We need your advice.

What a month it has been. We've had countless emails of interest from major record labels, PR agencies, booking agents, recording studios, radio channels etc. Needless to say, it has been surreal and we have had to pinch ourselves quite frequently to check whether it was all real.

To put this in perspective - you can count on one hand the number of metal bands from India that have ever been signed or toured internationally. Being "signed" is something every Indian band dreams of when it starts out. It's like a seal of approval. A box to check off the "make it as a band" checklist. A contract that makes all your dreams as a band come true. 

Turns out none of that is true.

Here's the best offer we received (it's from a label that has the current biggest names and old legends of metal signed):

 Here's what one of the offers to tour France looked like financially : 

None of this looks pretty. We are NOT in any way pointing fingers or slinging mud at these labels/agents. They have businesses to run and we understand that. 

To cut the story short, being signed means (generally) -

1. we commit to deadlines/expectations set by labels

2. releasing content will need approval of labels 

3. possible creative intrusion 

4. really long turn-around period for income 

5. heavy dependence on touring to make a living

6. we keep a fraction (22% is the best we have been offered) of the earnings of our sales

What labels are generally offering in return -

1. contacts for recording and touring

2. worldwide distribution of our music

3. online presence and PR

4. a small lumpsum of money for production which they will recover through sales/touring

From where we see this (and from the advice of close friends and family), they are not offering anything that we cannot do ourselves/are not already doing. The cost massively outweighs the return.  

However, we want to know what you guys think before we make a decision.  

Do we get signed and commit to the traditional "music industry" way of business

OR

Do we stick to our guns and keep pushing musical boundaries with your support - stay independent. 

We'd really appreciate if you let us know what you think. This question has kept us contemplating and debating between us and amongst others the entire month as it quite honestly will be the biggest decision we have ever made and defines the direction of Bloodywood for the future. It is about time we come to a conclusion. 

Tons of love,

Karan and Jayant