DANIEL GLASS
1. Word of the year...RELENTLESS! That's a key to Daniel's success, his unflagging devotion to getting it done.
2. Last year's word...INSPIRATION! You can't create if you've got no inspiration. Keith Richards told Daniel to go to Marrakesh, Daniel did, he's traveled the world to get recharged and inspired. That's where the great music comes from, that's why so many of the great records were cut in unique, out of the way, locations. Whether they be Headley Grange or the Chateau. You mix it up and you get ideas. So get out of the house and experience!
3. The live show is what closes Glassnote on the act.
4. If Daniel can't see the act being on terrestrial radio, he doesn't sign it. He learned this lesson from Jerry Moss. There's a treasure trove of wisdom out there if you mine it.
5. He pays out 50% to the artists on recordings. That may change, a la Martin Mills/Beggars, but Daniel believes in fair deals. If everybody's not happy, it doesn't work. He had one treacherous negotiation, he regrets it.
6. If you want to be on another label, do so. Glassnote is only interested in those who are only interested in them.
7. He doesn't hire anybody from major labels, because he doesn't want to untrain them, to hear the old war stories and how they did it where they used to work.
8. Everybody but his general manager is under thirty, you must be willing to work 7 days a week, or Glassnote is not for you.
9. You must read the Sunday "New York Times." It's a requirement of employment at Glassnote.
10. Terrestrial radio usually doesn't get the new and different. Don't try to find something that fits a slot, discover something unique and bring radio to it. That's why the live show must be so good. So Daniel can bring radio programmers to the gig to be closed.
11. Glassnote wants the merch. They've got an in-house guy who does it. If the act becomes really big, they'll make a deal with a larger company. On big acts, as much as 40% of merch is sold outside the venue, i.e. not at the gig.
12. Glassnote does not require a 360. Does not require you to sign publishing, although they do have a publishing company with six employees focused on syncs.
13. Satellite radio counts. It's where acts get started, get their buzz.
14. Don't be afraid of new technology/ideas. While everybody else decried Spotify, Glassnote embraced it. There's no money in being rooted to the past, and there's a ton of money in the future.
15. Nothing advertises your label more than successful acts. If someone's interested in signing to Glassnote, Daniel says to talk to Phoenix or Mumford or... Treat people right. Karma...it comes back.
I love great art, no matter the medium.