How do i start a digital Record label in the UK?

Question

My first post so here goes...Basically i am at the very early stages of starting up a digital record label to sell my songs online. Do i need to register a Ltd Company? what are the pro's con's? How do i check if my Label name is taken...Who do i register it with? I have spoken with UK Intellectual Property Office regarding TM'ing my logo and name. Has anyone done this that can point me in the right direction. Many thanks. RS

Answer 1

you take a plane over to the united states and get a real recording label haha

Answer 2

There are two organisations that can help you.  One is Business Link for help with starting your business.  The other is Own It, who offer free help and advice on intellectual property rights in the creative industries.  We've worked with both of them and they give good advice.

You don't need to register as a limited company if that's not the way you want to trade.  The pros of being a limited company are that you appear to be a bigger organisation than you are, which can help, and your personal liability is limited to the shares you hold in the company.  The cons are that there's extra paperwork to be filed every year, you have certain obligations as a company director and there are some formalities you have to go through in running your business.  Having said that, I run two limited companies and don't find it too much of a chore.

Not sure where you can check about your label name.  You can check if anyone is using it as a limited company name by visiting the Companies House website.

Business Link should be able to point you in the right direction for finding out more about label names, as should Own It.

Good luck!