How to Get Signed to RAM Records

To get signed to RAM Records you need a drum & bass record that is technically flawless and obviously functional on a dancefloor. RAM has been the genre's benchmark label since 1992, and the first thing a submission is judged on is whether the mixdown stands up — because at this label it always has.

This guide covers what the A&R listens for, what the catalogue tells you, and how to submit.

The Label

RAM Records was established in 1992 by Andy C, alongside Ant Miles, Scott Bourne and Shimon, and grew into the most recognisable drum & bass institution in the world. Andy C sold the label to BMG around 2016, but its identity has remained remarkably consistent: big, clean, dancefloor-first drum & bass with an unusually high production standard.

That identity comes from a DJ. RAM's catalogue is built around what works in a set played to a large room — which is a narrower and clearer brief than "good drum & bass".

What Their A&R Wants

A mixdown that competes. This is the filter that removes most submissions. Drum & bass is unforgiving about low end, and a bass that does not translate to a large system is an immediate decline. Reference against a recent RAM release at matched loudness.

Function over cleverness. The question is whether a DJ can use it. A track with an unconventional arrangement that breaks a mix is a harder sell here than a well-executed roller.

A recognisable identity within the format. RAM is not looking for experimentation for its own sake, but it does need to be able to tell you apart. The signings that stick have a sound.

A finished intro and outro. DJ-ready arrangement is expected, not optional. Sixteen or thirty-two bars of mixable intro, and the same at the end.

What the Catalogue Tells You

RAM's current output covers the full modern spectrum — neurofunk, liquid, jump-up and the more melodic, vocal-led end. Look at what has come out in the last year and identify which of those lanes your record is in, then say so in your message. A submission that does not know which RAM it is aiming at reads as a submission that has not listened.

For the wider genre, drum & bass labels accepting demos covers Hospital, Metalheadz, Critical and Viper alongside RAM.

How to Submit

Open the label's profile — RAM Records in the directory
Upload a finished master — WAV, release-quality. Loudness and low-end translation are the first thing checked — reference against a recent RAM release.
Write three sentences, not a biography — name a recent release, say why your record sits next to it, and stop
Submit for €2 — the demo goes to A&R with a 7-day feedback deadline
Read the feedback — production quality, originality and marketability scores, plus written notes

If they pass, you still get the notes. That is the part cold email cannot give you.

Submit your demo to RAM Records →

FAQ

Does RAM Records accept demos?

Yes. RAM is listed as accepting demos in our directory and can be reached for submissions through the label profile. It is one of the most competitive drum & bass desks in the world, so the technical bar is the realistic obstacle rather than the taste one.

What BPM should a RAM Records demo be?

Standard drum & bass tempo, 172 to 176 BPM. Anything meaningfully outside that range is not the format this label releases, however good the record is.

Is RAM Records still run by Andy C?

Andy C founded RAM in 1992 and ran it for over two decades, selling the label to BMG around 2016. He remains the artist most associated with it, and the label's dancefloor-first identity still reflects the way he plays.

Where to Go Next

Drum & bass labels accepting demos covers Hospital, Metalheadz, Critical and Viper — several of which are more approachable first targets than RAM.