PRODUCER INCUBATOR:

Launch a diverse portfolio of consistent income streams, build relationships with of other high-potential creatives, and unlock new career milestones in the industry with certainty.

Expert Business Support For Music Makers

Our Roadmap:

We work with you through the following phases. Sometimes it’s the entire roadmap from start to finish, and other times we may only focus on a few depending on your goals and experience.

Phase 1 - Creative Development

Work alongside top 1% talent who will set a high bar for you that will force new creative growth as you expand your song catalog and portfolio.

Phase 2 - Presentation

Show up in the market with a refreshed look and feel that highlights your capabilities, competitive edge, and attracts the right kind of people & opportunities.

Phase 3 - Active Income

Active income is controllable so we start with that. Source work that pays you upfront and consistently and then use that new income to support your bigger goals.

Phase 4 - Networking At Scale

Grow your following (public online) and your industry network (behind the scenes) by learning how to leverage both content creation and personal outreach effectively.

Phase 5 - Residual Income

Diversifying your income is much easier once you have a following and network. We will show you how to monetize your assets from your song catalog to digital products.

Phase 6 - Prime You For A Deal

You can always stay indie and do your own thing, but some of our clients want to explore landing a pub deal or management deal. We support you through this process.

Daniel

Aaron

Meet your new teammates.

Hey there! We’re Dan and Aaron, and we lead the Producer Incubator project here at Dark Label.

Our clients often joke that robots must have perfectly designed us for this job because amazing results happen when our superpowers are combined.

I (Dan) launched Dark Label back in 2018. My background is entirely focused on the entrepreneurial side of music-making (building income streams you control). For six years, I've been a personal business advisor to many multi-platinum, GRAMMY-winning producers, and songwriters (as well as brand new ones).

Aaron is our new addition, and he perfectly rounds things out. He's a classically and jazz-trained producer and songwriter who started landing major label work when he was only 18. He has a deep understanding of how to navigate the industry side, and he's also one of the few production mentors that other major label producers call on for blunt, practical feedback.

We built this incubator because a) it’s something we wanted to be a part of ourselves now and b) to create something we wish we had coming up.

We can help both emerging and established music makers build long lasting careers

  • I learned to leverage my reputation to diversify my income

    Epikh Pro, 6X Platinum Producer (Bryson Tiller, “Don’t”)

  • I went from a few clients to hundreds so yeah... listen to Dark Label

    Austin Hull, Producer/songwriter & owner of Make Pop Music

  • This is where I made my journey to Full Time in less than a year

    Jay Rence, Producer & Songwriter (San Diego, California)

  • I've been in this industry for 20 years, and we still doubled my income

    Brad Grobler, Producer & Songwriter (Armada, Universal)

  • I went full-time here. Now I run a large artist development company

    Adam Roesner, Producer & Founder of Career Creative Culture

  • I am no longer stuck in part time limbo. I'm booked solid now

    John Caviness, Producer & Songwriter (Denver, CO)

  • During Covid I left my job and built a full time home studio

    Amit Sounds, Producer & Songwriter (Seattle, WA)

  • We scaled my production business to six figures efficiently

    Isaac Sharp, Producer & Songwriter (Nashville, TN)

  • How to have a STABLE full time career is what I learned here

    DSM Productions, A UK based music production house

  • I increased my rates and added 2 new income streams

    Pascal Oorts, Producer & Ableton Certified Instructor

  • We increased our production fees to around $4,000 / song

    Nate Johnson, 1/2 of Oak Music based in Nashville, TN

  • Dark Label understands the modern producer's business

    Geoff Duncan, Sync Producer & THAT SOUND Drum Samples (Nashville)

  • I really wish that I had learned all this stuff 17 years ago...

    Joes Brands, #1 producer/songwriter from Belgium

  • This is the best business coaching for producers period.

    Mark Eckert, Multi-platinum producer and founder of That Pitch (Sync distro)

  • If you need a peer group of legit producers then this is the place for you

    Nathan James Larsen, Producer, Composer, and 200k subs on YouTube

  • This is truly a one of a kind service for music makers

    Matt Fudge, Producer & creator of the “God Particle” plugin

  • I finally have structure that allows me to produce full time

    Jesse Shirts, Producer & Songwriter (South Carolina)

  • We scaled my production business to over $100k per year

    John McLucas, Producer & Songwriter (Stateside Management)

  • I now have more control of my income in between label projects

    Alex Niceforo, GRAMMY Winning Producer (Demi Lovato, John Legend)

  • This gave me frameworks to make smarter business decisions

    Biometrix, Producer, Songwriter, and Artist (United Kingdom)

  • I am no longer an overworked. underpaid freelance producer

    Imad Salhi, Freelance producer & studio owner (London)

Step 1 - Producer Audit

We will sit down with you to fully understand your current situation (obstacles) and your desired situation (goals) so we can determine how big the gap is between the two. Sometimes it’s large, and other times there may just be a few things for us to work on. We’ll uncover what’s missing.

Step 2 - A Clear Strategy

Once we understand your needs, together we will choose both a 'quick win' that we can help you accomplish first and a long-term goal that you'll need continued support for. We will put together a clear strategy to achieve both.

Step 3 - Development

After we put together a clear strategy, we have to ensure that you are capable of pulling it off (with our support, of course). Through training, direct consulting, and peer advising, we will get you up to speed in the following three areas: a) creative abilities, b) business acumen, and c) mental fortitude.

Step 4 - Implementation

Now all that is left is for you to implement, and for us to help you stay on track to ensure that you maintain momentum and consistency, so that you can hit your targets and milestones. We will be by your side to keep you in the loop on the best industry practices as they change (which happens all the time), and we will provide tweaks to your strategy when needed.

WHO WE’VE HELPED (VIDEO)

For music producers that are new to the business and want to go full-time

See how Denver based indie pop producer/songwriter John Caviness used our service to develop the skills he needed to leave his day job finally make the leap to full time producing.

“I’m newer to the business side of this and still need a little help with my portfolio and brand first.”

Portfolio and brand support will help you launch your business confidently.

For our producers who need it: We will pair you with top 1% talent to cultivate top 1% skills. Most freelance music producers working today do not participate in major label sessions daily, leading them to underestimate the creative standard they should strive for. We will ensure you have solid evidence (a portfolio) that is well-presented, enabling you to stand out in this competitive market. Early in their careers, many producers believe they have a marketing issue, when, in reality, the issue is their product itself. They are talented, but not an undeniable killer yet. Get Started

WHO WE’VE HELPED (VIDEO)

For music producers that are stuck on the up/down income roller coaster.

See how Nashville based pop producer & engineer Tony Chetta escaped the up and down income roller coaster by controlling his flow of projects and using retainer models for consistency.

“I don’t want a one size fits all approach. Will you give me a business strategy that is based on my specific situation?”

Access hours of training playbooks, a custom plan, and direct consulting.

Gain complete clarity on what to do and how to do it, from branding and marketing to sales and diversifying your income streams. This is the primary reason most producers initially turn to Dark Label. They seek to understand what strategies will be effective for their unique goals and circumstances. We will craft action steps tailored to your needs, supported by data. At Dark Label, you won’t have to guess anymore; guessing wastes time. Additionally (while you’re an active client), you'll have access to all our trainings, tools, and frameworks, ensuring you know precisely how to achieve what you came here to do. Get Started

WHO WE’VE HELPED (VIDEO)

For music producers that need structure and accountability to thrive.

See how pop-country producer & songwriter Jesse Shirts used our direction and accountability tracking to quit his warehouse job and built a thriving studio in South Carolina

“How will you ensure that I get results?”

We track your work and hold you accountable to make sure you win.

Understanding what to do and learning how to do it constitutes only half of the equation. This explains why courses and one-off phone consultations generally have low success rates—they overlook the crucial other half, which involves you actually becoming proficient that these skills. We employ detailed tracking tools and various accountability measures to quickly identify areas for improvement and ensure you don’t stay stuck (which is the opposite of growth). This helps you get everything done even if you’re busy. Get Started

WHO WE’VE HELPED (VIDEO)

For established producers who want to grow their catalog and reputation.

See how Los Angeles producer & studio owner Nick Warner used Dark Label not only to scale his freelance income, but also his music catalog, network, and reputation.

“I want to further develop my craft and grow my reputation & network in the major label industry too.”

Your catalog and network is a crucial part of your career. We help with this.

One of the most valuable assets for a working producer is their song catalog. For our clients who have moved beyond the stage of building their portfolio, you will continue to receive personalized, straightforward feedback on the music you are creating, whether for clients, sync opportunities, or even personal projects. This feedback ensures that your standards keep rising and that the value of your song catalog grows. Even our clients who have won GRAMMYs find value in these sessions. Another important asset for working music producers is their network of professional songwriters, as this often serves as their gateway to larger opportunities. We will guide you on how to expand and leverage this network effectively. You can hear our producer’s work on our about page. Get Started

WHO WE’VE HELPED (VIDEO)

For ambitious music producers ready to scale their business to six figures.

See how Portland based pop producer/songwriter John McLucas used our service to make the final tweaks to his business and diversify his income to scale to over $120k per year (and eventually land a management deal)

“I want to meet like-minded producers who are supportive and transparent so I can see what’s working for them, but I struggle to find an online community with legit people.”

An online community for producers that is highly vetted.

Here's a secret: All the strategies and innovations at Dark Label actually originate from our network of clients. Like we say, there is no place like it on earth. The producer who either devises a particular business approach or excels at it will lead discussions, bringing everyone else up to speed. There are no weird competitive vibes.

You will have access to our discussion board and group zoom calls, allowing you to gain diverse perspectives on your challenges from those who have already dealt with them. Furthermore, you will be assigned to a regional chapter with 20 other producers for more real-time interaction, peer support, and in-person meet ups.

Our community has a wide array of members, from Demi Lovato's producer to the creator of the 'God Particle' plugin, to prominent YouTubers, sync producers, and producer entrepreneurs. Most importantly, it includes a global network of working producers who share similar values, goals, and take their careers seriously. You’ll instantly feel right at home. Get Started

For driven music makers who cannot waste time/money and understand that speed & clarity is a super power in this industry.

BUILT WITH LOVE & EXPERTISE:

We’ve created something truly special here at Dark Label, and we do not say that lightly. This project has been our life’s work for the past 6 years.

Our Producer Incubator is the only place on earth where both emerging AND established major label talent come to get help developing their skills, career, and business.

And although we share tons of value on our YouTube channel for free, many music makers prefer to have custom support, more structure, and access to new strategies first in order to gain a competitive advantage.

We encourage everyone who is interested to apply to join our producer incubator here at Dark Label and explore whether or not we’re a good fit for each other right now.

Many of our clients have told us that at first they were a little shy to reach out or that they didn’t fully understand everything that we did yet, but that they are glad they did reach out because it was one of the smartest decisions they’ve made so far in their career.

Inquire below to speak with us and get more details regarding costs, terms, and other information as it pertains to your specific situation.

Interested?

ANSWER A FEW QUESTIONS

We know application forms can be annoying, but ours is simple and doesn’t take much time. Click this link to fill out a quick form so we can learn about you.

WE WILL REVIEW & REPLY

Give us a few business days to take a look at your application form. If we are certain that we can help you then we will email you back with with more information and next steps.

BECOME A CLIENT

We will have a zoom call to meet you, answer your questions, give you a tour of our client portal, and make you a written offer to become a client.

A special behind the scenes tour video

See our producers grow their careers in real-time

or view more case studies