Though most have been rather vague, the ones that were right on were indeed worth hearing. By no means do I claim to have the answers. I can merely suggest a few ideas that I have either heard or formulated which have potential - most of which rely more upon time commitment than money. There are those of you out there who have no desire for this, playing music purely for its overwhelming feeling of self-satisfaction. Back in the day, you might have been the first to get offered a deal.
Nothing ever speaks to an audience more than genuine players.
Yet such musicians may still appreciate a larger audience, so many of the ideas presented here might still be of interest. For those of you who said yes, I strongly encourage you to read Steve Albini's The Problem With Music article from October 9th. Though it is a rather dismal account, make no mistake - there is a great deal of truth in there. Such readings are not intended to dissuade you from your goal, but just to provide you with as much educational material possible as to what you're getting into. To attempt to tell you what you need to present to a record company would be futile.