Getting started overview
- Pete Callaghan
Before you begin, please have a look through this page and all notes below.
At the bottom of this article, there is a link to a Quickstart Guide which will help you get started; however, before you launch the Quickstart Guide, make sure you read through the prerequisites, products, and important concepts listed below!
Prerequisites
Here is what you'll need to get started.
Record label
If you do not already have a label, we can help you set it up. It can be as simple as picking a unique name or using your own name.
Existing music catalogue
All you need is 1 track, but if you have a large catalogue that is already on Beatport, we offer an import tool to help automate the process of getting your content into LabelGrid. If you need another means for import, get in touch to coordinate with us.
LabelGrid's products
We offer many products and micro-services to help you manage and market your content. Here are our main offerings.
Content Manager
Our content manager is built specifically for managing albums, singles, EP's, and compilations, as well as artist profiles. The dashboard also provides all the important release details, shop links, thumbnails, ZIP packaging tools, mailing tools, snippets, video and clip generators. The tools inside are made to help you share, collaborate, and market your digital products.
Distribution Engine
Our distribution engine can work with pre-existing direct contracts, or you can utilize LabelGrid's contracts to deliver your content to the top digital service providers (DSP's), such as Spotify, iTunes, Google, Beatport, and pretty much any digital outlet that is important in today's market.
WordPress Plugin
Our WordPress Plugin is made to do several things with WordPress. Not only can it help you keep your own WordPress site updated with the latest shop links, release meta-data, artist profile data, etc; it will also provide gated download pages, Spotify pre-save pages, Soundcloud gated pages, and more. You can also sync your WordPress site with your LabelGrid catalog with little effort. The process can be manual or automatic. The plugin can also operate in a standalone mode allowing you to add and edit album content that is not on LabelGrid.
Micro-services for marketing, workflow, and more
We offer so much more not listed on this page. We've crafted things so that as you use the platform for your more basic needs, you will start to naturally become familiar with the more advanced tools. If you would like to go ahead and dive deep, check out the other sections of our docs to read more.
What can I use LabelGrid for?
LabelGrid was created to help label managers and audio-content creators, streamline their operations with tools that help automate posting schedules, teaser content generation, quick distribution to top outlets, and exploration into new ways of monetizing and nurturing a fan base, all while keeping team members informed with links, metrics, and shareable content.
Access LabelGrid from anywhere
LabelGrid can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection and has built-in link fetching and shareable private links that allow you to share data and assets with your own team, or fans, or people in the industry.
Faster work routine
Perform your tasks without distraction and delay. We work diligently to ensure our platform remains fast and responsive so you can be more productive. Our rollout of version 2 of our UI and API in 2020 is a testament to this promise.
Data recovery
Because we use distributed backups, even for deleted files, we may be able to come to your aid in recovering something that you once uploaded to our platform. If you host your label's content and files with us, we may be able to recover these files, even if you deleted it from LabelGrid in the past.
Purpose and Mission
We cover our purpose, mission, and high-level overview of some of our features on the following page. For a deeper look at our ecosystem, just dive in using the table of contents on the left side of this screen.
Important concepts
If you haven't already gotten the primer, please check out the list of Important Concepts before continuing.
Quickstart
Meta-data style guide
The industry has rules for how you should style the text of your releases and tracks. Track titles, artist names, album descriptions, file specs are important in ensuring your products get properly listed on the DSP's. This style guide gives you the important things to know and common mistakes.
Pricing Plans
Learn all about our pricing structure here: Pricing
Legal
Please have a read through our Service Level Agreement (SLA) and Content Distribution Agreement (CDA) before uploading any content to our system and before using LabelGrid to deliver any content to Digital Service Providers. By continuing use LabelGrid and any of its sub-products, you are agreeing to adhere to the terms outlined in the SLA and CDA that is presented to you when you login. If any changes to any of these agreements are made, we will notify you in a timely fashion, or upon your next login; at which time, you have the opportunity to opt-out, or in a fashion that is compliant with state and federal government regulations administered under the jurisdiction of Colorado state of The United States of America.
Support
We are here to help. Feel free to direct any support inquiries to the LabelGrid Help Desk.
Here is the
Quickstart guide we promised at the beginning of this article. Please have a run through the steps contained within to become acquainted with the system, and send us a support ticket if you have any questions.