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Your CDs, Demos, And Your Music - Choices To Make
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As we independent artists continue to seek out new places to distribute our music on today’s web 2.0, there are still many “sleight of hand” type offers that we artists should be aware of. Most of today’s artists who have a good deal of web experience with their recorded works, are well aware of the type of offer that begs to be investigated before ever submitting one note.
A couple of months ago, I received an email from an online record company/distributor(who will remain unnamed)offering the opportunity to have my music added to a compilation CD that they would prepare and distribute. Upon reading the fine print, it was revealed that the artist must pay an up front partial fee(of $199.00!)to cover the “manufacturing and distribution costs” of this compilation. This of course, after they had chosen your music. The company in return, offered a couple of dozen finished and ready for sale compilation CDs with your song on it, that the artist could sell in order to recoup the costs incurred up front. I didn’t think much of the offer either way, and I knew I would never give my money away to any offer that strange. To be sure, all of this company’s emails were form letters. There was no answer by a person to any of the inquiry emails that I’d sent. So I just let it go.
A funny thing happened though, after about two weeks. I began receiving emails that were being forwarded from other artists, they too had been contacted about this compilation offer from the very same company. Most were questioning the company’s agreement terms that we had all read. The flurried and blustering artist emails about the company lasted for about two weeks. During that time, I’d received over thirty letters. Then it stopped. Since then, I haven’t heard from either the record company or from any of the artists who forwarded letters of inquiry.
Now it’s a couple of months later, and all is still quiet. I wanted to pass this occurrence along to the many artists who are working hard at creating a strong online presence, and trying hard to get their music heard in as many suitable places as possible.
It’s your finished CD or demo. It’s your music.
If something like this kind of offer looks dodgy or shady, it’s very possible that it is.
Researching the online party offering to do things with your music is smart. Protect yourself financially, and protect your music. Sensible business practice and common sense can go a long way with the many online offers you might receive. Continue to choose wisely. And I wish the greatest of success to all of the independent artists working on the web today. BB
A couple of months ago, I received an email from an online record company/distributor(who will remain unnamed)offering the opportunity to have my music added to a compilation CD that they would prepare and distribute. Upon reading the fine print, it was revealed that the artist must pay an up front partial fee(of $199.00!)to cover the “manufacturing and distribution costs” of this compilation. This of course, after they had chosen your music. The company in return, offered a couple of dozen finished and ready for sale compilation CDs with your song on it, that the artist could sell in order to recoup the costs incurred up front. I didn’t think much of the offer either way, and I knew I would never give my money away to any offer that strange. To be sure, all of this company’s emails were form letters. There was no answer by a person to any of the inquiry emails that I’d sent. So I just let it go.
A funny thing happened though, after about two weeks. I began receiving emails that were being forwarded from other artists, they too had been contacted about this compilation offer from the very same company. Most were questioning the company’s agreement terms that we had all read. The flurried and blustering artist emails about the company lasted for about two weeks. During that time, I’d received over thirty letters. Then it stopped. Since then, I haven’t heard from either the record company or from any of the artists who forwarded letters of inquiry.
Now it’s a couple of months later, and all is still quiet. I wanted to pass this occurrence along to the many artists who are working hard at creating a strong online presence, and trying hard to get their music heard in as many suitable places as possible.
It’s your finished CD or demo. It’s your music.
If something like this kind of offer looks dodgy or shady, it’s very possible that it is.
Researching the online party offering to do things with your music is smart. Protect yourself financially, and protect your music. Sensible business practice and common sense can go a long way with the many online offers you might receive. Continue to choose wisely. And I wish the greatest of success to all of the independent artists working on the web today. BB
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-INNO