One of the biggest questions new label owners ask is: When can I officially launch my record label? Is it when you announce the name? Post a logo? Release your first record?

PRESENTED BY LANDR - http://landr.com/otherrecordlabels

In Episode 3, Scott explains why the real answer has less to do with a launch date—and everything to do with what he calls the pipeline.

This episode breaks down why a record label isn’t legitimate because of one release, but because of what comes next. Scott walks through how professional labels think months (and years) ahead, and why momentum, consistency, and planning are what separate sustainable labels from one-off projects.

You’ll learn:

• What a “pipeline” actually is and why every label needs one before launching

• How far ahead your releases should realistically be planned

• A manageable release cadence for one-person and small labels

• How to stagger projects across 3, 6, and 12-month timelines

• Why pipelines build confidence with artists, press, and fans

A strong pipeline keeps your label from stalling after the excitement of release day and helps you build a healthy, sustainable catalog over time—even when some releases perform better than others.

You should download my free TOOLKIT for new record labels... http://otherrecordlabels.com/toolkit

Thanks to LANDR for sponsoring this episode. landr.com/otherrecordlabels

Imposter syndrome is one of the biggest reasons people never start a record label. That quiet (or loud) voice asking: Who am I to do this? Why would anyone care about my taste, my curation, or my point of view?

In this episode, Scott breaks down why imposter syndrome never really goes away—even for Grammy-winning label owners—and why that’s actually good news. Instead of waiting to feel “qualified,” he reframes the conversation around what truly makes a record label valuable: your unique taste, your lived experience, and the specific combination of influences only you can bring to the table.

You’ll learn how to:

• Understand why imposter syndrome is normal at every level of the music industry

• Identify the unique ingredients that make your label different (genre, geography, format, values, and that all-important X-factor)

• Stop comparing yourself to existing labels and start owning your own curation

If you’ve been stuck in analysis paralysis, feeling like an outsider, or waiting for permission to begin—this episode is your reminder that no one else can build the label you’re meant to create.

Because yes, we’re all imposters. And that’s exactly why your record label matters.

Branding Your Record Label (Why the Name Matters Less Than You Think)

In Episode 2 of How to Start a Record Label This Year, Scott dives into branding—specifically how to name your label, define your identity, and build a brand that actually connects with the right audience.

If you’ve been stuck obsessing over the perfect label name, this episode is your permission slip to move on. Scott breaks down why your name won’t make or break your label, what does matter when choosing one, and how to avoid common mistakes that can slow you down before you even release music.

This episode covers:

• Why most successful labels weren’t built on clever names—but clear identity

• Practical rules for choosing a label name (logos, domains, searchability, and social handles)

• How niche, taste, and curation form the real foundation of your brand

• Using genre, geography, format, and values to “dog-whistle” to your audience

• Translating your niche into visual branding, design, and consistency

Branding isn’t just logos and colors—it’s the sum of your taste, your mission, and the community you’re building. When done right, someone should be able to spot one of your records from across the room and know it belongs to your label.

This episode will help you stop overthinking, pick a name, define your niche, and start building a label identity that feels intentional, confident, and unmistakably yours.

You should download my free TOOLKIT for new record labels... http://otherrecordlabels.com/toolkit

Thanks to LANDR for sponsoring this episode. landr.com/otherrecordlabels

Imposter syndrome is one of the biggest reasons people never start a record label. That quiet (or loud) voice asking: Who am I to do this? Why would anyone care about my taste, my curation, or my point of view?

In this episode, Scott breaks down why imposter syndrome never really goes away—even for Grammy-winning label owners—and why that’s actually good news. Instead of waiting to feel “qualified,” he reframes the conversation around what truly makes a record label valuable: your unique taste, your lived experience, and the specific combination of influences only you can bring to the table.

You’ll learn how to:

• Understand why imposter syndrome is normal at every level of the music industry

• Identify the unique ingredients that make your label different (genre, geography, format, values, and that all-important X-factor)

• Stop comparing yourself to existing labels and start owning your own curation

If you’ve been stuck in analysis paralysis, feeling like an outsider, or waiting for permission to begin—this episode is your reminder that no one else can build the label you’re meant to create.

Because yes, we’re all imposters. And that’s exactly why your record label matters.