SAOL – Frequently Asked Questions
We gathered for you the most frequently asked questions about the Service For Artist owned Labels (SAOL). If you wish to get in touch with us to discuss your personal concern, please don’t hesitate!

1. Do we have to pay all that? That’s extortionate!

SAOL (Service For Artist Owned Labels) is, as its name implies, not a classic label, but a service that offers all efforts labels should serve. So this means that SAOL and the artist are the label.
Basically, all the rights belong to the band, which also means that the band gets charged with the costs. So you have to pay all that, but keep in mind that we offer you a comprehensive package of promotional work. We have an established and widespread network and an efficient workflow to make you more popular, which means, we offer you the following services:

Promotion for print/online/radio/club
Listing Phononet
Listing VMI / ERP system (e.g. Mediamarkt, Saturn, etc.)
Support for production from artwork to pressing
Digital record sales on all relevant platforms
Advice on booking and publishing affairs

But most important is the advantage an unknown band can have with the services of SAOL. You are talked of and recognized as an individual artist with a professional product, so you won’t get lost in an editor’s demo tray like thousands of other bands. With a ‘real’ release, our associated network and the individual promotion, it’s easier to play concerts, festivals and tours. Best examples are e.g. MY INNER BURNING and CRIPPER.

2. Wouldn’t it be more clever to get a contract from a major record label?

Big labels handle thousands of enquiries a day. This results in a hard and demand-orientated business which means that individuality and innovation come off badly if there is a product more plain or universal. This is one of the reasons a lot of bands prefer to work with us, because they want to keep their freedom in respect of creativity. Furthermore, smaller labels often neither offer advances nor guarantee for suitable promotion and service. Another criterion for our service is that the rights usually belong to the label for years or maybe longer – but not with SAOL. Especially in these times of recession major labels have to pull in their belts: at first sight, financing productions at low costs sounds attracting. But keep in mind that a label isn’t a charity organization at all; financial handout helps to finish a product in short time but you don’t have as much decision-making ability as you might want to. With SAOL you get advice and not compulsion.

3. Are there negotiable or individual prices?

At SAOL we usually advise you individually. We find out the best promotional options for you and your band, which means that every contract is unique, resulting in unique prices. You have to consider that every service costs money. We of course advise you how to come to grips with financial questions with e.g. a publisher’s deal.

4. Can we cut the album at our own?

Of course you can. You give the beat with SAOL, so you decide who cuts the album, how many pages your booklet has, if you want online promotion only or also radio promotion and so on… And it’s the same thing here: We help you to find the right way to promote you and your product!

5. Are there European or worldwide sales partners?

Due to cooperation with Zebralution, one of the world’s leading digital distibutors, there is a real chance of worldwide availability of your product. From the U.S. to Japan: at Amazon, iTunes, Musicload and a dozen of other shops.

Speaking of physical Products (that means ‘real’ CDs) we only cooperate with partners who are insured by Euler Hermes (a big credit insurance company) to guarantee a profit in the respective countries. Currently SAOL covers the market in Europe, North America and the worldwide market thanks to export partners.