Music Industry Personal Managers
Music "industry" horror stories … "A percentage of nothing"
This is a conversation I had with a producer gmail fellow music for some time. This is probably the craziest and the outline of the industry's most blatant scam I have heard. The names and places have been changed to protect the innocent (even with the permission of the innocent). The conversation also has been intact for narrative impact …
xxxxx: support, to u have a lawyer or can recommend music.
I: in New York?
xxxxx: yes or MIA Ny
me: you have the contract already?
xxxxx: no, tag told us to get a contract drawn up and sent to them.
I: to sell a track? its an indy label?
xxxxx: path of an artist in a multinational
i found it particularly odd.
I: That's very strange
Usually, I write an invoice
you do not need a lawyer
then They hit him with a statement from producer
but the producers do not usually draw up contracts
especially important
unless they are changing the way we do things now …
xxxxx: the fact that I want production credits, copyright of the melody, the money in advance so I know I really think that im currently playing
me: it makes no sense …
I thought I had a manager?
xxxxx: yes, but he's just xxxxx xxxxxx taking a 20% top to reveal her contacts rhythms.
be in (country of North America does not), it is our only way
me: I like that man
xxxxx: any chance u can email me a blank invoice. and does it matter if it's a mixtape or album drop
me: no, no matter
if you are actually paying for a mixtape
sure, I look for a
xxxxx: Thank you.
if this guy really takin 20%. advance, before you pay
I doubt there was a risk to its reputation for a measly $ 1800
I: wait ….
that is taking 20 on the front?
xxxxx: type I are connecting with artists acting as a representative / director
I: When you say up front, which means for their advancement?
xxxxx: he is taking 20% of the money that is supposed to get before we do. he wants me to pay it out of my pocket. before seeing the money from the label.
to their problems.
I: WHAT !?!?!??!?!?!
Get the # $% @ OUT OF HERE !?!?!?!??!
How can you do that?
xxxxx: yes man, you're doing it coz we have no way.
me: damn
lol
xxxxx: already prepaid for $ 16,500 that are supposed to receive 4 issues.
me: Do not pay anyone anything until you get your check
WHATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
man
xxxxx: it's too late.
me: who paid 3 g of the front?
xxxxx: close.
I paid everything we had, it is, know the artists personally it seems legit. I suppose part of the grind is getting to play.
I: no
i% $ # @ tion I hate when people say
this is one of the crazy scams they have never heard of
ALWAYS
ear
of
xxxxx: haha .. this struggle to be an urban legend. oh well.
so The bill protects the ass in terms of copyright, publishing and all that money to fund that we want to negotiate
I: no
the bill is the first step in obtaining cut check
then the tag sends a "declaration of producer" is an original contract, so you can reduce your first semester
then when the song makes the record,
you will get a production deal
which is the final contract to complete all
please please let me know how this goes
maybe this guy is legit, but its VERY possible to label the check was never cut
and please ask someone DP before doing anything new
xxxx: yes, if they do not cut the check, it's like I can say, oh well, I tried.
thing is that my friend knows the artists personally, said he was away on his way and wanted to be paid for their time, we realized, for us, exposure is a good look
me: there are other ways to things …
damn
man
DP is here
so you can get the guys who have some experience
I got angry man
you can not act out of desperation
xxxx: I guess. a valuable lesson, but costly, could learn from this.
me: good guess lol
So there it is. This "manager" boy received a percentage of the money upfront, before any document was delivered even more … Needless to say, is that Enver's your money up front. There are a lot of sharks out there looking to take advantage of desperate music producers. You must use common sense. If you are unsure about something, feel free to contact me. If I can not help you, I know someone who can.
About the Author
Jim Bond is the man behind The Be A Better Producer Blog. He has been developing himself as a music producer for almost 10 years (And has been on the grind for 7). Early on in his career, Jim earned a reputation as having a serious grind within the music industry, using a combination of out of the box thinking and pure will (& good music) to get his foot in the industry door. With no management, Jim has managed to work with a range of artists such as Jim Jones, Lloyd Banks, Ghostface Killah, M.O.P., Ras Kass, Max B, Royce Da 5′9″, Serius Jones and many more. The Be A Better Producer blog is the #1 spot on the net to learn about Beat Making & Hip Hop Samples and also to purchase top quality Drum Sound!
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