Talk about the music biz - marketing, promotions, contract law, copyright etc...
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By Kon B Thu Oct 23, 2008 12:54 pm
I got a message from a music placement company through myspace a few days ago saying that they want some of my music for a film. When I checked out their website I found that you have to pay a fee for their "services". Then I noticed that they're more interested in getting you to become a member then your actual music that they were speaking about.

My instinct tells me that you shouldn't have to pay anyone up front to push your music when they're coming up to you.

If a company places me then I think they deserve a percentage when it happens. But I don't think they deserve my money upfront because I don't know if they're legit.


Am I wrong to think this way??

How many of you have been getting these messages??
By 4dahaterz Thu Oct 23, 2008 4:52 pm
The messed up part about the music business.... everyone wants money, including YOU.... If you deal with an Entertainment Lawyer, they are going to want money. I have heard of some Music Placement companies that charge a small fee for listening sessions, but sometimes, whats a small fee compared to waiting for that freebie to come along and listen to your tracks and approve em, if that freebie never comes.

Its a lot of hot underground producers out there, what makes you different. The Industry is all about Money and Networking. What is the next person going to make off of your music if they pass it along, or will they just watch you fly high, and watch you forget about them, while they sit back and say, Damn, I gave that cat the stepping stone. This aint a perfect world homie, nonthins free.

But of course the end result is up to you. I dont know the full details about the company that you are referring too but it all depends on the vibe you get from that company, if you wanna spend your money with them or wait until you can work with a publishing company to get placed(which many require placements and/or radio play). Also definitely research some of the producers on the site to see how their placements are doing if possible or how they might like the company.
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By Kon B Fri Oct 24, 2008 4:21 am
4dahaterz wrote:The messed up part about the music business.... everyone wants money, including YOU.... If you deal with an Entertainment Lawyer, they are going to want money. I have heard of some Music Placement companies that charge a small fee for listening sessions, but sometimes, whats a small fee compared to waiting for that freebie to come along and listen to your tracks and approve em, if that freebie never comes.

Its a lot of hot underground producers out there, what makes you different. The Industry is all about Money and Networking. What is the next person going to make off of your music if they pass it along, or will they just watch you fly high, and watch you forget about them, while they sit back and say, Damn, I gave that cat the stepping stone. This aint a perfect world homie, nonthins free.


I have a problem giving a company a $400 fee for a 1 year subscription. Too me, that's not a small fee.

Of course I know the industry is about networking and making money. I'm just saying I think, "when you work you get paid" is how I'm carrying this. Again, I may have this wrong but I'm not giving a company any loot without them doing any work. Especially if they're coming to me for my music.

I guess I felt that the vibe wasn't about the music and more about paying that $400 to become a member. That's not my thing. It might work for others but not for me.
By 4dahaterz Fri Oct 24, 2008 6:52 am
Kon B wrote:
I have a problem giving a company a $400 fee for a 1 year subscription. Too me, that's not a small fee.


Now thats f..ckin Bologna(Balogneee).... tell them to kill themselves.

There is this one site for music placements where you dont pay nonthin to join, but you have to send about 3 tracks to them, and if they approve your production, they will let you join their site for free. The only cost comes from when or if you decide to let them play your music in front of A&R's that they will have meetings with on those perspective dates. Those fees are like $35 per song everytime. To me, thats not bad, because they are giving you ample opportunity to have an A&R from that particular artist, "actually listen" to your song. Also if your song is picked, they do get a percentage, which makes perfect sense to me.

But $400 to join a damn site, thats crazy
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By Kon B Fri Oct 24, 2008 1:50 pm
4dahaterz wrote:
Kon B wrote:
I have a problem giving a company a $400 fee for a 1 year subscription. Too me, that's not a small fee.


Now thats f..ckin Bologna(Balogneee).... tell them to kill themselves.

There is this one site for music placements where you dont pay nonthin to join, but you have to send about 3 tracks to them, and if they approve your production, they will let you join their site for free. The only cost comes from when or if you decide to let them play your music in front of A&R's that they will have meetings with on those perspective dates. Those fees are like $35 per song everytime. To me, thats not bad, because they are giving you ample opportunity to have an A&R from that particular artist, "actually listen" to your song. Also if your song is picked, they do get a percentage, which makes perfect sense to me.

But $400 to join a damn site, thats crazy


Thank you.

I knew I wasn't crazy. It just didn't sound right.

Now the other procedure you described sounds fair because you see your money working and the fee is much less.

Thanks for your opinion
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By rickrock305 Fri Oct 24, 2008 4:06 pm
$400?!?!?!?!?!


if they were really placing music, they wouldn't need to charge you a ridiculous amount of money upfront.
By 4dahaterz Sat Oct 25, 2008 6:35 pm
yeah, thats a pretty good find.... and nice information on that site. Most of this stuff is common sense about scams, especially outrageous amounts of money and promises to get your music somewhere, when nonthing is gauranteed in the music industry until it actually happens. I have had so many friends get placements that didnt go all the way, and some that did, but thats the way the game works.
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By Coz Sat Oct 25, 2008 10:14 pm
I have also recieved these messages on Myspace and they get deleted every time!

I don't think any of these companies can be trusted. I mean, how can they prove that they've even played your music to these people? Sounds like an easy money maker to me.
By 4dahaterz Mon Oct 27, 2008 6:20 pm
Coz wrote:I have also recieved these messages on Myspace and they get deleted every time!

I don't think any of these companies can be trusted. I mean, how can they prove that they've even played your music to these people? Sounds like an easy money maker to me.


I feel ya... I guess you know when you see someone else you know from your area gets a song placed and gets a check, then you know somehow, they got the song. No it doesnt mean that they played everyone elses songs that paid money to have them listen, but that one did somehow make it :D
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By DJ Plan A Sun Dec 28, 2008 11:36 pm
I will happily promote your music to ALL my industry contacts for a mere $20. hmmm? Whatdayathink?

j/k

I check many sample sites regularly, including MPC-Samples of course, but at another site I saw (MPC-Sounds?) they were trying to sweeten the deal by offering a 1 year membership to BroadJam another one of these Pay-for-play types sites if you bought some samples from them. Seemed like a better plan than just forking out $ for no guaranteed return--at least you get your samples kit out of the deal... not that that's guaranteed to be great either...
By hash brown Thu Jan 01, 2009 4:35 am
do you have donald s. passmans all you need to know about the music industry book? he covers it very well. if you dont have it get it . thats like the bible of this siht
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By sinister_keys Thu Jan 08, 2009 5:01 pm
rickrock305 wrote:$400?!?!?!?!?!


if they were really placing music, they wouldn't need to charge you a ridiculous amount of money upfront.
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By four eyes Sun Jan 11, 2009 8:12 am
dude if somebody hit u up on myspace its obviously a scam.

if you would pay anybody i would think the safer way would be get a manager or agent. though they can be crooked as well. but at least for the most part it will be more personal and you will have a face to a person that is out there hustling to get your stuff heard through various avenues.

a manager can be an expensive investment but sometimes some are just starting out and/or might have a genuine interest in your music and see its potential and you can actually help each other.

all a manager does really is make you look more official since you have some sort of representation other than yourself, and they basically just bother people with connections until they lend an ear to you. anybody that can talk slick is suitable for the job really.

i would prefer going that route over paying some random "service" that you dont know who's doing what.