Private Label

Great Lake Records - Label Submission Guide

Welcome to Great Lake Records! We’re excited to explore potential collaborations with labels for lathe cut releases. Please review the following guidelines to get started.

1. Label Information & Contact Details

To begin, please send us the following essential details about your label:

  • Label Name

  • Primary Contact Person

  • Email Address

  • Phone Number

  • Social Media / Website Links

  • Mailing Address (if physical delivery is needed)

  • Employer Identification Number (EIN):
    (Only applicable for business or label entities for tax and contractual purposes)

Send this information to:
[email protected]


2. Artist Roster & Yearly Release Overview

Let us know a bit about your label’s structure and plans:

  • Artist Roster:
    Briefly list the artists currently on your label. You can use a simple catalog number format to organize the roster, for example:

    • Artist Name - LABELCODE-001

    • Artist Name - LABELCODE-002
      This format helps us understand your catalog structure and makes it easier to identify each release.

  • Yearly Physical Release Plans:
    Share your typical yearly output in terms of physical releases (vinyl, CD, etc.). For example:

    • "We release 5-10 vinyl records per year, including singles and full albums."

    • "We specialize in limited edition runs of 7" singles and occasional full LPs."


3. Initial Submission (No Large Files Yet)

At this stage, please do not send large files or music. We’re simply looking to get an overview of your label, roster, and yearly plans. If we feel we’re a good fit, we’ll request specific files, music, and artwork at a later stage.


4. What We're Looking For

At Great Lake Records, we prioritize working with labels that have experience in producing high-quality physical releases, particularly vinyl. We are excited to collaborate with labels that have a proven track record of producing records for established artists. This means we are not currently looking for labels that are just starting out, or those focused primarily on digital streaming with little to no history of vinyl production.

We want to partner with labels that understand the intricacies of producing records and have an active, established catalog of physical releases. If you're a label that has yet to release music on vinyl or is still in the early stages of production, we may not be the best fit at this time.


5. Contract Retainers & Service Options

For labels looking to take their collaboration with Great Lake Records to the next level, we offer exclusive retainer contracts that ensure a dedicated partnership with significant incentives:

Why choose a retainer with us?

  • Priority Access & Scheduling: Retainer clients receive first priority in production scheduling, ensuring your projects are handled swiftly and efficiently, with guaranteed timelines.

  • Exclusive Pricing & Budget Control: Lock in favorable pricing for your services and control your budget with fixed rates throughout the contract period. No surprise costs—just clear, consistent pricing for the entire duration of the retainer.

  • Guaranteed Production Time: No more scrambling for studio time or worrying about your spot in line. Retainers secure a dedicated block of time for your projects.

  • Tailored, Full-Service Solutions: With a retainer, you gain access to our entire range of services, from professional recording to mixing and mastering, high-quality lathe-cut vinyl production, artwork & packaging, and even sync and PR services. Our team becomes an extension of your label, available at all times.

Long-Term Support & Success: A retainer contract provides not just a one-off service, but an ongoing relationship. We're here to grow with you, offering support for multiple releases and projects over an extended period.

Wholesale Pricing & Supply Security

Private label clients on a retainer plan gain access to wholesale pricing on essential supplies, including blank records, diamond styli, and other materials needed throughout the year. By purchasing these supplies upfront, labels can lock in lower costs, ensuring they have everything they need for their planned releases without unexpected price fluctuations or shortages.

Since you’re only paying for our time to cut, this setup allows for huge savings compared to per-project pricing. Retainer clients benefit from predictable costs, secure supply chains, and priority production scheduling, making it the most efficient and cost-effective way to work with Great Lake Records.

Next Steps

Once we’ve reviewed your information, we’ll reach out to discuss the next steps. If we’re aligned, we’ll move forward with more detailed project discussions.