During those years on the road, I witnessed the problems that many talented artists had in finding the right management, agent or record company. I've seen hundreds of musicians who really deserved a chance to make a living from their talents, but due to their music not being quite what the record companies were looking for at the time, they ended up trading their instrument in for a day job in a factory or office. No doubt they are there to this day, wondering if things would have been different had they invested a little more time and money in their music career, or accepted the offer they had from a small indie label.
Even worse, I've also seen some of the pitfalls that some really talented artists got into by signing long term contracts with a major label, only to find themselves trapped and going nowhere.
This prompted me to think of all the thousands of talented music artists out there today. Artists and songwriters of all ages and backgrounds, most of whom have a unique sound that should be heard by more people.
Unfortunately for most of them, the end result will still be that day job. Not because they lack talent, but because the recording industry is now even more choosy about their artists than ever. The music markets that the large record companies used to rely on to fund the promotion of an unknown artist, are being squeezed by the competition from digital downloads, music piracy, and other forms of entertainment.
Many artists are now making headway on their own through the power of the Internet. But it isn't easy. Your many hours of practice may have honed your skills as a guitarist, but you know little about recording, marketing, publishing and releasing a record for sale. Learning all this takes many years, and you don't have that time to spare, even if you were interested in all that stuff.
This is where I can help, by offering YOU a record deal now! No questions asked! ... (Well, of course, there will be questions but we'll go into that AFTER you've signed!)
If you're serious about your music career and have the utmost faith in your talents, you've probably already spent a considerable amount of time ASKING record companies for a deal, only to be fobbed off with their latest "excuse".
Even those record companies who didn't throw your demo straight in the waste paper bin because they never listen to "unsolicited" material, probably didn't listen to more than the first 10 seconds of it.
Perhaps you're sick of being told that you're "not what we are looking for right now, please try again later"
You must be fed up of having your time and money wasted by music biz execs who think they're gods, right?
Well your NEW music career can start right here!
The time has come to stop asking for a deal, and instead, DEMAND one.
Your demand of "Give Me a Record Deal" has been heard by a new kind of record company!
I have the utmost faith in you and your music. And I haven't even heard it yet!
How can I be so sure?
Well, I have the experience to KNOW how much time, effort and skill goes into writing, rehearsing, and perfecting your music
I KNOW that you wouldn't even be ASKING for a record deal unless you have complete faith in yourself and what you do
I KNOW that you already believe that there is a market for your unique "sound"
I KNOW that you've listened to dozens of other artists on the radio who are successful and still believe you can do it better
I KNOW that you've already asked the opinion of your family, friends and complete strangers, and they all tell you how wonderful you are, and that you should be making records
I KNOW that you've performed live, and had people coming up to you at the end of the gig to tell you how great your music is
I KNOW that YOU believe that if you were just given the opportunity to release a record for sale, loads of people would buy it
I WILL give you this opportunity! Because I KNOW you have the talent, enthusiasm, and commitment to make your music career work
So why would I take such a risk on something I haven't even heard yet?
It is because I CARE about music artists.
I have seen so many artists ripped off by the major labels, that I formed this new kind of record company as an alternative.
I've seen artists stuck in deals for up to 10 years where they have to make records that are used by the company only as tax write-offs and are never released.
I've seen artists who have written great songs that the record companies have "taken" for their catalogues, only to sit on a shelf for years because the record company didn't want them released as "competition" to their favoured artists.
I've heard from music fans who would like to buy all their favourite artist's old songs, but can't, because the artist's record company has deleted them from their catalogue.
I've heard from fans who don't think that their idols appreciate them, because they're not allowed to share the music they've bought with their friends.
I've heard from fans who would do anything just to get an email to their idol to say thanks...only to find that the artist has been "sheltered" by their record company "for their own good". Many signed artists have no way of communicating with their fans apart from through their record company, or when they are on stage.
I've seen artists who have spent a great deal of time and expense developing their image and music, only to find that as soon as they sign a record deal, the record company employs managers and producers to change their image and music....and the artist has no choice!
There is only one "good" thing that a major label deal will do for you. They will LEND you a very large sum of money. However...you may never get to see it. Apart from the huge marketing and recording budget, a considerable sum may also be spent, perhaps "wastefully", on luxuries that you may not want your money spent on.
For example...
You may be paying for limos, when you can quite easily drive yourself, or get a cab
You will probably be paying for hairstyles and clothes from the most expensive boutiques. Image changes that you may not even have wanted
It is very likely that you will be paying for the same producer on your next record, even though you thought he made a complete mess of the first one!
On tour, your money probably bought meals for the whole crew, even though they went out and bought takeaways!
You will be paying for promotional records to be sent for free to every cheap club DJ who may not even play it. Yet if YOU want a copy of your own record, you will probably have to go out and BUY it!
All this money will, of course, have to be paid back to the record company out of the small percentage (usually around 6%) that the record company allocates to you from each sale. It is therefore no wonder that most artists don't see a penny from the sales of their first 5 or 6 top 10 singles.
It is easy to see why the major labels feel that anything less than a million-seller is a FAILURE!
So how is my record company different?
Huge advertising budgets aside... Let's compare my services to you with those of a major record company....
If you sign with a major record company, they will control your music. You have no choice.
I can give you a recording contract that gives YOU the freedom to choose how much control you retain over your own music.
If you sign with a major record company, they will pay you a large advance to cover recording and marketing costs (Like those mentioned above). This seems great until you realize that it is only a loan, and you will not receive any royalties from your record sales until it is all repaid!
I wont give you an advance. This is how I can afford to sign artists of a much higher risk. This means that when you DO start selling records, there is nothing to repay. You will receive royalties from the first record sold! ... AND at up to 6 times the percentage that a major label will pay you!
If you sign with a major record company, you will spend many days, weeks or months in a studio recording the songs THEY want you to record, but it is unlikely that you would be invited to hear the mix!
I will produce and record your music to industry standards and with commercial flair, but you will be given mixes on approval and have the final say in what goes into the mix.
If you sign with a major record company, the only way you can get a copy of your record, is if you go into a record shop and buy it!
I will give you an MP3 of the master, prior to its release that you can freely use to further your music career.
If you sign with a major record company you will get a contract that can be over a hundred pages long, and full of terms that mean nothing to you.
I will give you a contract that explains all your options in clear English without you having to resort to a lawyer to decipher the legal jargon!
If you sign with a major record company, they will turn your music into a clone of their last successful artist, or something they want to sell to 8-16 year-olds. In fact, they won't even sign you unless you already sound something like that!
I appreciate that somewhere in the World there is a market (however small) for the music YOU like to create, and will help you find it!
If you sign with a major record company, you are effectively working for THEM for a period of 3-10 years. They will tell you what to wear, how to look, where to go and when, what songs to play and when to play them, and even how to play them. You will be expected to be available for meetings and promotional appearances at any time. You wont get any holidays and will have to work when they say, unless you are on your deathbed.....and you're not even allowed to resign until your contract expires. This could be 10 years away!
I will give you a contract that does not tie you exclusively to my label, so you have nothing to resign from! You are free to shop my recordings and your songs to any other publisher, record company or agent at any time. You make the final decisions on what songs to record and how you want them to sound. You wear what you like, and play concerts if and when you feel like it. You can take a holiday whenever it suits you. If you're sick, I'll even send you a "get well soon" email!
I am going to take a big risk and sign you to my label - and I haven't even heard you yet!
How can I do this?
Unlike many record companies, I have all the personnel, skills, equipment & facilities at hand to record your music and release it for sale as a digital download. By dealing in digital products, I can release records faster and without the overhead costs of transport, materials, shipping or breakages.
Unlike other record companies, I respect that many artists are multi-talented, skilful and confident individuals who want to be in control of their art and their music career.
I don't feel it is right for a record company to treat its artists and songwriters as mere products. Therefore, all my artists are respected clients and business partners. As my business partner, I understand that you would want to retain a certain amount of control and invest in your own career. Therefore, I don't feel it is right for me to question your talents.
I believe that...
You want to work hard to make your music career work.
You are prepared to risk your time and money to make your music career work.
You are prepared to take whatever help and advice is necessary for you to earn a living from your music.
Not only can I guarantee that you'll get your first real record release, it will also help to bring you the prestige necessary to get you a deal with a major label at a later stage, should you so wish it.
If you are a non-performing songwriter, the release can help you to present your songs more professionally to publishers and music libraries.
And remember....! This Record Deal is NON-EXCLUSIVE - so you can leave us at any time.
If you truly want a record deal ... A NEW kind of record deal...
Have faith in me... and I'll have faith in your future music career!
Don't hesitate!
This is a LIMITED TIME OFFER!
We are expecting to sign plenty of new artists in a very short space of time. Then this website will disappear!
Don't miss this opportunity!
You can earn more money from 100,000 sales through my label, than you could on 600,000 sales from the average record deal.
But the most important thing about this deal is that you are free to leave us at any time!
This is the only record company with whom you can sign a deal without sacrificing your independence!
I will give you a link to the 1st artist signed to Free Musik Group. He goes by the name of Cin A Matik. Download his new cd entitled "A Minor Setback For A Major Comeback". It's sure to be a classic!
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/what-u-talkin-bout/id511122817?i=511122896&ign-mpt=uo%3D4
--
Tyrone Hodnett
Free Musik Group
freemusicgroup@
Sonic Simplicity Mastering Studio
757 392 6102
347 857 9916
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