In addition to the resources and services mentioned by the sibling comment, good labels also claim to offer legitimacy and provide a built-in audience. If you’r

In addition to the resources and services mentioned by the sibling comment, good labels also claim to offer legitimacy and provide a built-in audience. If you’re playing in a saturated, competitive field like underground metal, getting released by the right label can get you eyes and ears that you’d struggle to reach on your own. It’s not always a silver bullet — plenty of labels over-promise and under-deliver — but it can save you years of toiling in total obscurity. Another important thing to remember is that many musicians aren’t really dedicated/focused/organized/disciplined (pick as many as you’d like) enough to run Band, Inc. Plenty of bands also have no interest in becoming a brand and are willing to stay a bit more underground if it means they can focus on music. Labels and others who are interested in handling that work can be great partners.