About WHP
We are a full service Country Music Promotions Company specializing in Independent recording artists and Record Companies. We Currently have a large roster of artists which have gained extensive World-Wide airplay, sales & bookings through our Company. We have more than 25 years of experience in Radio Promotions, Production, Record Manufacturing, Management, Bookings, Touring, Compilation CD's, Publishing and all other aspects of the Music Business
WHP is also the originator of the European, Australian & New Zealand Promotional Tours, where we take 6 to 30 Artists to Europe and perform for many of the Festival Organizers, Booking Agents and DJ's. WHP is currently working on Tours in Brazil, Russia, Africa, Japan, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore. Come join us, we would love to include you.
This site was designed to share some of our experiences in the music business as well as enhance your knowledge of the business. We have been most fortunate to have worked with some of the finest talent in the business, both Independent and Major Label recording artists.
(The backbone of the Industry)
Many names have been attached to the Independent recording artist, New Artist, Up and Coming Artist, Indie Artist and others from time to time.
First of all let me explain the difference between the Indie and the Major label artist. The difference is, one has distribution and the other does not. Normally the Indie does not. There are a few exceptions to the rule. Some Independent labels have been able to secure some type of distribution deal with the Majors. This is the one thing and probably the biggest thing holding the independent back for so many years. The Internet and several other innovative forms of distribution have had some fantastic results though and are changing the way we do business these days and we do now have distribution.
I have been in and around the music business for many years and I'm not sure I know why the Indie Country Music Artist have always had problems concerning distribution. Many Independent Labels in other formats of music have had many successful projects and sold millions of CDs. It seems as though Country Music has had some type of block on it.
If you ask 10 so called "Industry Professionals" why, you will probably get 10 different reasons. Part of the problem is the production. I get many CDs across my desk for review that lack good production and really are not Radio Quality. I also receive some that are excellent. They have all the ingredients, great production, great vocals, great songs, great engineering, great pickers, and are certainly as good as anything you are hearing on the radio these days. Why is it impossible for this kind of project to get the distribution, airplay and label backing it needs, to be heard in every market place? There are many reasons and all of them involve money, control and the politics' of the business.
Many Independent projects are under financed and we at WHP do our best to hold down the costs. Keep your initial cost down and you don't have to sell so many CD's to get out of the Red. Distribution can be found in many ways today through the Internet, with Web Sites like www.cdbaby.com, www.soundclick.com, www.mp3.com, and many others now available to the Independent.
Another avenue is the Foreign Market, a great place to receive airplay, distribution, sales and bookings, all part of the total business. A great promoter can bring all these factors to the table for you. Yes, it does cost money, but at least there is some light at the end of the tunnel. It is possible to actually make a living as an Independent in these markets.
One of the biggest cost is postage....how else are you going to get your product to the stations? Take a single CD, envelope, and packing down to the post office and mail it to a station. On an average, not including what you paid for the production, the CD will cost you approx. $1.50 each, the envelope $0.30, The postage and packing material $2.00 in the USA. So, everyone you mail out costs you approx. $3.70. Now mail one overseas, say to Europe, the postage alone now goes up to an average of $4.60. If we mail your CD out to 165 radio stations in the USA and approx. 500 radio stations in foreign countries, you can see what it costs to get your product in the hands of someone who may or may not play it. Also, I would like to say those number of stations are a minimum amount of stations. You can mail to many many more. It takes at least this amount to get you enough airplay to be noticed.
Some things to think about when deciding on a Music Recording career. There is more to it than just going into any studio and cutting a few songs.
| Advertising | Distribution | Promo Material |
| CD Artwork | Postage | Promotions |
| CD Manufacturing | Producer | Song Selection |
| Studio, Engineer | Trade publication you want to chart in. | |
The entire music community needs to be addressed in a positive way, the day of the Independent is here. It's your career, do the very best you can and always stay positive. If you have determination, talent, the right material, hit songs, and a great business plan, you too can be successful. It's just a business, but it's your business, so treat it that way. Try not to give to many of your CD's away for free as it becomes very hard to sell what your willing to give away for FREE.
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