The CDBaby site is now up. And on iTunes & Rhapsody etc soon, if not already. Buy the CD. I know you'll love it.
But the lunacy of it all. It ain't gonna change, peeps.
Dearest musicians of all stripes, an email exchange i'd like to share with you, below. These people contacted me wanting to "promote" my new record. I'll drop you in after the first round of negotiations, wherein I asked if they would work on a commission basis, with no $$$ up front:
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"Hi Eric,
So nice to hear from you. To answer your question, I am not your agent or personal manager - which would work on a commission basis. My company is a full blown publicity firm. We charge for our consulting and marketing services. Are you not aware how the industry works?
By the way, I did not write to you to sell you anything. I screen music for an hour a day so I can forecast the latest trends and always stop by to introduce myself and say hello. I liked your style and your music and thought I would pat you on the back..tis all.
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I reply, being the gentleman that I am...
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D;
Thanks for your reply. I really, truly, honestly don't mean to be mean.
BUT...
I did a little homework on you. I was tempted to write a big snotty tirade to you about:
You did write to sell me something; your publicity services. A little contradiction there, and not an inexpensive one.
or
If you had listened to our music it would have been obvious that we care not one bit about current musical trends, which you apparently are adept at forecasting. Your hour a day of screening should have told you that.
or
That wasn't a pat on the back. It was a snaggley well-used flesh-encrusted hook dangling in front of my snout.
or
And yes, to give ill-deserved response to your patronizing question, I know how the music industry "works." I have been up to my eyebrows in it for 25+ years in most every possible capacity, maybe since you were still in grade school. Front of house, back of house, under the house, production, performance on any number of instruments, engineering, stage management, booking, touring, makeup/costumes, dancing and choreography, driving/roadying/guitar tech servitude, sales/customer smackage. I think I've made three or four dimes along the way, but all the same. Thanks for asking.
BUT....
But after thinking about all that, I figured you're trying to do what you think is the right thing, and I'm sure your heart is in the right place. At least close.
So, thanks but no thanks.
Happy hunting.
-Eric Friedmann and The Lucky Rubes
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Look out for these fools. I've fallen for it before. Your music goes nowhere, and all you're left with is that sinking feeling in your bank account.
Posted by eric at August 2, 2007 12:10 AM