For many emerging artists, landing a meeting with a major record label is the dream—and a nerve-wracking milestone. It can feel like the make-or-break moment in your career. While it’s true that these meetings are important, it’s equally true that preparation, professionalism, and authenticity will set you apart more than trying to “play the part.”
The best label meetings are not auditions. They’re conversations about opportunity, partnership, and potential. Below is a roadmap to help you prepare for your first big meeting, so you walk in confident, informed, and ready to present the best version of yourself and your music.
Pre-Meeting Preparation
Do your homework. Labels want to know that you’re serious about your career and understand their ecosystem. Research the label’s roster—who’s signed, who’s been recently dropped, and who’s having success. For instance, if you’re a pop singer and the label has just had a breakout with another female solo act, you’ll want to be ready to position yourself as complementary rather than competitive.
Understand the label’s divisions. Major labels are often structured by genre or region. Familiarize yourself with the department or imprint most relevant to your music. A hip-hop artist meeting with Def Jam should know its legacy and current artists, while a jazz artist should understand Blue Note’s positioning.
Know the decision-makers. You may be meeting with an A&R rep, but who else will be in the room? Google the executives. Check their LinkedIn or past interviews. For example, if you know an A&R executive recently signed a rising alt-pop artist, you can draw a parallel about how your sound or fan base fills another niche.
Essential Materials
Bring a press kit—both physical and digital. At minimum, this should include:
- Professional photos: High-resolution images that reflect your brand. Avoid casual snapshots; think of how you want to be presented in media.
- Streaming and sales stats: Be transparent. Labels want to see data, even if it’s modest. If your last single streamed 50,000 times on Spotify, that’s worth highlighting.
- Social media analytics: Show engagement, not just followers. Executives pay attention to fan loyalty, not inflated numbers. A TikTok video with 15,000 organic shares can matter more than 200,000 passive followers.
- Press clippings and testimonials: Local coverage, playlist placements, or quotes from industry professionals add credibility.
Think of your press kit as your résumé. It should present you as a serious, market-ready artist.
Presentation Skills
This is your chance to showcase not just your music, but your brand and vision. Labels sign people, not just songs.
- Play your strongest tracks. Quality matters more than quantity. Two or three polished songs are better than a dozen rough demos. For example, when Billie Eilish’s early demos caught attention, it was because “Ocean Eyes” stood on its own.
- Tell your story. Executives want to know who you are. Share your journey and your vision in a way that’s memorable. Maybe you grew your audience busking in Toronto, or maybe you wrote your debut EP in your parents’ garage—stories make music relatable.
- Be concise. Avoid rambling. Have a clear “elevator pitch” for your artistry: “I make soulful pop rooted in gospel influences, with a message of resilience.”
A major pitfall: overpromising. Don’t say “I’ll be bigger than Drake in two years.” Instead, talk about your commitment to growth and your fan community.
Common Questions You’ll Face
Executives often ask variations of the following:
- Who are your influences? Be thoughtful. Mention artists who reflect your sound but also your aspirations.
- What’s your fan base like? Be specific. “18–24 college students on TikTok” is better than “everyone likes my music.”
- What’s your vision for the next 12 months? Show you have a plan: touring, releasing singles, building content.
- Why should we sign you now? This is where you highlight momentum—growing streams, viral content, recent tour success.
Prepare honest answers. Labels can tell when you’re bluffing.
Professional Etiquette
- Dress the part, but stay you. If your brand is streetwear, don’t show up in a three-piece suit. If you’re a folk singer, ripped jeans and a flannel may be just right. The goal is professional authenticity.
- Be punctual. Arrive 10–15 minutes early. It signals respect for their time.
- Communicate clearly. Don’t interrupt, but don’t shrink back either. Make eye contact, listen attentively, and keep your phone silenced and out of sight.
I’ve seen artists lose credibility by arriving late and frazzled, or by treating the meeting too casually. Remember: how you act in that room is how they’ll expect you to act on tour or in the studio.
Follow-Up Strategy
What you do after the meeting is just as important as the meeting itself.
- Send a thank-you email within 24 hours. Express gratitude and reiterate one or two key points from the meeting. For example: “I appreciate your thoughts on audience growth strategies. I’m excited to share new music soon.”
- Provide additional materials if requested. Don’t send everything at once—be targeted. If they asked for live performance clips, send a Dropbox link.
- Be patient. Labels rarely make decisions overnight. Expect a few weeks to a few months for a follow-up. Don’t pester, but a polite check-in after four weeks is appropriate.
Lead with Authenticity
A first major label meeting is both exhilarating and intimidating. Remember: they already see potential in you—that’s why you’re there. Your job is to show that you’re prepared, professional, and clear about who you are as an artist.
Yes, the polished press kit, the stats, and the presentation skills matter. But the most successful meetings happen when artists bring authenticity to the table. Adele once sang for XL Recordings with just a guitar and her voice; Ed Sheeran handed out homemade CDs and freestyled in label offices. In both cases, their honesty and unique artistry shone through.
Be ready, be professional, but most of all, be yourself. Labels can sign a voice, a look, or a brand—but what lasts is when they sign you.
