Keeping Your Nose Clean (Legally & Otherwise)
by Kenny Love

Why is it that an independent recording artist or band would 
spend five years trying to get a "deal," then blow it all in five 
minutes?  Have you ever seen or heard of this type of thing 
happening?


Unfortunately, I recently witnessed it with a 4-member group 
that had everything in place for it…a truly, once-in-a-lifetime 
dream come true.  In fact, what could have easily become a 
music industry fairy tale.


Now, the parties shall remain duly unnamed in this article so 
that I may exercise my civic duty in protecting the guilty (and, 
the fact that I do not relish the idea of forced courtroom 
appearances).


After five years of "live" appearances and performances, 
numerous studio recordings, and even more radio interviews, 
this particular group was fortunate in attracting a major 
financial investor label ready to provide the means in musical 
production and promotion to release product nationally.  This 
act was truly refreshing and contained a uniqueness rarely 
seen in the music industry.


In order to "sign" the act, the investor afforded the act a 
festive weekend complete with trimmings that major label 
acts would die for.  With all the unfamiliar lavishness being 
bestowed upon the group, the members "freaked out."  There 
is just no other way to put it.


Virtually overnight, the group began making all sorts of 
outrageous demands such as; the format the recording should 
be manufactured in, which radio stations should be contacted, 
costume allowance demands accompanied by ballooned 
production advances, and more.


Notwithstanding, upon the investor's discovery that, at least, 
two of the four members had tentative legal actions pending, 
the investor approached these particular members to discuss 
a workable solution to protect all parties concerned.  This 
consisted of changes to be implemented contractually.


The investor proposed that, pending the outcome of the two 
member's legal problems, they would be placed in the status 
of "Work for Hire," and on a 6-month probation until legal 
issues could be resolved, even though they could and would 
continue to make appearances as a complete group.  In my 
opinion, this was very sound and reasonable.


However, to my astonishment, after the members in question 
informed the investor label that their legal situations were 
none of the label's concern, then opting to toss colorful 
metaphors around like two-dollar horseshoes, the investor 
decided that the best recourse would be to simply forego the 
entire investment and involvement in this particular group.


There is a lesson to be learned here, and that is, should you 
find yourself in this unique situation, or a facsimile thereof, 
first of all, be courageous enough to admit to yourself that it 
is solely your fault, and not the prospective label's.  After all, 
would YOU like to invest, financially or otherwise, in a product 
or service while being unsure of its practicality?  Certainly not.  
Put yourself in the other party's place and be willing to arrive 
at any mutually beneficial compromise for all parties 
concerned.


The worst (and most embarrassing)  incident that could 
occur would be for you to be served with a warrant for your 
arrest while performing onstage in front of thousands of your 
fans then, subsequently, being led away in handcuffs.  Then 
again, in some music genres of today, I suppose this public 
deed would also serve to sell thousands of more records.  
Go figure.

_________________________________________________




Editor's Note:  Kenny Love is President/CEO of Sachja 
Productions, a combined national radio promotion and press 
publicity firm.  Sachja Productions accepts unsolicited 
recordings (compact disc only) in all music genres for review 
and consideration.  Contact the organization at P. O. Box 
701231, Dallas, Texas  75370.  You can also telephone the 
company at (972)390-0529, Fax to (209)755-8329, or Email 
them at sachja@yahoo.com.  Likewise, you can 
receive complete automated information on the company by 
sending an Email request to sachjainfo@smartbotpro.net.