Just some general advise for anybody who regularly gets stuff like this in their email.
Be real wary and suspicious before signing up with anybody.
>Subject: Fan Mail: SCHMANGE
> Regarding the materials on your web site. I am interested in the
> materials on your site. Statue is a major independent record company
> and would like to discuss the possibility of releasing this material and
> doing some radio promotion on it. If your record is available for
> licensing and distribution please contact me at your earliest
> opportunity by sending me an email to [email]wr@statuerecords.com[/email] Best Regards,
> Warren Ryan Manager A Statue Records Group Los Angeles
> [email]wr@statuerecords.com[/email] Statuerecords.com
Initially, a newby would probably get real excited about being contacted by a record company A&R manager being offered a 'record deal'
However, first thing to do is check the website of the 'record company'.
On first glance it looks like there's a ton of artists I've never heard of. They've been in business since 1985 and not one success story!
Next thing to do is to do a google search of newsgroups and the web for any info on this record company...
Then write the A&R guy a letter..... ie,
Dear sir,
Before discussing anything further, I'd like to get an opinion from you regarding the rumours that are being spread about your 'record company' on the internet.
In particular those contained in threads such as these...
http://forum.cubase.net/forum/Forum21/HTML/010753.html
http://comeg.proboards6.com/index.cgi?board=chat&action=display&num=1083542150
It seems like you have a huge number of artists 'signed' to your label and I don't really recognize any of them.
Do you have any verifiable success stories? How do you feel about me contacting other artists 'signed' to your label?
Are you strictly a distribution company or are you actually financing the distribution and publicity required?
Are you charging a 'sign-up' fee?
What are the terms of your contract?
I'm still waiting for an answer but I'll print it here if they have the nerve to reply. If they reply honestly, and are above board, then they have nothing to worry about and it's worth looking into further.
If they hedge and haw with you... stick it in the trash and warn other people about it.
There's too many people out there wanting to take advantage of new people to the music business and prey on their lack of knowledge of how the business works. I'll reserve judgment for now, but more than likely this is a company that will sign you to a limited contract to distribute your CD (which you will pay for). They'll also tie up your rights and royalties to previous and new releases. They may also take a percentage of your publishing.
Never sign a contract without a thorough check by a qualified entertainment lawyer and never be afraid to ask questions. In fact, grill the hell out of them... if you get the slightest bit suspicious... walk away.
... just some lessons learned from a coupla decades in the music bus. :cool:
