At 5 Alarm Music and Rescue Records we use many different avenues to find the music we add to our rosters. 5 Alarm Music is the largest independent
production music library in the United States. In addition to our 5 Alarm Music Library that is produced in house, we represent and sub-publish over 40
existing libraries from around the world. Typically we use staff composers for our library needs.
Sometimes we receive requests to create custom material. We can usually complete whatever it is right here in house. It doesn’t hurt that we have a
very talented staff and Firehouse Recording Studios, a state of the art recording studio, on the grounds!
Rescue Records represents Indie artists and their songs. These songs are performed by actual artists and bands and must contain lyrics. As you can
imagine, it’s a bit more of a search as material comes in CD by CD or even song by song. To date we have about 250 artists on our roster and we are
constantly adding. We have also been known to use roster artists from Rescue Records for our library needs too, if someone is able to perform in a
style that works for one of the releases we have slotted.
Rescue Records submissions come in to me in many ways – via email, CDs or even through friends, roster artists and co-workers. Once someone has reached
out they are asked to submit a CD via mail. This helps in the way that I can take it home or listen in the car. Often that’s the best way for me to
really concentrate on what I’m hearing.
When listening I have a good idea of what the current trends are and what I need. If I hear something that sounds good and useful I will reach out to
the artist and try to get the ball rolling. Hopefully things go smoothly and that person and their songs become part of the Rescue Records family of
artists.
There are different things that I consider when listening. Production quality, lyrics and style are all important. The recordings must be
broadcast quality. The lyrics must be clean and usable on television. If you can’t hear it on TV, then there’s likely not much I can do with it.
And the style must be relevant.
One of my current challenges is with Urban music. I can certainly use more, but the problems that I keep seeing are either uncleared samples in the
tracks or so many participants that we cannot sort out or get everyone to agree on the terms, so ultimately, it does not work out. Clean ownership of
the track is important in my world!
I also try to be considerate of what we already have on the roster and not take on too much in any one genre. This helps to ensure that nobody gets
buried and hopefully everyone gets used. I can also always use material that is unique. Say you want to submit a CD of Polka music. I would likely
take it, if it were good – but would absolutely make it clear that because it’s so specific it may only get used once a year. If you are agreeable to
that, then it’s all good!
It’s really all about knowing what we have and what we need and with over 3,000 CDs in the 5 Alarm Music Libraries and 250 artists in Rescue Records
that’s a lot of music!
By TerriLynn Rosa, A&R Manager for Rescue Records
