At Date: Fri, 11 Jul 2003 16:38:38 Mike V. wrote:

> > I imagine the best way to get signed is like Beck or White Stripes - 
>when
> > you already have some success and they want a piece.
>
>I don't know what it's like in the U.S. but I've always heard in Canada if
>you sell 5000 independently, the majors start to listen. Jaimie?

Not likely. Despite the fact that the average Canadian act only sells 25,000 
when the *do* sign to a major, the expectations from A & R departments is 
that an indie act has to already surpass THOSE expectations for them to turn 
an eye down indie street.

It wasn't until the Barenaked Ladies sold 75,000 copies of their first indie 
release (verification from Paul Myers, please?) before the major labels came 
knocking. By the time the band signed with SIRE the *cassette* (!!!!) had 
gone gold in this country -- that's 100,000 units.

Of course, you get a guy like Sam Roberts who releases one song that goes 
Top10 at radio and the labels are beating the snot out of each other to get 
the rights.


Jaimie Vernon,
President,
Bullseye Records of Canada, Inc.
http://www.bullseyecanada.com
"Not Suing Our Customers Since 1985!"

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