Interesting E-Mail
From: Khalid Nurredin
Subject: In Case You Didn’t Know!
Bob,
This is how Tila Tequila and a lot of other people with huge amounts of friends got them on Myspace. He promises 100,000 views and listens for $1500.00. If a group or artist has a large enough budget, he gets them 100,000 sets of eyeballs every month,with most becoming a friend. This explains why Tila has almost 2 million friends, but only moved 13,000 singles on Itunes. Most acts use companies like this to trick a major label into thinking they have a large fan base, but miniscule sales always are a result. There are others like him, but he’s considered to be the best. Anybody with the cash can get a lot of "friends" but it doesn’t mean squat if the quality of the music isn’t there. So the next time you visit a page, you have to wonder are these really fans or were they just bought? Somebody with some deep pockets is backing Tila, but they forgot about good songs sung well. I don’t know if this strategy will work for someone who is truly talented. We’ll just have to wait and see. I wonder if the majors are doing the same thing? I heard a rumour that J records did this with Paula Deanda, but I have no proof, and her sales are about as bad as Tila’s with all that money from BMG.
Peace,
Khalid
From: Mark Hinkley
Last night I was at a soccer game and they were playing a Toronto-based band called BTK’s (and rap-rock ensemble) "big hit" called Peppyrock. The problem with this is that I’ve heard the song more now that the band has completely vanished off of the musical landscape. Their music has been featured in many a beer commercial.
A group called The Ernies (from VA, rock-ska with turntablism) which I first heard from the first Tony Hawk video game about 8 years ago, has received more radio play in the last 3 years than they did when they were signed to Mojo Records and released their sophmore disc "Meson Ray". I’ve heard their clips in commercials for Ford trucks, trailers for The Hulk movie, and in bumpers for wrestling programming.
So my questions to you are : How is it a band gets dropped for not being marketable or making enough money, but magically become worth money long after they’re "dead"? Also, what are the chances that these artists are seeing dime-one from any of this filler/muzak-esque airtime?
From: Rob Falk
Subject: Take a look at this Geffen Records deal!
Bob:
You’ve got to see this: Bratz
Click on the "Click Here" button and read the terms of the agreement. In exchange for having your songs listened to by "Top A&R execs at Geffen" you give Geffen the right to use your music, anywhere, for any purpose, forever!
You might also get a record deal, which appears to cut Geffen in on touring income.
Un-effin’-believable!
From: Noah Blackstein
Subject: True story
One month ago. My wife’s truck got broken into. The assholes stole my kids strollers and the car manual. They left 20 CD’s.