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Racer Demo PolicyWe are no longer accepting demos.Since Racer was closed at the end of 2003, we are no longer accepting demos. One part of our previous policy hasn't changed: I have enormous respect for the people who create music, and even more respect for those who are brave enough and persistent enough to share their music with the rest of us. To all of you who create the sounds that fill our days, I offer my thanks and my continuing encouragement.
Our Old, Lost and Lamented Demo PolicyAlthough we're no longer able to accept unsolicited demos, we thought you might be interested in a glance at our old demo policy ... so here it is.This file contains some guidelines about submitting demos to Racer Records. Racer Records is a small independent record label. The company's vision combines the perspective of the music fan on the one hand and the artist on the other. As a result, we encourage artists to send us demos, knowing that lots of very talented musicians have trouble getting their music released and that music fans (like us) are always interested in discovering another great album. Our PolicyRacer has an open submissions policy. That means you can send us demos without calling to ask permission first. We promise to listen to everything we receive (although it may take a while). We will do our best to respond to a demo within 8 weeks of receiving it.If we don't decide to hang on to your demo, we will donate it to the San Francisco Public Library's Book Bay so other people can check it out. (The Book Bay makes a bit of money from this, which supports library programs, but Racer does NOT make any money from this donation.) If you would rather we not do this, please either send a self-addressed stamped envelope and ask us to return the package (be sure to include enough postage for everything you want back), or ask us to destroy the tape. What We're Looking ForRacer is looking for all kinds of music, but we have a definite tendency toward intelligent rock and pop. We are more likely to be interested in music influenced by jazz, world music, and hybrid forms than in heavy metal or rap. We're especially intrigued by clever or unique lyrics.At this stage, we're primarily looking for album-length, pressable-quality recordings. If you have rough demos, we'd still be happy to listen, but we probably won't be able to work with you right away. Your PackageYou're welcome to send whatever you want, in whatever form you want. However, our ideal demo package would follow most of these guidelines:
The AddressYou can send demo materials to:Racer Records Following UpYou're welcome to call and check on the status of your demo: our number is (415) 931-1614. You're encouraged to check in with us online, as well; in fact, you'll probably get a faster response through CompuServe or the Internet than by phone. Please don't be shy - feel free to call - but try not to overdo it. Once every week or two is probably enough.FeedbackWe'll let you know if we're interested in releasing your music, but generally speaking, we probably won't give you a lot of other feedback. There's a reason for this: I believe artists know what they're doing and what they want to achieve, and my reaction is merely one person's opinion. However, if you'd like to know what I thought and why, please let me know, and I'll be happy to share my opinion. Please remember, though, that Racer signings are purely subjective - based on whether or not we really like the music. We get tapes all the time that are really good but aren't quite right for Racer.The Other GuysRacer operates a little differently than many other labels, and some of these suggestions won't apply for other companies. When submitting your demo to other labels, it's a good idea to find out as much as you can about their preferences (calling is one good way to find out). You may also want to read some books about the music industry for more suggestions about submitting demos to record labels.One More Thing: Thanks!I have enormous respect for the people who create music, and even more respect for those who are brave enough and persistent enough to share their music with the rest of us. To all of you who create the sounds that fill our days, I offer my thanks and my continuing encouragement. This page was last updated on March 3, 2004 by Kristi Wachter. |