution
Create a new release and upload your tracks to have them distributed across various platforms.
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Quick Review
Our team promptly evaluates your uploaded tracks, ensuring they meet our quality standards before distribution.
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Get Paid
Once your music is distributed and gains traction, we ensure timely compensation for your creative work.
SpaceMedia delivers music to a broad and changing network of streaming, download, social, and music-identification platforms. This can include major services such as Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, Deezer, TikTok, Facebook and Instagram, SoundCloud, Tidal, Pandora, Boomplay, Anghami, iHeart, JioSaavn, KKBOX, NetEase Cloud Music, Tencent, Qobuz, and other supported partners.
The exact network can change as platforms update territories, rules, and delivery requirements. SpaceMedia gives you access to supported distribution channels, but no distributor can guarantee that every platform will accept every release in every country.
Most major streaming services do not let every artist upload music directly. A distributor like SpaceMedia delivers your audio, artwork, metadata, and rights information to supported platforms so your release can appear on services such as Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, Deezer, TikTok, and others.
Create an account, choose the plan that fits your needs, upload the final release files, review the details, and submit. SpaceMedia reviews Free submissions within 5 business days, Premium submissions within 2 business days, and Label submissions within 1 to 2 business days. Store publishing happens afterwards.
You can monetize eligible music on supported video platforms through Content ID when your plan includes it. Content ID is currently included with Premium and Label, and it is not included with the Free plan.
Only submit music you fully control for Content ID. Tracks with uncleared samples, non-exclusive beats, royalty-free loops used by many creators, public-domain recordings, or disputed rights may be rejected or may cause claims that need to be resolved.
Submit your release through SpaceMedia and choose distribution to social music platforms where available. Eligible releases can be delivered to platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and other supported social or short-form music services.
Once delivered, each platform decides how the music appears, how long processing takes, and which features are available in each territory. Use accurate metadata and clean audio to reduce avoidable delivery issues.
Independent music distribution lets artists release music to streaming, download, and social platforms without signing to a traditional record label. You stay in control of your music while using a distributor to deliver it to supported services.
With SpaceMedia, you can manage releases, artist details, earnings, and payout information from your account. All standard plans let users keep 100% of standard DSP royalties.
The Free plan lets artists release music without an upfront distribution fee and keep 100% of standard DSP royalties.
This gives new artists a way to start releasing music before paying for a yearly plan. Premium and Label add more primary-artist capacity and tools. All standard plans include 100% of standard DSP royalties.
Yes. In many cases you can transfer existing releases to SpaceMedia while keeping them live, as long as you submit the same metadata, audio, artwork, UPC, and ISRCs where available.
Keep the old release live until the SpaceMedia delivery is live and matched correctly. Removing the old version too early can interrupt availability or make stores treat the transfer as a new release instead of matching it to the existing one.