| Having your own record label is almost seen as an | | | | Liability Corporation). An LLC is a simple |
| industry requirement for every up and coming band, | | | | straightforward way to create a corporation. |
| and even many of the popular “signed” bands | | | | The LLC Articles of Organization form states who is |
| record and publish their music on their own label with | | | | part of your new corporation and your intended |
| distribution handled through their recording contract. | | | | business purpose, your business address, and the |
| Getting started | | | | name of your registered agent (the name and contact |
| The basic legal requirements for creating your record | | | | information of the person who will receive all legal |
| label are: filing a DBA (fictitious Name Statement – | | | | documents for the corporation). Next you will want to |
| or Doing Business As), starting a corporation, filing a | | | | create an LLC Operating Agreement. This spells out |
| trademark registration for your logo, and getting a tax | | | | the terms of how your corporation will be operated |
| ID number. There are a few variations on this but for | | | | with regards to financial and management rights within |
| the most part if you and your band are just starting | | | | the corporation, and the terms in which a member |
| out this should be all you need. Note that some States | | | | may leave the corporation and what if any rights they |
| don’t require a separate DBA filing as it is part of | | | | will have after they have left the band. |
| their required filings. If you will be the sole-proprietor of | | | | Securing your trademark |
| your record label and won’t have any employees, | | | | Making sure that the logo for your record label is |
| then you do not need a Federal tax ID, you may use | | | | secure and legally recognized as part of your |
| your social security number for all tax related | | | | corporation is as important as securing a copyright for |
| documents. | | | | each new song your band writes, because your logo |
| Don’t let some of the requirements to starting your | | | | will become the visual identifier of your record label, |
| own record label scare you, all of the information you | | | | hence the name “Record Label ”! Once you |
| need to get the required forms and how to fill then in | | | | have chosen a logo visit and do a trademark search |
| can easily be found on your States business | | | | to make sure no other record company is using your |
| recourses website. | | | | logo. There is a filing fee required, but keep in mind that |
| After you have chosen a name for your record label | | | | you will be able to claim all of the money you have |
| make sure it isn’t being used by anyone else. There | | | | spent on creating your record company on your taxes! |
| are many free name search website that can quickly | | | | With all of your legal paperwork filed and your record |
| tell you if a name is being used for a record label . | | | | label name and trademark secured you are now |
| Once you have your record label name, your next | | | | ready to begin the process of creating CD’s under |
| step will be to secure it by creating a corporation for it. | | | | your new record label name. |
| The best choice is to set up an “LLC”, (limited | | | | |