Hi Tracy,

In a recent interview posted somewhere as mp3 on the forum, Devin talks about how it started, how Strapping was signed but his solo stuff wasn't, and how Sony Japan I think would mmh... distribute (?) Ocean Machine if Devin had a label, so he created his own.

But who do what in the whole process ?

I was surprised to see that InsideOut decides of the release date of the album, or if there would be a single or not (or a sample son to download). They also paid for the Vampira video. On the other hand, HDR seems quite "artisanal" (in a good way), and as you said somewhere, Terria (or OM:B ?) had no distribution deal in the US previous to 2002 or something like that.

So what does having your own label allows to do ? And not to do ?
Total creative liberty ? But not total commercial liberty ?
Can total creative liberty even exist without total commercial liberty ?
What share of responsability and risk have HDR and InsideOut respectively ?
Is there other entity(ies) notably involved in the process ?

It may be quite simple, but not knowing that much, to say the least, about the whole music commercial process, I ask anyway^^ (or if anyone knows and want to answer)

Thanks^^

Good question!! I've been wandering the same thing.

[Tracy]

Pretty much (and this applies to DT stuff only) HDR is responsible for the financing and recording of the master discs and artwork. i.e. we make the record. We then present it to other companies who decide whether or not they choose to release that product. If they do choose, they "license" the product from us and by doing so take on all responsibilities for the promoting and distribution of that recording. How much that company puts into the product depends on the agreement and their discretion. Sony, Inside Out and Roadrunner all have independent packaging and are completely independent of each other and of us. We work with them in the promotion side but they are free to do what they see fit for their territory. HDR is responsible only for the distribution within Canada.

The only real difference between what we do and a traditional "record deal" like SYL has with Century Media is we finance the product and therefore retain the artist's rights to it.

As far as commercial/creative liberty, we can make any kind of record we like but others may not want to release it. Good example is Punky Bruster - Japan was the only region willing to put out that one.

How about Devlab, was that planned as a 'website-only' release (meaning no other companies are involved in promoting/distributing), or was there just no-one else interested?

I guess that's a good site of the whole world wide inter web thingy. You can be a small (record) company and still reach a large audience.

[Tracy]

How about Devlab, was that planned as a 'website-only' release (meaning no other companies are involved in promoting/distributing), or was there just no-one else interested?

I guess that's a good site of the whole world wide inter web thingy. You can be a small (record) company and still reach a large audience.

Devlab was intended to be website only. Other companies have been interested but we're unsure whether it is a good idea to confuse the publuc further. Maybe if a good electronica-specialising label came along we might consider it.

Devlab was intended to be website only.

Hm... So what about Hummer?

I don't know if I read it somewhere or if I just thought this because Devlab was also only avaible on your website, but when I try to remember my thoughts I seem to always have been like "Ok, internet only" when I heard about it.

Then I read two interviews with Devin for the Synchestra release, and I was surprised to see that in both, he was asked about Hummer. And that was maybe the first time that I wondered about this one's release. So, if a label was interested, would you consider letting them release it? Or is it maybe still too early to decide, since it might still take some time until Dev finishes it?

Thanks in advance

[Tracy]

It would have to be an electronica label and not a metal label trying to market it as Devin. They would have to start new.

i would like to make a suggestion if hummer is an album that can help u sleep so why not a label that puts out relaxation albums isee them everywhere not just music stores,they are in book stores, bed bath and beyond type stores, heck i read somewhere docotrs recommending relaxation albums for people with sleeping disorders. lol how cool would that be instead of prescription for meds u get one says please purchase devin townsend hummer cd. the other maybe a new age label like what enya or those pure moods albums. some of u might laugh about the thought of a relaxation label but really they do sell even if they are dirt cheap thay actually sell it just doesnt always show up on the music charts.
the places like a bed bath companies are even if hummer isnt put out for a label if there only say example 200 plus stores and they get a dozen copies and sold at a reaosnable price i think hdr might be able to do it themselves and pocket more of the money and produce more.
thats just my suggestion im some guy jersey who worked in music retail for 7 yrs and still follows and do see things most people dont notcie or understand. but thatsjust my view point but willing to elaborate more here or in private pm.

Is Hummer finished anyway? I remember Devin posting something on here about it "being available on the website around the same time as Synchestra"...

I would recommend Warp Records.......

http://warprecords.com/

British electronica label....devout fanbase.....I'm sure it'd be a good fit.

I would recommend Warp Records.......

http://warprecords.com/

British electronica label....devout fanbase.....I'm sure it'd be a good fit.

Yes, my thoughts exactly Dev would definitely reach another very large audience if Devlab and/of Hummer were to be released through Warp

Is Hummer finished anyway? I remember Devin posting something on here about it "being available on the website around the same time as Synchestra"...

Maybe I didn't read it or I forgot about the post you're talking of... But in the interviews I mentioned in my post above, he said that he really wanted to take the time he needs for making Hummer sound exactly like he wants it to, and that he can't really say when it will be released.

Of course, Dev is known for being a perfectionist, the point is that I had the impression Hummer was almost finished. Guess I was quite wrong! And now, the SYL machinery starts rolling again... I think the questions are: When will Dev have time to finish it? When will he not be fucking busy with SYL, the DTB, and as producer? When will he stop sleeping, so that he has more time for creating music? And when will I stop being sooo greedy when it comes to new music from the Dev?

Maybe I didn't read it or I forgot about the post you're talking of...

There ya go:
http://hevydevyforums.com/phpbb/viewtop ... 3799#83799