Unsigned acts take DIY route to nurture profile. (A&R).

A number of acts currently attracting major A&R interest are choosing to release material independently in a bid to develop profile ahead of signing long-term deals.

The trend comes at a time when labels are increasingly looking to sign acts that have begun to prove themselves.

Norwegian rock act Span, who emerged as one of the key acts at last year's In The City unsigned, are set to release a single in late March to sustain their profile, while they continue to negotiate their long-term record label home.

"It's about creating the first chapter of the story ourselves," says Span's manager James Sandom, who says the release has already secured specialist Radio One plays, an Xfm session and interest from the press. "I don't think we would have got those opportunities without having the focus of a single release," he says.

Elsewhere, Muse's management company Taste Media will independently release material from two of its new acts -- Vega 4 and Serefin -- in April. "The way we want to set it up is more about artist development rather than actually rushing a record out," ...