New music, new business model
August 17, 2006 8:57 PM Subscribe
Wish you could have bought shares of Pearl Jam before they were famous? Fans sponsor bands in $10 'parts'. Once 5000 parts have been pledged, the band gets a proper studio recording. Tracks are made available free. CD's are sold. Money goes to the band and to the 'believers' who sponsored them. Might work. Probably better than this model.
I really think this sounds cool... but what are the downsides? Scammer bands? loss of investment? (only 10 bucks though).
Is this too good to be true? I would think this would be an awesome thing for music AND fans... but it just seems a bit too good-sounding to be true (in the way they are advertising)
Anyone with any experience with this?
posted by johnstein at 9:09 PM on August 17, 2006
Is this too good to be true? I would think this would be an awesome thing for music AND fans... but it just seems a bit too good-sounding to be true (in the way they are advertising)
Anyone with any experience with this?
posted by johnstein at 9:09 PM on August 17, 2006
Do the fans get to sue the band when they waste the studio time with infighting and drug binges? When they fire the drummer? You know the drummer always gets sacked, right?
posted by 2sheets at 9:28 PM on August 17, 2006
posted by 2sheets at 9:28 PM on August 17, 2006
Oh yeah - I have supported a similar model in the past and was happy with the result - Einstürzende Neubauten is doing their 3rd supporter funded project.
posted by 2sheets at 9:30 PM on August 17, 2006
posted by 2sheets at 9:30 PM on August 17, 2006
This is a hell of a scam. Sellaband sets an extremely high hurdle for a band - $50k - and, if the band doesn't hit the goal, they'll only refund the money when each individual investor asks for the money back. Clearly, they're banking on the laziness of the common consumer to ask for a $10 check.
posted by suckerpunch at 9:33 PM on August 17, 2006
posted by suckerpunch at 9:33 PM on August 17, 2006
Pearl Jam? Could I have spent $10 to make them stop?
posted by pompomtom at 9:47 PM on August 17, 2006
posted by pompomtom at 9:47 PM on August 17, 2006
It's 2006. Can't you buy all the gear you need for a first-class studio for less than 50k?
posted by mullingitover at 10:25 PM on August 17, 2006
posted by mullingitover at 10:25 PM on August 17, 2006
"You know the drummer always gets sacked, right?"
Q: What's the last thing a drumer ever says to his bandmates?
A: "Hey, let's do one of my tunes!"
and another...
Q: How do you know if the drum riser is level?
A: The drummer drools from both sides of his mouth.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 10:33 PM on August 17, 2006
Q: What's the last thing a drumer ever says to his bandmates?
A: "Hey, let's do one of my tunes!"
and another...
Q: How do you know if the drum riser is level?
A: The drummer drools from both sides of his mouth.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 10:33 PM on August 17, 2006
Q: How do you get a drummer to stop playing?
A: Put a piece of sheet music in front of him.
posted by casconed at 10:41 PM on August 17, 2006
A: Put a piece of sheet music in front of him.
posted by casconed at 10:41 PM on August 17, 2006
Q: What's the diffference between a dead drummer lying in the road, and a dead bunny lying in the road?
A: The bunny might have been on the way to a gig.
posted by joshuaconner at 10:46 PM on August 17, 2006
A: The bunny might have been on the way to a gig.
posted by joshuaconner at 10:46 PM on August 17, 2006
Q: What did the drummer get on his SAT?
A: Drool.
In the interest of fairness...
Q: What do you call a bassist whose girlfriend has just left him?
A: Homeless.
posted by lekvar at 11:13 PM on August 17, 2006
A: Drool.
In the interest of fairness...
Q: What do you call a bassist whose girlfriend has just left him?
A: Homeless.
posted by lekvar at 11:13 PM on August 17, 2006
Q: Why do bands have bassists?
A: To translate for the drummer.
posted by Orange Goblin at 11:45 PM on August 17, 2006
A: To translate for the drummer.
posted by Orange Goblin at 11:45 PM on August 17, 2006
To translate for the drummer.
Welsh to English?
posted by flapjax at midnite at 11:54 PM on August 17, 2006
Welsh to English?
posted by flapjax at midnite at 11:54 PM on August 17, 2006
$50,000 for the studio? Is Bob Rock producing?
posted by rinkjustice at 12:27 AM on August 18, 2006
posted by rinkjustice at 12:27 AM on August 18, 2006
It's 2006. Can't you buy all the gear you need for a first-class studio for less than 50k?
That's what I was going to say. Probably not quite a first class studio, but a first class home studio.
posted by ludwig_van at 12:37 AM on August 18, 2006
That's what I was going to say. Probably not quite a first class studio, but a first class home studio.
posted by ludwig_van at 12:37 AM on August 18, 2006
Q: How do you know the stage is level?
A: The drool is coming out of both sides of the drummers mouth.
posted by PenDevil at 1:55 AM on August 18, 2006
A: The drool is coming out of both sides of the drummers mouth.
posted by PenDevil at 1:55 AM on August 18, 2006
To be more on topic, here's a great article describing how Marillion do it. Besides pre-funding albums they've also got a three day Marillion Weekend happening next year in Holland for fans.
posted by PenDevil at 1:59 AM on August 18, 2006
posted by PenDevil at 1:59 AM on August 18, 2006
suckerpunch called it, very few bands would see $50k from their fans. But those forgotten $10 donations will make much money for sellaband.
If your professional, technically savey, and good musically, you'll find ways to make money & you don't need such services. But your gonna get robbed once you start paying others, most small buisnesses fail too.
posted by jeffburdges at 3:49 AM on August 18, 2006
If your professional, technically savey, and good musically, you'll find ways to make money & you don't need such services. But your gonna get robbed once you start paying others, most small buisnesses fail too.
posted by jeffburdges at 3:49 AM on August 18, 2006
Q: How do you know a drummer's at the door?
A: The knock speeds up.
Q: What do you call a guy who hangs out with musicians?
A: A drummer.
And, yeah, I agree with some of the comments above. If I had 5,000 fans that were willing to give $10 I would have already sold them CDs. This would only work if they actually generated the investors rather than the band finding them.
posted by snofoam at 4:54 AM on August 18, 2006
A: The knock speeds up.
Q: What do you call a guy who hangs out with musicians?
A: A drummer.
And, yeah, I agree with some of the comments above. If I had 5,000 fans that were willing to give $10 I would have already sold them CDs. This would only work if they actually generated the investors rather than the band finding them.
posted by snofoam at 4:54 AM on August 18, 2006
Q: How many Guitarists does it take to screw in a lightbulb?
A: 12. One to actually do it, and 11 to sit around and say, "ehh, I could do that better."
posted by Hypnic jerk at 5:44 AM on August 18, 2006
A: 12. One to actually do it, and 11 to sit around and say, "ehh, I could do that better."
posted by Hypnic jerk at 5:44 AM on August 18, 2006
Q: How do you know a viola player is at the door?
A: He can't find the key and he doesn't know when to come in.
posted by jon_kill at 6:22 AM on August 18, 2006
A: He can't find the key and he doesn't know when to come in.
posted by jon_kill at 6:22 AM on August 18, 2006
Did you hear about the time the band locked their keys in the van?
It took two hours to get the drummer out.
Q: What do you do when a drummer comes to your door?
A: Pay for the pizza.
Yeah, while this model is interesting, I'd a) want to see the AR guy that they have lined up, and the producers. And I'd want to know that the band was touring, since that's the best way to gain fans and make money.
In fact, there's an easier way to do this— Get 10 of your friends together and start a record label. Invest $100 or so each and take that out of record sales. You'll have a better chance of getting your money back, you'll have a direct relationship with the band, and you'll have a better understanding of the music business.
(Another question— What the hell is Sellaband doing to promote the artists? That's where the muscle of a real record company comes in handy: not in the studio but at the endcap.)
So... Bad investment.
posted by klangklangston at 6:42 AM on August 18, 2006
It took two hours to get the drummer out.
Q: What do you do when a drummer comes to your door?
A: Pay for the pizza.
Yeah, while this model is interesting, I'd a) want to see the AR guy that they have lined up, and the producers. And I'd want to know that the band was touring, since that's the best way to gain fans and make money.
In fact, there's an easier way to do this— Get 10 of your friends together and start a record label. Invest $100 or so each and take that out of record sales. You'll have a better chance of getting your money back, you'll have a direct relationship with the band, and you'll have a better understanding of the music business.
(Another question— What the hell is Sellaband doing to promote the artists? That's where the muscle of a real record company comes in handy: not in the studio but at the endcap.)
So... Bad investment.
posted by klangklangston at 6:42 AM on August 18, 2006
When I get my $50,000, we're going to demand Bruce Dickinson.
"Easy, guys.. I put my pants on just like the rest of you - one leg at a time. Except, once my pants are on, I make gold records."
posted by thisisdrew at 6:50 AM on August 18, 2006
You know what I'd really like to see? A band that just incorporates itself, keeping a majority of the stock for itself and selling the rest to investors. The investors have a direct pipeline to profits (through dividends), and also have some management input. The band still has control by having the majority of the stock. Want to kick somebody out? Buy them out. I can only imagine the annual shareholder's meeting.
posted by MrZero at 7:11 AM on August 18, 2006
posted by MrZero at 7:11 AM on August 18, 2006
101° Rx = + /_\ is the emoticon method for expressing the message: "I have a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell".
Huh, I did not know that. But I'm glad I'm not the only one infected enough by that meme that it's the first thing I thought of.
posted by Eideteker at 7:43 AM on August 18, 2006
Huh, I did not know that. But I'm glad I'm not the only one infected enough by that meme that it's the first thing I thought of.
posted by Eideteker at 7:43 AM on August 18, 2006
With 50,000 bones for recording, that cowbell better sound great - and plenty of it.
posted by rinkjustice at 2:18 PM on August 18, 2006
posted by rinkjustice at 2:18 PM on August 18, 2006
RadMonkey's Electric Cowbell would be the perfect addition ot any home recording studio.
posted by lekvar at 3:11 PM on August 18, 2006
posted by lekvar at 3:11 PM on August 18, 2006
See also: Jane Siberry's Patron program in the late 90s/early 00s -- you could put in towards her studio time and get various special incentives. The Patron program is no longer around but she still offers choose your own pricing on her songs...
posted by bitter-girl.com at 5:33 PM on August 18, 2006
posted by bitter-girl.com at 5:33 PM on August 18, 2006
RadMonkey's Electric Cowbell. The ad slays me.
posted by rinkjustice at 8:50 PM on August 18, 2006
posted by rinkjustice at 8:50 PM on August 18, 2006
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