The credibility of a label.
The freedom of independence.

Professional artist management and label services for independent musicians who are done doing it alone, without giving up ownership, control, or a percentage of what you earn.

Founding Member Rate   $450/month regular rate

$225/month

5 spots available. First come, first served.

Being an independent artist has never been more possible. It has also never been more overwhelming.

You are expected to be a musician, a marketer, a content creator, a data analyst, and your own manager all at once. Meanwhile the music, the thing that started all of this, keeps getting pushed to the back.

There is a better way.

CHOOSE YOUR TRACK

Real management. Real infrastructure. Real support.

Flat rate. No points. No percentage. Cancel anytime. Two tracks, one philosophy: your career, your way.

SIDE A

The Algorithm

New school strategy for artists ready to work the algorithm before it works them.

For artists building in the modern landscape with data, digital presence, and strategic growth at the center. Modern playbook. Full ownership.

TRACK DELIVERABLES

  • Monthly release and content calendar
  • Streaming and royalty data review with a plain-English monthly summary
  • Feedback on one marketing asset per month, including bio, campaign brief, or pitch copy
  • Playlist and digital press strategy guidance

SIDE B

The Feeling

Old school hustle. Real fans. No algorithm required.

For artists who believe in radio, touring, word of mouth, and fans who show up because someone they trust told them to. Classic approach. Full ownership.

TRACK DELIVERABLES

  • Touring and live show planning strategy
  • Radio and press outreach strategy, including guidance and frameworks rather than direct execution
  • Email list setup, strategy, and growth guidance
  • Patreon setup and superfan strategy with one-time onboarding and ongoing guidance
  • Physical release planning guidance
  • Fan experience design and street team strategy
  • Local scene and market development strategy

BOTH TRACKS INCLUDE

Everything you need. Nothing you do not.

  • Monthly 1:1 60-minute strategy session

  • Monthly group call with fellow subscribers

  • Async Q&A with up to 3 questions per week and a 48-hour response

  • Quarterly career roadmap review

  • Basic WordPress website build, hosting, and management

  • CRM and contact management on the backend

  • 100% ownership of your music, masters, and career

  • No points, no percentage, and no traditional deal of any kind

  • Cancel anytime with no penalty

  • Eligibility for Root Cause Records consideration at 90 days

Founding members lock in at $225/month for life. Regular rate is $450/month.

Root Cause Records is Eleven's Independent Record Label as a Service

ROOT CAUSE RECORDS

Signed. Independent. Both.

The invitation is earned. The ownership stays yours. Forever.

Every Eleven Artist Services subscriber is eligible for consideration as a Root Cause Records artist after 90 days.

Root Cause Records is not a traditional label. There are no contracts that take your masters. No points on your earnings. No creative compromises

It is a curatorial co-sign extended only to artists whose work, commitment, and trajectory meet the standard. Not every subscriber gets signed. That is the point.

If you earn it, you carry the Root Cause Records name on your releases, your bio, and your press materials. You get the credibility of being signed without giving up a single thing that makes you independent.

Root Cause Records Artist Benefits

Branding and Identity

  • Official Root Cause Records artist designation and co-sign
  • Root Cause Records logo licensed for use on releases, press materials, and social profiles
  • “Signed to Root Cause Records” language included in your official bio
  • Co-branded press kit template
  • Featured artist page on the Eleven website with bio, photo, and music links
  • Listing on the official Root Cause Records artist roster page

Releases

  • Music released under the Root Cause Records imprint
  • Official Root Cause Records catalog number on all releases
  • Limited physical release support for vinyl, cassette, or CD runs
  • Label-backed release planning and rollout support
  • Consideration for inclusion on Root Cause Records label compilations

Industry Credibility and Network

  • Personal endorsement and warm introductions to relevant industry contacts
  • Label representation in press and radio outreach submitted under the Root Cause Records name
  • Access to the full industry network as a label artist rather than as a general subscriber

Elevated Support

  • Priority async Q&A with up to 5 questions per week and a 24-hour response window, compared to the standard 3 questions and 48-hour window
  • One additional 30-minute monthly check-in session beyond the standard strategy session
  • Annual full career audit and roadmap session in addition to the quarterly reviews
  • Priority placement and featured time on monthly group calls

Community and Visibility

  • Featured artist spotlight in the Eleven newsletter and content channels
  • Invitation to the private Root Cause Records artist community, separate from the general subscriber community
  • Early access to new Eleven resources, tools, and programming before general release

Live and Fan Experience

  • Invitation to perform at the annual Root Cause Records showcase event
  • Label-coordinated touring partnership opportunities with other roster artists
  • Fan-facing Root Cause Records identity that superfans can rally around
  • Support for fan community building under the Root Cause Records umbrella

A La Carte Add-Ons

Need more? Add it.

These services go beyond what is included in the flat-rate subscription.
Each is priced individually so you only pay for what you actually need.

Additional 1:1 Strategy Sessions

Extra 60-minute sessions available beyond your monthly included session whenever you need more face time.

$100 per session

Active Radio and Press Pitching

We pitch your music directly to radio stations and press outlets on your behalf, going beyond strategy guidance into direct execution.

Starting at $250 per campaign

Sync Licensing Pitching

Active outreach to music supervisors, sync agencies, and licensing opportunities for film, TV, and advertising placements.

Starting at $300 per campaign

Physical Release Production

Full coordination of vinyl, cassette, or CD manufacturing including cost pass-through and project management from start to delivery.

Project rate, quoted per release

Active Social Media Management

Hands-on posting, scheduling, and community management across your social platforms handled on your behalf.

Starting at $200 per platform per month

Merch Strategy and Setup

Full merchandise program setup including product selection, platform setup, pricing strategy, and fulfillment guidance.

Starting at $350 per project

Music Video Creative Direction

Concept development, treatment writing, and production coordination for visual releases and music videos.

Project rate, quoted per video

Additional Marketing Asset Feedback

Need feedback or direction on more than one asset per month? Additional assets beyond the monthly included review are available on demand.

$75 per asset

Transparency

What we do not do.

Traditional record labels do a lot of things we intentionally leave off the table. Some require resources we do not have. Some come with trade-offs you should not have to make. Here is the honest list so you know exactly what you are getting into before you apply.

  • We do not finance recordings or recoup production costs from your royalties.

  • We do not provide studio access or producer connections. We guide your process; we do not control it.

  • We do not offer mixing or mastering services. Those relationships are yours to own and choose.

  • We do not produce or finance music videos. Creative direction is available as an add-on.

  • We do not offer cash advances. There are no loans, no recoupment, and no debt to pay back.

  • We do not pitch sync placements as part of the subscription. It is available as a paid add-on.

  • We do not handle copyright or trademark registration. We recommend working with an entertainment attorney for those.

  • We are not lawyers and we do not draft or review contracts. Please work with a qualified entertainment attorney.

  • We do not collect royalties on your behalf. We review your data and help you understand it.

  • We do not finance tours or serve as a tour manager. We help you plan; you execute.

  • We do not manage or fulfill merchandise. Strategy and setup are available as a paid add-on.

  • We do not create or post social media content as part of the subscription. Active management is available as a paid add-on.

  • We do not develop international markets. We focus on building your foundation domestically first.

  • We are not accountants or business managers. Please work with a financial professional for bookkeeping and taxes.

  • We do not pitch playlists on your behalf as an ongoing service. We teach you the strategy and you own the execution.

  • We will never take ownership of your masters, your publishing, or any portion of your career income.

This list exists because we believe the best partnerships are built on clarity rather than fine print.

How It Works

Five steps to a real career.

Apply for founding member access

Five spots are available. Tell us about where you are and where you are trying to go.

Choose your track

Side A is for the modern playbook. Side B is for the classic approach. Both lead to the same destination.

Complete your onboarding audit

We review where you are across your data, contacts, website, and goals, then build a baseline to work from.

Begin your first strategy session within 7 days

Your 1:1 session kicks off within a week of onboarding. No waiting and no ramp-up period.

Earn your Root Cause Records invitation

At 90 days, qualifying artists are considered for the Root Cause Records roster. The standard is real, and so is the reward.

Who this is for.

Built for you if

  • You are a serious independent artist who is ready to treat your career like a business
  • You are tired of managing everything alone with no real guidance or support structure
  • You want professional support without signing away your future to get it
  • You believe in your music enough to invest in it
  • You want the credibility of being signed to a label without losing your independence

Not for you if

  • You are looking for a shortcut or a guarantee of results
  • You want someone else to do the music for you
  • You are not ready to show up consistently and do the work

About Matt & Root Cause Records

I built this because I needed it to exist.

I have been a musician for over 30 years, including a decade as a professional gigging drummer. I have spent the last 10-plus years in music industry marketing, CRM consulting, and artist education through Eleven Music Career Center.

I have worked with music tech companies, independent artists, and industry organizations across the country. I know what artists need because I have been one, and I know what the business side looks like because I have lived there too.

I am not a guru and I am not selling a course. I am someone who has stood on both sides of the stage and both sides of the business, and I built Root Cause Records because independent artists deserve real support without the traditional trade-offs.

Five spots. One price. Locked for life.

The founding member rate is $225/month and it is the lowest this price will ever be. When the five spots are gone, the door closes until the next cohort opens. The regular rate of $450/month applies to all future subscribers.