SellaBand -- Anybody used this?

  • Thread starter Thread starter mjr
  • Start date Start date
hrmmm this is an interesting spin on the music industry.. These guys might just be on to something.. I read the conditions and it doesn't seem all that bad.. basically instead of a "label" you have investors it's like your band is on the stock market hahaha

I'm just wondering how possible it is to raise 50.000 dollars and what happens if you never make it there.. guess that's how this site will make lots of money.. from all the bands who never quite get there.. I wonder how many people would want to invest $10 for the chance of maybe getting a specially pressed cd and a chance at making a little extra money.
 
I live in Amsterdam, and know this company rather well.

It is not correct that the company makes money from 50K budgets that do not reach the 50K.

That money still belongs to the believers (investors) who can withdraw it as long as an artist hasn't reached the 50K budget. Once the 50K is reached, the money is frozen and used to produce the cd.

Before that believers can withdraw their money at anytime to invest in a different artist or have it refunded.
 
I live in Amsterdam, and know this company rather well.

It is not correct that the company makes money from 50K budgets that do not reach the 50K.

That money still belongs to the believers (investors) who can withdraw it as long as an artist hasn't reached the 50K budget. Once the 50K is reached, the money is frozen and used to produce the cd.

Before that believers can withdraw their money at anytime to invest in a different artist or have it refunded.

I saw that on there.

The things I seem to be reticent about, though, are:

1. Being "tied to" the believers contractually for 5 years.
2. Finding 5,000 people to "invest".
3. The believers getting 50% of the sales of that particular album.

I don't mind each of the believers getting an "exclusive" album, plus receiving 100 of them myself, but #1 and #3 make me a bit apprehensive.
 
1: being tied to the believers for five years is realistic, and actually quite generous...If it was a record company funding you, you would be tied to it forever...(remember, it's just for the funded record, not for the rest of the activities of the band/artist.)

2: it is well known within sellaband that you are realisticly able to get to 50K if you are willing to be active to gather believers. Just posting you're music on the site, and sitting back waiting for the funds to get in doesn't do it. A lot of 'crap' productions make the 50K, just because the artist are very active in letting believers know they are there and passioned about themselves.

3: 50% is by far a better deal than any record company would ever give you.

Problem seems to be that most artist just think they are entitled to get the 50K budget, but it's all about promoting yourself and share your passion. Let the people know you're out there...it's amazing how much some believers invest if they see a passionate artist! 30+ artist allready did it!
 
1: being tied to the believers for five years is realistic, and actually quite generous...If it was a record company funding you, you would be tied to it forever...(remember, it's just for the funded record, not for the rest of the activities of the band/artist.)

2: it is well known within sellaband that you are realisticly able to get to 50K if you are willing to be active to gather believers. Just posting you're music on the site, and sitting back waiting for the funds to get in doesn't do it. A lot of 'crap' productions make the 50K, just because the artist are very active in letting believers know they are there and passioned about themselves.

3: 50% is by far a better deal than any record company would ever give you.

Problem seems to be that most artist just think they are entitled to get the 50K budget, but it's all about promoting yourself and share your passion. Let the people know you're out there...it's amazing how much some believers invest if they see a passionate artist! 30+ artist allready did it!

Yeah, it sounds very, very interesting. Once I get three of my "demos" made, I will consider putting them up there.

But I do have a few other questions.

Once the $50K is reached:

1. Who decides what recording studio and where?
2. Who gets to pick these "professionals" to assist with the album?
3. What's the production quality like?
4. Are they talking net sales, or what, with regard to the 50% figure?

ON #4, let's say I decide to go through CDBaby (there are probably other options, but work with me here). Now, CD baby keeps $4 for every album sold, and 9% of every digital download. Would the 50% be on the actual selling price (let's say $10 for simplicity's sake), or would it be based on the money I received ($6 for a physical copy, $9.10 for a download).
 
1. Who decides what recording studio and where?

That would be you in conjuction with sellabands music manager allocated to you. Together you pick the right studio for you. They have a worldwide database of 'sellaband friendly studio's' , but that's not a must. They will prevent you from recording in your friends basement if it has no known trackrecord or can't produce professional results. In other words, Sellaband might be more concerned than you about a professional endproduct.

2. Who gets to pick these "professionals" to assist with the album?

That would be again you and their musicmanager. If you come up with a good producer/professional and Sellaband is ok with that, all is fine. If not, they will assist you in getting a real pro. And believe me, I have met some of them (for example Tony Platt who is known from Paul McCartney, AC/DC, Bob Marley etc.) and believe me, they are well up to the job and fully back up the Sellaband concept. So they don't do it to get a fast paycheck, but for the love of the concept.

3. What's the production quality like?

I think from reading the above you can say the quality is just fine ;). But in the end it's all determined by your professionalism. You can't make a jewel out of crap. It will be shiny, but it still will be crap.

4. Are they talking net sales, or what, with regard to the 50% figure?

This I don't know exactly. I do not work for this company, I just know somebody who does. So i have been talking a lot about the concept with this person, but do not know all the 'deal' ins and outs. But it's all on their website. All I know, the goal of this company is not to make money, but to give the artist a chance. The owners are big players in the musicindustry, who quitted topjobs to get this concept working.
 
That would be you in conjuction with sellabands music manager allocated to you. Together you pick the right studio for you. They have a worldwide database of 'sellaband friendly studio's' , but that's not a must. They will prevent you from recording in your friends basement if it has no known trackrecord or can't produce professional results. In other words, Sellaband might be more concerned than you about a professional endproduct.

Well, I live about half an hour away from a major city in the US. They probably have recording studios. So, I could probably use them, then, right?

That would be again you and their musicmanager. If you come up with a good producer/professional and Sellaband is ok with that, all is fine. If not, they will assist you in getting a real pro. And believe me, I have met some of them (for example Tony Platt who is known from Paul McCartney, AC/DC, Bob Marley etc.) and believe me, they are well up to the job and fully back up the Sellaband concept. So they don't do it to get a fast paycheck, but for the love of the concept.

Now, how would these people and I collaborate? I mean, would they fly them to where I am (let's assume the studio location is acceptable).

4. Are they talking net sales, or what, with regard to the 50% figure?

This I don't know exactly. I do not work for this company, I just know somebody who does. So i have been talking a lot about the concept with this person, but do not know all the 'deal' ins and outs. But it's all on their website. All I know, the goal of this company is not to make money, but to give the artist a chance. The owners are big players in the music industry, who quit top jobs to get this concept working.

So how do the owners of the site make money?

And one other question. Let's say that I get the $50K, and get the album recorded. I know the "believers" all get a CD, and that I get 100 of them. What happens after that, though? How is the album sold? How are they produced? I mean, if I wanted to set up a shopping cart to sell my album, how would I do that, and how would it work with the Sellaband concept?
 
Well, I live about half an hour away from a major city in the US. They probably have recording studios. So, I could probably use them, then, right?



Now, how would these people and I collaborate? I mean, would they fly them to where I am (let's assume the studio location is acceptable).

4. Are they talking net sales, or what, with regard to the 50% figure?



So how do the owners of the site make money?

And one other question. Let's say that I get the $50K, and get the album recorded. I know the "believers" all get a CD, and that I get 100 of them. What happens after that, though? How is the album sold? How are they produced? I mean, if I wanted to set up a shopping cart to sell my album, how would I do that, and how would it work with the Sellaband concept?

I was reading more into it.

The site makes money by taking 10% or the money once you reach either the 50,000$ or the 10,000$ I'm sure there's more..

overall it does not seem like a bad deal at all
 
Back
Top