Andrew Johnstone Verified

yes but If I blog it, more people will see it, and more people can know that BS is afoot.

2 years, 8 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Cindy Chaffin Verified

In J-Stone's defense, I spent many many a year delving into these so-called contests/battles/etc. to find out just how legit (not to mention truly helpful for the band/musician) prior to posting them on the old http://TexasGigs.com blog. More often than not, these types of "contests" benefit one side and one side only...and it ain't the artists.

I know nothing about this particular label, but the contest looks no different than many others I've run across:

~$25-$35 submission fee ~it's up to the bands/artists to pull in a big crowd since the audience will be who decides the winner. ~promises of radio airplay and photo sessions.

My advice to artists interested in entering contests; take a look at the current roster of the company/label putting on the contest. If their roster is still local or is a list of not-particularly successful artists - red flag. A small submission fee (like this one) is understandable, as this is a business for both sides, and they need to cover their costs. However, if it goes over about $50.00 - red flag.

J-Stone has been around long enough to see a lot of bands get screwed, as have I - again, I'm not saying this contest is bogus. I'm just saying - er - suggesting that bands/artists do their homework. Check out the company. Take a look at the artists (and their success) currently on their roster. Get in touch with the owners of the company and ask questions. Cover your ass.

2 years, 8 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Cody Robinson Verified

There's a fine line when it comes to things like this, but more often than not it won't do much for you. $35 (at the cheapest) for an "entrance fee", then add another $20 for parking & batteries (hey, some of us use pedals ya know), and another $20 for food (if you go on the cheap), and it just cost your band $75 to play for an uninterested crowd & watch some suburban teenage Fallout Boy clone win by playing some unoriginal crap. Money in the local music biz is ALWAYS gonna favor the venue, but when it comes from the band's pocket, somethings seriously wrong.

2 years, 8 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Andrew Johnstone Verified

if you go to the beta entertainment corporation's website you can see their "packages" they have including $1500 for a 3 song demo and $50,000 for a 10 song CD. I don't see any info on who pays for that. I assume the label fronts the money and then you recoup the losses as the artist. Local bands shelling out 50k for a 10 track CD? Bogus. BOGUS. You don't drop 50k until you know you can make it back, that's a big freakin' investment. Plus the $1800 more for the "marketing super star package" Also, "CD & DVD Duplication" sounds sketchy, no immediate listing on numbers, plus the word duplication implies use of a duplicator instead of a press. I can run a better record label out of my basement but I sure as s* won't trick anybody into joining with some fancy contest and a paltry $5000 advance. But I'm what some would call an idealist.

2 years, 8 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Cody Robinson Verified

For $50,000 I could build my own studio, record an album, press a buttload of copies, buy a tour bus - and still pay people to like it - and make back just as much of it as the winner of this contest. $0.

Although for honesty's sake maybe I'd have to skimp a little on the bus. Which I'm fine with, I'm not so big on leather seats.

2 years, 8 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )