Compilation CDs -- scam or legit?

[dougstronach]

Greetings all:I've received an email (see below) through MYSPACE from a company wishing to use one of my songs on an upcoming compilation CD. They have other compilation CDs for sale on itunes and napster -- not major label quality stuff but respectable considering they're all independent artists.Here's the catch, you pay $155 and in return get to sell 50 copies of the CD of which you keep all profits.Contracts are talked about as are royalties, etc so it appears they're doing proper business.Is there anyone with some experience of these types of deals who knows of any potential pitfalls? I'd appreciate any advice on this.thanks,doug s.Hi,I hope that all is well with you. I had contacted you a while back about featuring you on a benefit compilation CD called “Goin Back Home” but I never heard back from you. I know how bad the spam situation has gotten with MySpace so I am sure it was just overlooked. I would still like to have the chance to work with you though.I have included the details about this project below. Please let me know if any questions arise. I look forward to hopefully working with you. If possible I would like to know if you are able to take part by May 20th.Take Care,Brenden BosmansQuickstarproductions Combrenden @ Quickstarproductions Com443//552//7058Here are the details about the project:“Goin Back Home” will be marketed and made available in the following ways:1. PHYSICAL SALES: You will receive 50 copies of the CD to sell at whatever price you choose. These will be professionally produced, retail ready CD’s. We recommend selling them for $8. That way you can make $400. You keep 100% of your sales. This is a great way to get more merchandise to sell at your shows and also a way to target other fans in your genre. The idea is that when each artist sells their 50 copies, the other artists on the CD will have their music exposed to other fans of your genre of music. Your song will be exposed tomany new listeners.2. DIGITAL SALES: The compilation will be made available for sale in all digital stores including iTunes, Rhapsody, Wal-Mart, Napster, and Amazon. Your song will also be available as a ringtone that your fans may purchase. You will receive 50% of profits generated.3. EXPOSURE: The CD will be sent to record labels, marketing, and management firms. Along with the CD, a booklet featuring your picture and bio will be made available so they can learn a little bit more about you. In addition, free promo copies will be handed out at concerts in the Baltimore/Washington area. Quickstar Productions will also promote the album by using MySpace and banner ads.4. RADIO: The CD will be sent to college and internet radio stations and be featured on various podcasts throughout the world.5. NETWORKING: Developing a network with other musicians is key to ones success. This comp CD is a chance to do so. You will be provided with all the other artists information before the CD is released so that you can start show swapping with one another, networking and helping each other outTo have your song included on our upcoming compilation CD please visit our website, QuickstarProductions. com download the submission forms. We do not charge a fee to be on “Goin Back Home” but we do ask that you purchase 50 CD’s to distribute at cost ($155). This will be the only cost to you. One of the most important parts of this project is getting the CD into the hands of fans. The more CD’s that you are able to distribute the more exposure everyone gets.PS. Please check out one of the past editions of another acoustic CD that we have put out titled “Chill Out: East Coast Edition” on iTunes, Napster, Amazon, or eMusic.

[chriscarter]

Sounds a little goofy to me that you would pay cost for 50 CDs up front. I generally dislike things like this where you have to PAY to be on it.A legitimate method that I've seen is where, in leu of royalties (or a certain amount of royalties), you receive product instead - which you can then sell (Deep Elm Records comes to mind). This is legit. So I guess I'm saying I have a knee-jerk reaction of "no". That said, I would look up their other compilations, then chase down those artists and ASK them their experience. You never know, it could be that they've sold very well and been paid decent royalties (getting PAID royalties is different than EARNING royalties LOL). It could be that they do it in this goofy way for cash-flow purposes.....OR it could be that they make their money off of suckers paying $155 each.

[hummingbird]

Here's the red flags for me:1 - you didn't submit to them2 - the message is not personally addressed to you, and they do not name the track or track they are interested inHowever, the website and the email do give some good details.You need to ask yourself, seriously, what will I get from this. I will get 50 copies of a CD with ONE of my songs on it that I have to sell in order to make back what I've spent. You have already invested the time & perhaps funds to create your creative property. How will it help you to be on a CD that all the other writers are selling? What kind of exposure will this gain for you, and to what end? How well are the CDs marketed? Will labels really listen to a compilation CD? What level and what genre are the other artists? Do I really want to be presented as part of a package? What does being played on college radio gain for me? Am I playing concerts in the area? These are the kind of questions I'd ask myself in considering this offer.(You don't make "royalties" from digital sales. All you can make is a share of the download price. Royalties only come from your music being played on commercial radio, or being placed in film/tv. You'd also want to make sure that you retain full rights to your music.)It's really up to you to decide whether you want to make this kind of investment. Is Quickstar local to you? Are all the other artists local to you? As Chris says, investigate this thoroughly before making a decision.

[Casey H]

Rarely are compilation CD's for which you pay to be on of any value. Early on, I was silly enough to pay to be on 1-2 samplers to be distributed at MIDEM. In hindsight, pretty silly... Even if it's not technically a 'scam', what makes some CD given out along with hundreds (maybe thousands) of others to industry execs who are inundated with this stuff, have any value?So, I say don't bother. And I agree with red flags like when people contact YOU unsolicited and it doesn't appear they know you or your songs personally.The only time I've seen compilation CDs to be meaningful is when a music library signs your track and puts it on compilations they send to clients. And the don't charge you any fees for that- it's their business model.Humorous 'aside'... I once got an offer from a publisher that seemed a bit suspicious. We talked on the phone and I quickly realized she never listened to my songs or even knew the titles. So I said, "no thanks"... This really jaded me as to who I could trust out there. Shortly after that I got a publishing offer on my song, "What a World" from a legit publisher. We also ended up discussing it on the phone. I'm not sure what I said (probably inappropriate as I look back) but I did in some way ask if she really knew the song. She proceeded to sing the chorus to me on the phone!! An embarrassing moment, though hearing her like the chorus that much was very gratifying. Casey

[dougstronach]

thanks for all the advice. I'll try to contact one of their artists and see what response I get.doug s.

[jwebbinspired]

Hey Doug, Check out your MySpace, I really like your music! Great sound. Andy

[yammer107]

I've been on a few compilation CD's.... but I was already associated with the Radio Station or Website in question. And it cost me nothing..... they got royalty free music from great artists in exchange. The big catch here is, as Vicki eluded to..... In my case the promoters already had a targeted audience with X amount of discs being distributed. In your case - you and the other musicians appear to be the target - what exposure or gains are really to be had here? Chris

[guscave]

I agree with Casey. So many of these compilation CD's are a complete waste of time. Unless they're being distributed to a targeted market which already knows them (and are expecting these CD's), I wouldn't pay to be added to one. They are usually nothing more than a glorified business card. I've been to several music conferences where you'll see a bunch of these CD's being handed out. Many execs will simply put them in their briefcase together with the other 10 to 15 promotional CD's and never listen to them.