Editing Netlabel (section)

{{Short description|Type of record label}}
{{About|the general type of internet music distribution|the Internet Archive's music service|Netlabels}}
{{Refimprove|date=February 2017}}
A '''netlabel''' (also '''online label''', '''web label''', '''digi label''', '''MP3 label''' or '''download label''') is a [[record label]] that distributes its music through [[digital audio]] [[file format|formats]] (such as [[MP3]], [[Vorbis|Ogg Vorbis]],  [[FLAC]], or [[WAV]]) over the [[Internet]]. While similar to traditional record labels in many respects, netlabels typically emphasize free distribution online, often under licenses that encourage works to be shared (e.g., [[Creative Commons]] licenses), and artists often retain [[copyright]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Adam Hyde |url=http://www.freesoftwaremagazine.com/articles/netlabels |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110814083254/http://www.freesoftwaremagazine.com/articles/netlabels |url-status=dead |archive-date=2011-08-14 |title=net.labels |date=2011-08-14 |access-date=2020-05-03}}</ref>

Netlabels may have a considerably lower staff count than traditional record labels, in some instances being only a single individual in control of their music, maintaining sole ownership.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.c3.hu/~bram/Netlabels_and_Open_Content.pdf|title=Netlabels and Open Content|last=Timmers|first=Bram|date=July 2005|page=12}}</ref> Physical [[LP album|LP]]s, for example, are rarely produced by a netlabel, relying entirely on [[digital distribution]] and means of the [[Internet]] to provide the product. Having no physical product makes the running costs of a netlabel considerably less than a traditional record label and some netlabels have abandoned any financial model altogether and instead, running the netlabel as a [[hobby]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.c3.hu/~bram/Netlabels_and_Open_Content.pdf|title=Netlabels and Open Content|last=Timmers|first=Bram|date=July 2005|pages=8–9}}</ref> Some employ [[guerrilla marketing]] to promote their work.{{Citation needed|date=November 2010}}