Starting a record label?

[aen]

Ok. The backstory (briefly)
Drummer Matt's "best and oldest friend" has a record label (who will get no more free publicity from me) and we had a verbal agreement/record deal with him.
He presses 300 records, we get 60 LPs to sell for our cut. We put up no money, just a finished product. We figured 20% of sales is a pretty decent cut in this musical climate. PLus people love fuckin' records.
This dude lags a little in the process, but it's OK, we've got tons of time. Well, he lags more and more, and suddenly I do the math and we've got 3 weeks till our record release show. At this point Label Dude diappears. No calls, texts, facebook or forum posts. I get a text yesterday "Yo Homey, I'll give you a call today about the recordzzz" No call. No surprise.

So after much deliberation, we (louise and I) decide we're goign to DIY this motherfucker. Here is what I've learned. I searched a bunch of pressing houses/plants whatever, and the one I liked most from my web search was

Groove House http://www.groovehouse.com/
Nice website, very informative, easy to read, and Groove house is insanely full featured. They do CDs, postcards, posters, LOTS of shit. It looks like you can go pretty fucking pro here, but I'm relating to you the cheap/punk rawk options I'm considering. I called today and asked all my questions. The person I talked to was really helpful, informed and patient, and really encouraging.


300 12" Lps in paper sleeves - $810
"is this the final cost?" I asked. Nope, that's minus the fabrication of a LAQUER MASTER. I don't know what that is, but it's integral to the process.

Laquer master both sides- $330
Ok, by me, I knew there had to be more to it. In our case, there may be a Laquer master made already, I ahve to get ahold of Label Dude and shake him down for info.

You can also bump that LP count up to
500 12" Lps in paper sleeves $955
Thats a little more money for a lot more records.

They also have a variety of packaging options, including what I am into

BROWN (my color!) recycled blank LP jackets- $89 for 100
then we print out our art/inserts and stick it on/in as needed.

They estimate
six weeks for the process, four or five if the laquer master is already made.


Now, this is a lot of money, and a risky proposition, but THATS WHAT WE DO!! A run of records for about the price of a clean used AVRI. This breaks down to about $3 a record, raw cost, maybe $5 if you count band labor. Which means to me at least, we can still sell these fuckers at a decent price.
So let's start record labels, bitches.

[Ghost Hip]

As i'm currently recording music to release sometime soon as well.... i'm bookmarking the shit out of this site. Excellent find.

[Gearmond]

they do 7"

i'm down.

[RossCanyonsofstatic]

i'm pretty sure united record pressing is cheaper by a little bit
http://www.urpressing.com/quotegen12.php

but most quotes exclude shipping which could be very costly for 300-500 vinyl

[hazelwould]

How are these prices:
http://arrecords.com/

MINIMUM QUANTITY: 500. NO SETUP CHARGE!

Item
Cost


Price per records pressed
$0.99

Reference acetate, under 10 min per side (1)
$60.00

Reference acetate, over 10 min per side (1)
$75.00

Master lacquers (two sided)

$300.00

Plating
(two steps)
(one step)
(*)Reorder Stampers


$280.00
$195.00



* $140
Test pressing (5 copies)
$35.00
Label print
(B&W) First 1000 Set
(one pms color)
(two pms colors)
(three pms colors)
(full color)
Metallic Ink add $25 (if in stock)
(*) Each Additional 1000


$140.00
$175.00
Quote
Quote
Quote

White die cut jackets

$0.39

Black die cut jackets

$0.43

White paper sleeve

$0.03

Shrink wrap

$0.12

Rush Fee (2 week turn around)

$250.00


There local to me, but I have no clue what you'd need to have a completed record.

[Bassus Sanguinis]

might turn out to be a good find, thanks, my old band might have use for the information, should be great for a pure fvkkin' kvlt release, for the next US licence special release. If it happens.

I've learned along the way a bit about the deals and vinyl/special releases. Like that an enthusiastic yes-yes-yes translates often to 'perhasp, but You pay for any extras from your future royalties', it's funny how it's stated as normal trade practice in the biz. Indie or a major label off shoot, in the end the Artist pays, for everything.