Hopeful artists must first garner a following before attracting a record label in today's music climate, said an attorney and musician at a conference Saturday.
Musicians, music managers and attorneys held discussion panels to help people who aspire to be in the music industry understand the business side at the 7th Annual UF Music Law Conference at the Levin College of Law.
David Beame, an attorney, manager and musician, said musicians now have to do more work upfront in order to get noticed.
"Major labels don't have that money anymore," he said. "They're not signing things unless you get the work done."
A musician needs to be ready before finding a manager, he said.
"It's about hustlin' your ass off," he said.
Martin Atkins, who has worked with Nine Inch Nails and owns a record company, said he believes the old music industry model is dead and welcomes new changes through avenues like Creative Commons licensing, a copyright method that allows anybody the right to use the music.
"I think it gives legal access to people to do cool stuff," he said. "It can breathe life into original material."
