Best Recording Companies for Native Music

[Smokin' Ace]

I have heard from a few companies so far, guys. But one of my frens who has a rock and roll group in Texas just informed me he will be signing tomorrow morning with a major label - CBS/ITI or something like that!! Says that he will be touring soon, too.

Name of his group is Endangered Species - you can check out his music at www.esrocks.com.

Things are looking up, peeps!!

Go

[The Rock]

I too would definitely like to see more Indian artists make it in the mainstream however running right to Arista is not the way it's gonna work.....too bad, but unfortunately business is business and in the genre of Native American Music we're stuck somewhat however doors are opening quite a bit....

The only problem with going to Arista first is they won't sign you without an idea that they're gonna make money......

So for starting out in this business, especially for contemporary artists you have to look at the independant labels quite a bit.

There are newer ones that are showing promise these days....

Makoche Records is an upstart recording company making waves in Flute Music and other not-so Indian mainstream types of traditional music, but they also work with other types of artists as well....

for Indian rappers there's a few companies to work with....Red Vinyl Records is operated by Litefoot (Indian in the Cupboard), but it's up to you if you want your name associated with someone who would play Nitewolf in Mortal Kombat II and brag about it.

Canyon's got a long history and good distribution....not too sure of the kind of deals they work out, but you gotta shop around.....

SOAR-blah!!!!! go there if no one else will sign you and you can't start your own label....that's about all they're good for.....

for pow-wow groups I'd say stay away from companies not operated by people who are regulars in the pow-wow world even if they've put out a few CD's in the past.....

These days depending on your region Arbor and Wacipi records do well with well known groups, especially in the northern US and Canada

if you're in the southwest I'd highly recommend Indian House. Good business practices and high quality recordings. The owner's a non-indian, but knows his stuff....unfortunately for a lot of newer groups he's a little old-school. Only records and releases groups that have some repoire with their own tribes and usually come from their own perspective reservations....however if you wanted to release independantly and just sell your stuff from pow-wow to pow-wow then I'd go to them for the recording and engineering and they'll also hook you up with CD and tape manufacturers and graphic designers.....

[The Rock]

I too would definitely like to see more Indian artists make it in the mainstream however running right to Arista is not the way it's gonna work.....too bad, but unfortunately business is business and in the genre of Native American Music we're stuck somewhat however doors are opening quite a bit....

The only problem with going to Arista first is they won't sign you without an idea that they're gonna make money......

So for starting out in this business, especially for contemporary artists you have to look at the independant labels quite a bit.

There are newer ones that are showing promise these days....

Makoche Records is an upstart recording company making waves in Flute Music and other not-so Indian mainstream types of traditional music, but they also work with other types of artists as well....

for Indian rappers there's a few companies to work with....Red Vinyl Records is operated by Litefoot (Indian in the Cupboard), but it's up to you if you want your name associated with someone who would play Nitewolf in Mortal Kombat II and brag about it.

Canyon's got a long history and good distribution....not too sure of the kind of deals they work out, but you gotta shop around.....

SOAR-blah!!!!! go there if no one else will sign you and you can't start your own label....that's about all they're good for.....

for pow-wow groups I'd say stay away from companies not operated by people who are regulars in the pow-wow world even if they've put out a few CD's in the past.....

These days depending on your region Arbor and Wacipi records do well with well known groups, especially in the northern US and Canada

if you're in the southwest I'd highly recommend Indian House. Good business practices and high quality recordings. The owner's a non-indian, but knows his stuff....unfortunately for a lot of newer groups he's a little old-school. Only records and releases groups that have some repoire with their own tribes and usually come from their own perspective reservations....however if you wanted to release independantly and just sell your stuff from pow-wow to pow-wow then I'd go to them for the recording and engineering and they'll also hook you up with CD and tape manufacturers and graphic designers.....

[Red Rock Music]

Thanks, StraightdancerAZ

I appreciate your nice comments about my recordings and glad that you enjoy them. To respond to your post about the web site, we have one under construction. I may PM and give you a peak.

We have several new releases lined up for the spring and summer. Cree White Tail should be out within two weeks. I am also working with Snake Island to produce their first CD. This is really a great group and a great bunch of guys to work with. Also got a new gourd dance recording in the tank. It will feature many new compositions and a few old stand-bys. This should go over well in your neck of the woods.

Well, I think I've said enough for now.

Take Care,
Redrock

[hoksila]

I know for a fact Red Rock has recently recorded some pretty good groups at Toronto International Pow Wow. They recorded Whitetail-Cree, and Snake Island, and I believe Whitetail's tape is already out, and Snake Island's tape will be out very soon.