2010 and what it holds for NSR...

[DJ_Pharynx]

I thought I would write a little update on the label....people may not be interested in the operations of a label of our size, but Ive learnt quite alot over the last year or so and the hardcore scene isnt very vocal about the 'behind the scenes' so I thought....why not?

To date we are making a loss and from what I believe, only just missed out on getting 1 track onto HU4. We have however got a couple high profile remixes coming next year and have signed tracks from people like Auscore and SPIT which will stand us in good stead. Our aspirations are still to get on a compilation....if we do not achieve this in 2010, it will be a disappointing year.

Sales have massively improved since June. We now have 2 tracks that has sold over 55 mp3 units each (for people who know a little about mp3 sales they will understand that this is a great achievement for a small/new label, especially as one of those tracks was an artists 1st ever release). MP3 sales across the board have picked up nicely, which I have put down to an increase in support for NSR and also better music coming out on NSR. The two hand in hand should mean that our main goal of getting music on the CD compilations in hardcore can become a reality in 2010.

In the last few months I have also learnt a lot more about the business side of running a label which in the future should more than help us because as with anything, if something makes a loss for too long then it cannot carry on, especially as this label is funded by myself.
It seems that money can be a touchy subject in hardcore and the very mention of it can cause people to be referred to as money grabbers. For us money definitely does not come first, and for anyone who has bought an NSR mp3 or CD, you should know that that money goes straight back into the label wether it goes into future CD projects, future vinyl releases (fingers crossed) and future CD releases. Im not bothered about NSR making a profit, I just want it to be able to support itself, rather than me bailing it out from personal funds. The release of our first CD (Never Stop Raving: Hardcore Explosion) was funded by myself and Im hoping that the CD sells well enough so that the label pays for volume 2 itself, rather than it coming out of my student loan or my wages

So....is the CD selling well enough for NSR to be able to release a volume 2 in February 2010 as planned?

At the moment....No. But submissions for volume 2 have been of such a high standard that I may just take the risk and put up the money again.
However, I think the CD will eventually recover costs (at the moment its making a loss) and allow us to manufacture volume 2 which I am dieing to do because I feel that I have learnt so much by doing volume 1 and that I can do volume 2 much better and make it more appealing. So what are our plans for Volume 2 and 2010????

NSR2: Hardcore Invasion, should, as I said be out in February or March (provided the funds are there) and at the moment I am hoping that it will be 2 discs....1 mixed and 1 unmixed (similar to the CLSM – Bathford Welcomes Careful Drivers, which was £12 if I remember rightly, ours will be around £10, regardless of what names are on it).
This will mean that we are on the lookout for a DJ to mix the mixed disc....you will notice us tuning into various hardcore radio stations in the coming months on the lookout and of course we will need submissions which are open now. Tracks....like with other compilations, do not have to be NSR tracks (2 tracks on volume 1 are licensed from other labels). They can be label submissions or artist submissions, just like with HU We have even requested submissions from some artists personally, which they have agreed too. The CD will also be offered with free p&p again from the NSR site, we have seen this as a great thing and has encouraged people from Norway, Finland, Ireland, Germany, USA and Australlia to buy from the NSR site which means our music truly is going out globally!
We also have around 15 unreleased tracks so far, that will be coming out in 2010, and we are hoping that along with our ever improving music and a couple high profile remixes, we can get a track or two onto a compilation.

So.... Check out our CD, its available from the link at the bottom aswell as IMO, Hardbeatstore and happyhardcore.com shop. There are clips on all 4 stores too. So have a look and have a listen, and if it isnt your thing, then recommend it to someone who may be interested....word of mouth is more powerful than you think! Also check out our mp3s....IMO, Trackitdown, Juno and Beatsdigital all stock them.

If you dont like our music, and dont want to buy any....then thats fair enough, but thanks for checking them out anyway and feel free to leave feedback. If we didnt receive feedback then we wouldnt even be on square one yet.

Thanks for all the support over the last 14 months, support and feedback is what keeps it alive and keep a look out for news of volume 2 as it will be superb with 2 discs and we are hoping for a lot more submissions!

Never Stop Raving!!!

CD Link:
http://www.nsrrecords.co.uk/store.php
http://www.imorecords.co.uk/View/27269

[DJ Rhythmics]

Took a lot of balls to write this Thanks for the insight. As someone else trying to get their feet in the scene its good to find people who can relate. I'll be sure to give your label a listen, and I hope you reach your goals next year

[Weasel]

how many cd's have you pressed and sold if you dont mind me asking?

[DJ_Pharynx]

how many cd's have you pressed and sold if you dont mind me asking?

We pressed 100....we have half left

Cheers for reading guys

[Dj chase]

how many cd's have you pressed and sold if you dont mind me asking?

We pressed 100....we have half left

Cheers for reading guys

refreshingly honest! i like that...... tbh i aint paid much attention to this label.... or indeed any other digital only one, as i have no need* (*read money) for cdj's but i have listened to your stuff and i do quite like it - probs will purchase this and quite a lot of other digi only shctuff within the coming weeks when i do (eventually) make that leep into the digital world :laffing out loud sooooo much that im pissing my man thong writing this etc etc:

hope it all go's well bud, nice to see someone taking risks and doing things their way for a change*



* im pissed and depending on how i read stuff in my drunken stupour tomorrow morning i will edit as need be! - the compliments stand tho!!!!!!!!!!!

[DJ Rhythmics]

I picked up Unexpected by X-Cyte, nice little tune will be putting it in my sets sometime

One thing I can say from what I heard on the main site and on junodownload is that there is a significant gap in quality between tracks. Some sound pro or near-pro while some were amateur at best. Can't really think of any names at the moment but those were my first impressions. Just my unimportant opinion of course

[DJ_Pharynx]

I picked up Unexpected by X-Cyte, nice little tune will be putting it in my sets sometime

One thing I can say from what I heard on the main site and on junodownload is that there is a significant gap in quality between tracks. Some sound pro or near-pro while some were amateur at best. Can't really think of any names at the moment but those were my first impressions. Just my unimportant opinion of course

i would say I have to agree. Some of our earlier releases were probably not quite up to scratch....and if the same track was submitted now, they would not get released, we have learnt from this and upped our quality control significantly over the last few months.

All new releases will be of a high standard

[Kieran-M]

Liking the honesty in this thread, keep it up!

[DJ_Pharynx]

Chase & Kieran-M - Thanks guys. Honesty is the best policy. As I said, I dont think hardcore is very vocal at all when it comes to stuff like this, the fans seem to be kept in the dark quite a bit, which imo, considering its only a small scene is stupid. I have nothing to hide, if anyone asks me questions about the label, I will answer the best I can.