Avoid your band getting "scammed"
As simple as the link to the article above is, it gave me a good laugh and brought back some memories. I don’t know how many times I had some bogus fabricated company hit me up about working with my old band and our music. It got the point that it was kind of ridiculous. The best were these 2 companies who essentially acted as publishers (one in charge of finding placements & exploiting your music) and what they loved to call, “Branding companies”. They wanted me to sign a non-exclusive deal w/ them allowing them to shop our music for placements in movies, commercials, video games, etc., yet were requiring an upfront fee. Actually, like the article mentions, I think it was $300 for a “yearly fee”. “We don’t take any money from what you generate either! Just our 1x fee for the year, and that’s it.”
I can recall it like it was yesterday, “Yeah! Our music supervisor _______ thinks your stuff is just excellent. He really has great faith he can get some buzz going around it! Some of the song placements in videos and commercials have led to generation of up to $5,000 in royalties for our artists. Sounds pretty nice, right?” And I would say, “Oh ok! Well thank you, that is great to hear. But about this fee, how about you we just do it this way, I’ll delegate the authority to you to shop this music — not sign anything on my behalf, but you find opportunities, show those opportunities to me, then if we decide it’s something we’re interested and follow through, you will immediately take your $300 fee off the top of whatever we are paid. Sound good?” Then I’d always get, “Well…ummm, I dont know if it necessarily works like that.” WHY? WHY NOT? Ha they’re getting their $300 right? I’m was just covering me and boys backs to ensure we weren’t writing Joe Schmo a check for $300 for no reason. People are sketch, and it’s so sad that they try to take advantage of youngster’s dreams, simply in attempt to put a check in their pocket. Get some incentive and find a real way to make money you dirt bag. Quit sweet talking and lying to people. It’s just trying to manipulate people because you know they have strong desire and dreams.
The same can be said for record labels. In fact, I can walk outside my house right now and probably throw a rock and hit a “record label owner”. I was told by some of these “record executives” before that I’d be on tour w/ Paramore, recording w/ the biggest of biggest name producers, etc. Don’t listen to the talk. Don’t be dumb. If you’re young, in a band, and reading this, please do yourself a favor now and contact an attorney. Pay them to formulate a band agreement between you and your band members, have them set up a business for you and get incorporated, trademark your name, register your songs with the copyright office, get them to overlook any offer that is thrown your way if you feel it is worthwhile and may be worth your time, etc.
