If you’re an artist, and you’ve spent at least five minutes looking for ways to advance your career, chances are you have already encountered a wide variety of music services displayed to you through ads. They’re highly prevalent on any website related to music, on Google searches, in Gmail (if any of your emails are music-related), on YouTube, and in physical sources like print magazines or classified ads.
Isn’t it great that in an industry that is seeing the entry of tens of thousands of new musicians every year, there are so many nice businesses out there looking to help them?
Yeah, right!
The truth is, there are plenty of sleazy individuals and business entities that have been observing the decline of the traditional recording industry. They have noticed all the new artists cropping up, looking for fame and fortune. They smile when they see the common portrayal of artists on MTV and VH1 as rich, living extravagant and glamorous lifestyles, getting huge “record deals”, and so on - even though that image is extremely distorted. All of this has created a prime market for services and products targeted towards musicians who want to make it big, and unfortunately for us, the majority of these are scams.
So, what are you supposed to do? Ignore any seemingly-pleasant emails from important-sounding people that are “interested in your music”? Definitely not. While illegitimate organizations looking to take advantage of artists are prevalent, there are still honest people in the business, and some of them really might be interested in you, personally. Since that’s the case, if you’re interested in maximizing your opportunities and minimizing the time and money spent on potentially useless services, it’s important to learn how to detect and avoid scams.
As you read all of the points below, do keep in mind that just because some factors may warrant more caution, you should always evaluate opportunities thoroughly. An offer might have one or two red flags, but in actuality is completely earnest and worthwhile. Be smart, think like a businessperson, and above all, be objective. The dream of a killer deal can cloud your judgment, as can senseless paranoia of anyone commenting on your music. Try to set aside your personal feelings, and consider all of the factors below.
Dear [Artist]…
If you are contacted personally by someone with regards to your music, the first thing you need to pay attention to is how the email is written. This can be applied to snail mail or even phone calls, as well. Don’t be swayed just because the solicitor knows your name or your MySpace. Anyone can find that info. Take note of the general style of their “pitch”. Are they only speaking about your music in general terms? Are they not referencing specific songs, or if they are, are they being so vague that they could really be describing any song? These should all send up red flags. Real professionals that like your music enough to contact you about it should be able to say more than “your music is great.”
If you poke around online, you may even find other artists or musicians receiving the same letter(s) you did. This is commonplace, and another sign that whoever is contacting you just wants your money, and doesn’t care about your music. If you suspect something is up, be cold and ruthless when you email or call up the company. Demand to be told all the facts. Grill the “talent scout” on why YOUR music was picked. Honest businesses can stand up to the pressure because they have nothing to hide - scam companies will falter, fumble, become overly defensive, and give wishy-washy answers.
References?
Most legitimate music services have plenty of satisfied clients and customers. It should NOT be hard to find real people who have benefited from a service you are looking into. Don’t just take the word of a company at face value if something seems fishy. Look up and personally contact any artists who are listed in a testimonials section to ask what the full story is. Ask the company for specific references. Don’t be surprised the “happy customers” don’t respond - they might not even be real - or if the company refuses to give you references. Look at organizations such as CD Baby, Taxi, or Ariel Publicity - there is no shortage of people shouting praise for these companies, because they are 100% legit!
If someone tells you that they don’t have references or testimonials because their business is “new”… keep walking. Do you really want to invest your time, money, and emotional energy in a company that is untested and unproven, especially considering how volatile this industry is?
Show (Them) the Money
“We’d love to represent you and place your music in five films right now! Just pay us $300 and we’ll get right on that.” Yes, a similar pitch really is used by lots of sleazy businesses. You should always ask “how much does this cost?” anytime someone pitches something to you, or asks for your music. Be VERY wary of anyone promising or guaranteeing your success, in exchange for money. The music industry is not an industry of “guarantees”, and if any organization is opening up its services to the general public, they can’t possibly guarantee success for everyone… but they will tell people that they can.
If someone is looking for money in order to put your music on a compilation, or place your music in a film, hang up the phone or delete the email. You should never have to PAY money for someone to use your music. They might try to obfuscate the facts by talking about royalties, or that you’re just “covering production costs”… and it’s all total bull! Real publishers and agents that can actually do something profitable with your music will not need you to pay anything. They will be getting their cut from the success of the music.
Taxi is an example of a legitimate company in a sea of competitors that are scams. With Taxi, you pay a yearly fee for access to opportunities that you very likely would not have access to anywhere else. Your music is then thoroughly screened when it is submitted - only the highest caliber material is passed along (’forwarded’). The screeners, who are all industry professionals, then give you feedback on your track, something that is very useful if you have been rejected! Taxi never promises success. Even their ads emphasize that your music must be high-quality, and that you must be a serious musician in order for your money to be well-spent. They offer a money-back guarantee, too.
Filters & Exclusivity
Derek Sivers of CD Baby has written on this topic before, but it is worth repeating. Exclusivity is a very good thing. Let’s look at publishers, for example. If a label evaluates 1000 demos in a year, and only selects 5 artists to be added to their roster, then the label will be inclined to spend their resources in promoting and cultivating those artists. There is a vested interest in those artists on the part of the label. The artists’ success means the label’s success, so the label is going to work hard on behalf of anyone they’ve signed!
On the other end of the spectrum, we have scam labels, publishers, and “music groups”. Their strategy is to tell all 1000 people who submitted demos that their music is excellent. All the artists have to do is pay the organization for the privilege of being added! Now, what motivation does the scam organization have to promote all those artists? Sure, they might focus on the same 0.5% of quality musicians that the REAL label did - and that’s being highly optimistic - but why would they care about anyone else? They wouldn’t. The scam is done. The sleazy company already has the money of those 995 musicians.
Contests and Competitions
This is a popular category for scams because it’s just so appealing. For a low fee, you can enter your music into a contest and win something amazing. Sure, there are honest competitions out there, such as the International Songwriting Competition and John Lennon Songwriting Contest, but there are just as many (if not more) bunk ones. If you are invited to a contest, or you’ve heard of one and are interested in submitting, you must find out the following…
* How long has the contest been around? The longer, the better.
* Who were the previous winners? Can they be contacted to verify they received their prize? See the “References?” section, above.
* Exactly how is the contest being judged? Is it a popular vote, are there judges? Who are the judges? Legit competitions tend to attract and make use of established artists and industry pros, and do not vaguely allude to a “panel of experts” or something similar.
* Who is sponsoring the contest? Real competitions should be backed by prominent music-related organizations and manufacturers. Contact the sponsors and ask them for more info, too!
* Do you lose any rights to your music if you submit? You’d be surprised at some of the legalese in contests even with major TV network names attached! In several cases, I’ve seen contests where all entrants automatically forfeit all rights to their music - the people running the contest could use the music however they wanted and not owe the artists a dime. Read the terms of any competition very carefully, or you might regret it.
Preventive Measures
If you’re writing original music, you want to make sure that it is protected and reduce the chance that someone will steal it and call it their own. By default, as soon as you complete a new, unique creative work, it is copyrighted and protected by the government, but if someone were to infringe on your work you would be unable to bring suit against them unless the work were actually registered with the government. Luckily, it’s not too complicated to do this. At the U.S. Copyright Office website, you can find the forms you need to register copyrights for songs and sound recordings with the federal government. There’s a fee involved, but with the right form you can register multiple works at once for no extra cost.
Another step you can take is becoming a member of a performing rights organization like ASCAP or BMI. These entities collect royalties on behalf of their members (composers, writers, publishers) and generally look out for them in a number of ways. By becoming a member of a PRO and registering your works with them (note that this is not the same as copyright registration) you are further protecting your music.
48 responses so far ↓
1 Jill // Feb 27, 2008 at 1:07 am
Thanks for the tips! ^-^
Warning:
Stay away from Hitt Music Group… Pretty sure they’re a scam, judging from my experiences… (Vague MySpace messages that are identical to others’, persistent phone calls, the illusion of time pressure because a film placement you’d be perfect just so happens to be closing tomorrow, etc.)
2 skylar bailey // Mar 10, 2008 at 7:17 pm
Anyone heard of Steve Rothstein the
Rock n Roll Accountant, who will pay
half of what the fee is to record in a studio?
3 Steph // Mar 10, 2008 at 10:27 pm
Thanks for your in depth guide to avoiding music scams… I was recently contacted by this group, Hitt Music, and I am coming to believe that they may be one of the fluke ones you describe, esp. since they sent the same generic message to many other artists. You offer great tips, and I really appreciate them!
4 Jennie C // Apr 14, 2008 at 1:35 pm
This is a good guideline for people to avoid illegitimate companies out there; I wish I read this earlier so I can evade all of those shady companies that contacted me before.
Hitt Music contacted me about a month ago, and I have been with them for about 4 weeks, I already had a production company contact me for a gig! I do have to pay a fee just like how my friend paid to Taxi for a year, but my music submissions are free for a whole year. After all I think they are a legitimate company with a good service =)
5 Johnny Azer // May 9, 2008 at 11:19 pm
I just got contacted by a Stacy at Hitt Music. He said film rights etc, and more music, I have to wait and see what he says before I can pass judgement but if they ask for money I will pass.
6 Jill // May 16, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Oh, it’s definitely a scam. There is a thread about it on MySpace - tons of people getting identical messages. And they have an F rating with the BBB because they refuse to respond to any inquiries:
http://forums.myspace.com/t/3870779.aspx?fuseaction=forums.viewthread
7 jason // May 28, 2008 at 10:02 pm
jennie, a production company contacted you for a gig because the production company is also a scam.
production companies are not supposed to ask for a fee to book you. they would just get a cut of the door take to pay back the venue they rent out and a small profit. the companies get money from the venue unless they put on their own outdoor festival or something. never from the bands they book. they won’t ask for you to play very much if you don’t sell well, yes, but they are also not supposed to give you a quota of tickets to sell. and they certainly shouldn’t be asking you to pay them back for unsold tickets.
if your production company does any of those things, it is crooked. the only time you should ever be paying a fee is for a battle of the bands with an immediate reward or a municipally-sponsored festival and/or contest (like a showcase for a city’s music awards or something)
8 Jennie C // May 29, 2008 at 7:03 pm
Hey Jason,
Thanks for your help, I think you mistaken the “fee” that I paid for. I meant that I had to pay hitt music group for the membership, and then I got a gig from a production company that hitt music submit to. The production’s offer was legit and I verified them out as well, turned out pretty well. But your comment does help people understand how production booking works! I don’t understand why some people here calling hitt music group a scam, they didn’t take my money and run away, they are still servicing me like they promised.
9 wes // Jun 10, 2008 at 3:15 pm
i signed up for the hitt music group, like an idiot. and i quickly decided to cancel and try and get my money back…
pretty stupid on my part, i know.
so basically i paid 400 bucks for a couple of emails, and that was it.
be wary of people like this everyone!
10 Troy Smith // Jun 12, 2008 at 3:49 pm
I was wondering if professional ears. com is a scam. I was looking on the website for contact info, or people who have had sucess and I didn’t see none. Anyone who has used them could you let me know thanks.
11 Bobby B // Jun 19, 2008 at 11:11 am
They contacted me through Myspace, and I talked to a couple of people over there.
They seem to legitimately send out emails for you….but reading what they guarantee…in the email that’s the “closest thing they have to a contract” (she said that about 5 or 6 times during the conversation, normally a bit of a red flag), I’m not certain that they have a money motivation to truly push someone, once they’ve gotten the $ from the artist.
bad pr is one thing, but they still get that money. I’m uncertain about them, so I’ll keep looking around for info on them.
12 Michael I // Jun 20, 2008 at 2:53 pm
I have also been contacted by HittMusic. It was indeed a “form letter”. No biggy, they are keeping costs down. I have been researching them a little and there seems to be alot of skepticism. It doesn’t help that their founders and Co-CEO’s are all wearing sunglasses on the website. Unfortunately I think these guys are preying on real people with real talent and a dream. I may re-submit after further research, but that’s where I’m at right now. They do have A FEW legitimate things mentioned on their pages, I just don’t think they are the boost that most people need.
13 josh f // Jul 2, 2008 at 11:19 pm
hitt music recently contacted me and my band it wasn’t a generic e-mail or letter they called us specifically about a certain song but, i am concerned it seems a little shady after reading these comments. good advice though it is easy to lose it because someone promises big things.
14 Michael // Jul 7, 2008 at 4:26 pm
Here are some considerations to bear in mind when trying to sort out the good faith of offers coming your way in the music business: if the company makes its money directly from artists/writers signing up, rather than depending on its own ability too place the artists/writers or their material (I believe this company does not seek to share in licensing or other income), then:
1. how could they hope to truly only submit excellent material, when they must (to assure their survival and profitability) sign up as many people as possible - regardless of the quality the new members bring?; and
2. what motivation would the company have to actually make any submissions at all (this would cause them to spend money on something from which they will not profit - in other words, every expenditure other than those which bring in membership checks reduces profits);
3. re-read the excellent article above.
short version - al;ways keep your wallet in your pocket, especially when being flattered and/or rushed.
15 Brian // Jul 18, 2008 at 6:24 pm
With regard to Hitt Music… I was given the pitch over the phone and told that a typical video game placement (license fee) was in the order of $50,000 to $100,000. And that the TV and film placements were typically $20k and up. This sounds insanely false as I’ve gotten license fees from placements in the past that never exceeded $3k. Can anyone comment on such claims? What is ball park licensing fees for a self-published independent artist for tv, film, commercials or video games?
16 Erich // Jul 25, 2008 at 10:08 am
I was contacted by Hitt and I was told that they found my music and wanted to use it in a film contract. They told me the deadline was the next day (RED FLAG) and urged me to pay the $400 fee to get things rolling. VERY FISHY..
-erich
17 Sean // Jul 27, 2008 at 5:41 pm
I’m doing some research on Hitt Music Group and they actually have a BB rating from the Better Business Bureau. That’s actually a fairly good rating and the BBB takes they’re ratings very seriously. I’m not saying that working with HMG is worth the $400, but if it were truly a scam, they would have a much lower rating possibly in the C’s or lower ranges. Businesses in the A and B ranges are typically reputable.
18 ladymc // Aug 5, 2008 at 7:38 pm
hey, appreciate all your comments…so whats the final word on HMG?? they wear sunglasses, yes, they have gotten people gigs, great! But is this a useful and safe way to be getting out there? I personally wasn’t pressured big time but I am a sales girl, know shiesty biz like the back of my own damn hand but unfortunately I have lots of faith in people and a big dream with very little financial backing so…. im left confused. Not looking for an answer just want to share in the skeptisim I guess….any words of wisdom specifically in regards to HMG?
19 DanaK // Aug 5, 2008 at 11:27 pm
ladymc,
HMG sent me an email last night. It came from Stacey….she was “diggin” my tunes. She left contact info so I called. The pitch was as follows…..they thought my original song list fit several projects that they had coming up…specifically a deal with “Weeds” which is a critically acclaimed Showtime series. I happen to watch the show so of course I was initially taken. They also had a Comedy, a Love Story and a Horror film they were pitching. They covered all the bases didn’t they? lol Then they explained that time was of the essence and a song was up for decision THIS WEEK. WEEDS of course. I listened to the pitch, waited for the $400 ask for the annual membership fee, and politely excused myself from the conversation. Everything I researched said PASS. I’m 45 and not interested in a label deal so thats easier for me to do. But I would contact Taxi or a company like them with a long track record within the industry if you are willling to pay the fee and want more access. $400 is a lot of money to give someone whose office doors you can’t walk through. Good luck!
Peace
Dana
20 Mason // Aug 11, 2008 at 11:08 am
That’s great! I was also contacted by HMG last week via email on Myspace by Courtney. She also was “diggin’ my tunes…” and wanted to use my music in some independent films. I was contacted via phone and was told that they wanted one of my songs for WEEDS. Maybe we’ll be on the soundtrack together, Dana! ha ha
21 chris // Aug 18, 2008 at 10:56 pm
here is my myspace message from HMG:
Hey Chris,
Digging the tunes… Great stuff. Anyway, my name is J**** from the Hitt Music Group and I’m on here scouting music for an independent film that my company is submitting music to. After checking your page and listing to your tracks, I believe my company would be interested in possible submitting your tunes to this opportunity. Do you have anymore songs that are like the ones on your page?
I would need to speak with you about this so I can get some more info about you and your songs to see if this opportunity is something that you can even be a part of. So if you can respond back with your contact info, “i usually prefer the phone” I will get in touch with you with all of the info you will need in order to get your songs submitted in time.
Anyway, I will also leave my contact info at the bottom of this email encase you would like to get a hold of me first.
Thanks and I’m looking forward to chatting soon.
Cheers,
J***** ******
http://www. Hittmusicgroup. com
i’m skeptical so i emailed them back and said i wouldn’t give them a cell (they like to talk on the phone) but they could email me theirs to my gmail account. i received an email with a number and new person to call. i told them in my email that i was not interested in general solicitations or a pay to use service. then i said if you really have listened to my material, like it, and have a particular project in mind i’d love to talk.
they also mentioned in this second email weeds.
k, so i call. the woman on the phone is nice enough. not pushy, no pitchy. but they want $400 for the membership. she doesn’t talk at all about weeds. there is no approaching deadline. i ask her to send me some success stories, she has.
i have already done taxi for a year so i know what thats like. i know based on my feedback that they are looking for very commercial stuff. not my music. but there was really no way for me to know i wasn’t suited for taxi until i payed.
i don’t know if HMG is a scam. they do have a good BBB rating, but they’ve only been in business for 2 years. and i’m doubtful people are religious about using the BBB.
my problem is this. in an ethical world they should know the artists they have as members. they should understand the music and really believe they have some opportunities for it. the person i talked to said anyone can join. they also claim to have talent scouts and the members that are scouted get some type of preferential treatment.
if they haven’t actually listened to my music how do they know they can help me? if they are letting anyone in and submitting everyone as they claim how can they have good relationships with labels and production companies?
i’d say it most likely a waste of a persons money unless you know the type of music they are placing and you happen to do that stuff.
22 Chris // Aug 20, 2008 at 6:13 pm
Also watch out for HMG- Higgins Music Group aka Powersource Magazine. They ripped off someone I know and they lost a lot of money because they lied about contracts and such. I’m not sure about Hitt Music Group but definitely stay away from HMG Nashville!!!
23 Mase // Aug 21, 2008 at 4:15 pm
Chris,
Wow…I just read the email you posted (from HMG) and it is WORD for WORD the same email as I got from them, but with a different name. Makes you wonder…
24 Dane Arnold // Aug 21, 2008 at 5:10 pm
I had a word for word E-mail just like Chris’ also from Hitt Music. now just because they have a default messaging outline doesn’t nesscescarily mean it’s a scam. It seems a little fishy I admit considering They’re asking me for $400 but I’m very tempted to bite because this forum is reallly not very certain or first-hand at all. it’s all based on “it seems like it’s a scam” and “I didn’t do it but…”, where are the certainties?
this is the exact shit that almost got me to pass on Quickstar productions, which luckily I didn’t because I took a chance and it IS legit. a forum just like this had people saying “no I havent done it but It sounds like a scam” or “my friends have done it” blahblah blah. the way to go about it is follow your heart and go into the deal like you were going into vegas. you either leave empty handed, or get what you bargained for.
if there is actually someone who for sure did this Hitt Music please let me know so I can know for sure, otherwise Im gonna have to try this.
25 Chris // Aug 21, 2008 at 5:55 pm
Mase,
Really if you care about your career and name, stay away from HMG (higgins music group), it really sucks because I wish I could tell every artist about my friend’s experience but you know they’ll go and sue her for slander or some crap. It’s really upsetting…An artist can’t even speak the truth without being in fear of being sued or some stupid crap. What is the music industry coming to? All you have to do is look at the Better Business Bureau Report to see about some of these companies. After looking at this blog I looked up Hitt Music Group’s report and it’s not very good so… do what you will but the BBB is a tremendous help and should not be ignored. Always check the BBB before you do business!
26 Jack // Aug 21, 2008 at 7:47 pm
just got the same exact letter as Chris. I’m sorry I took 15 minutes to email the broad back, but at least I wasn’t stupid enough to pay them money or give them my number (no offense if you did).
27 Josh // Aug 23, 2008 at 1:45 pm
I actually am on the fence. I *did* pay them the $400, after debating for about two months. I wrote my bio and am just waiting.
What seems fishy to me are two factors:
a.) They called and emailed me like crazy, until I sent them the money. Haven’t heard a word, other than the promised “submission” report, which I wish were more thorough.
b.) When you call to ask for a specific person, every time, the person answering the phone gets either nervous or defensive, ,lile, “Well, why would you need to speak with someone?”
It’s weird, but, I figured, the worst that can happen is that I’d lose $400 for one year. Over the course of 12 months, that’s not so bad…sitll, though, I’m skeptical if they don’t start delivering…..
28 Josh // Aug 23, 2008 at 1:48 pm
IF Hitt Music Group is truly a scam, they will be sued unto oblivion, nothing as bad as the court of public opinion though. So, if people start referring to them as the Milli Vanilli of agencies, if musicians spread the word, if they are illegitatmate, they won’t last.
Yeah, I never noticed the sunglass pictures. It’s like permanently 1987 on that site or something….
29 Bassel // Aug 24, 2008 at 1:15 pm
What can I say? I got the exact same e-mail Chris did. Word for word. There is always fine print. To go into a big deal like this, you should always have someone more familiar do the research behind it before jumping into it. Otherwise, all the glories and highlights of the deal are covered up by the fact that you are getting screwed.
***ABOUT THE BBB COMMENT:
“Sunshine Equities” is a maaaajor scam, and they have an A+ rating on the BBB. They tried to tell me I won a free vacation and $300 gas, but they hid all of the fine print. Thank God I figured out something was fishy though. Point is, be very careful!! Just because HMG may have a good rating, it doesn’t mean they are legitimate. It just means that they are LEGALLY screwing you by means of fine print.
30 Chrissy // Aug 24, 2008 at 4:27 pm
I agree Josh, and unfortunately some artists who do get involved with music scams ( I know a few) can’t sue or they would lose because these scam aritist companies make their living off of scamming. They know how to get through those loop holes and that’s why they are successful. It’s unfortunate for newcomers who get sucked into these scams. The only way to stop these scammers is to spread the word like you said, either through these websites or word of mouth.
31 Craigory // Aug 26, 2008 at 2:10 pm
I just got the same hittmusic email everyone else got. Honestly, the music on my page is ok, but not recorded real porofessionally. The page is there for my own amusement, and I’m not trying to get a record deal, or even a shot at touring. So to consider that anyone wants to take my money for my own personal project is kind of insulting. Save your money, and go buy something nice for the road. You can do plenty of your own self-promotion through myspace, and the friends you make. If they like your music so much, they should be willing to back it themselves, especially such a strangely low amount as $400. Incidentally, I found this site while researching hittmusic. Thanks for the entertaining read.
32 Ross-man // Aug 27, 2008 at 2:32 pm
yeah i too got the word for word email from Hitt. seemed cool enough, but i was skeptical at first too, but wrote an email back anyway. I got no reply, so to satisfy my own curisoity I called them and got no answer, but go a call back the next day - not by the same person that sent me the original message. In fact I think they just make up those names for the original message.
Anyway I had a good talk with the guy I was talking to and was actually almost sold. They mentioned two of my songs by name, and I was told they wanted me to submit for a horror movie (which is what im into that they picked up off of my myspace page) …The conversation ended with me giving them my email and they we’re sapossed to send me an email with more info, etc…
Then like 30 min. later I got a call from a different guy from Hitt - either an honest mistake - or they have no idea who is following up with who…. and he said there is a deadline of Friday..
I never received my email, so I decieded to do some online research and check out their website. I found this page and several others like it all bashing this company. so thats my story and I’m glad I didnt pay these schmucks 400 bucks for nothing.
33 Ross-man // Aug 27, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Oh and one more thing, the person who sent me the original message on myspace, their page is now deleted.. haha.
34 MusicEvolving.com // Sep 5, 2008 at 11:51 am
I thought it was the greatest thing when i started to work for them the money seemed great…. then i started seeing that they were more worried about signing up people than getting the people that did placement. I am an artist myself and the co founder of musicevolving.com which i was building when i was with HITT music Group. Lets just say when i told them about my service that would help the artists and told them they can offer it as part of their package… they told me i have to study more on the pitch script. like someone didnt just bless them with something that can be more immediate help to their clients..everything just felt wrong there and i left with out turning back. i hope that they do help people out and i have seen who they got work for but it seems like the most of it is getting people to pay them. I dont like talking shit about people or other companies but i see all these post and felt like i have to say something because i did work there and while they are cool people they have $ signs in their eyes… now i prolly will get people talking shit about my site… but they have nothign to go off of because i actually have a tangible product not a promise….
35 TJ // Sep 8, 2008 at 8:14 pm
You all just Saved my band 400$ we appreciate the feedback. Karma is a bitch and they will all get theirs.
36 Tim in Minneapolis // Sep 10, 2008 at 9:12 pm
I too received an identical MySpace message from Hitt this evening. Got excited. Came here. Got educated. Got smart. Said Adios. TAXI member for just about a year but they are geared for good if you’ve got the dinero to produce your stuff perfectly for a perfect crowd. Gotta spend to extend, my friends, but stay wise and a step ahead of the bad guys. Thanks a bunch for your sage advice.
37 Jaspar // Sep 12, 2008 at 4:50 pm
I was contacted as well with the same wording and sent my contact info. I received a phone call from “Rodney” that very evening (the email was from Stephanie) - which unsettled my stomach because I expect legitimate calls to come during regular business hours. I didn’t answer - the message told me to check out the website (even though my response email specified that I could not commit to a membership at this time). I’m glad that I found this conversation. Thank you all who helped me not waste my time/money. It’s hard when music composition is such a vulnerable endeavor to begin with - that people would take advantage of our desire to make a living by the way we are most alive. Anyways, I’ve gotten two more calls and haven’t answered. I hope they stop! =)
38 David // Sep 19, 2008 at 9:46 pm
Soooo I just got the message from Hitt tonight, pretty much ver batum to what a many of you have posted. The thing that nabbed me about it is their language. Specifically, they want to “possibly” submit my music for “consideration”…not a very strong gaurantee and it will save their asses in court because they never actually promise you ANYTHING.
DO NOT give these people your money!!!
39 Ryn // Sep 20, 2008 at 12:02 am
Over the last year I’ve been a member of HMG. They continuely praised one of our songs which made me think they we’re serious in us. I drilled the lady over the phone and she did well at answering all my questions in a calm manner. I decided to take a chance.
Our band at the time of signing up was fairly successful on our own having two CD’s that won best rock album awards, radio play, 100’s of gigs, 1000’s of Cd sales and lot’s of wonderful supportive fans. My goal was to gain more publishing and licensing opportunies for my group. They do promise a good amount of start up help that we weren’t that interested in that much. They attempted to rewrite our bio since it was part of the deal (it was okay, but several mistakes were made that they never corrected like they said they would- I didn’t persue much either) They also did a consultation with me about our Myspace page/promo which was actually helpful in tiding up our page and making it better looking. We did get several songs licensed to a music library out of NY (FreePlay Music), but that didn’t get us paid or anything yet. Everything went okay, but nobody was ever interested in our tracks for tv or the film stuff like they had hyped up from the beginning. Sure there’s lot’s of competition in this market!
One thing that first made me sceptical of the company’s approach was the several missed conferance calls appointments that we’re set. Oh, and over the last year I got sick of communicating with other bands seeking advice on whether to join or not. It was overwelming to say the least. I guess I was one of their references even-though I never gave them permission for that. I had little to say since most of the successes I had were mainly on my own efforts outside of the groups reach and I wouldn’t let them take credit for it. We never got licensed to any films or TV shows based on their help ever (disappointing since that is why we joined). Over the past couple of months I’ve been getting solicited to join again as if I wasn’t already a member!!! What?? I am pissed! Their business model is based on members, a few services and hopefully a bit a luck they can use to sign up more members. They even do exclusive projects with they’re top members whose songs they like the best in hopes of gaining recognition off of it. That could be good I suppose, but I’m not sure what the industry thinks of them yet since not much has happened thus far for the 1000’s of member they do have). Work in progress to say the least.
I personally wouldn’t continue another year with them since my team is doing a much better job working our band to it’s goals. They might be able to help some bands get started and feel important, but remember they want your $$ too, so they’ll say what there scripted to say for the services they offer.
Be wary and use your best judgement. This is just my experience which isn’t either 100% positive or negative. One tip is if you want help with your career you need to reguarly be active in persuing it for yourself from every angle. Test and filter out the least effective uses of your resources and keep with the ones that are working for you.
40 Rich // Sep 22, 2008 at 11:55 am
Yeah, I’m about 5-6 months into the year with HittMusicGroup.com. I just e-mailed them again about the bio they were going to write and the personal interview with the helpful industry secrets and all, but I’m afraid my $400 is little more than Charmin…The original contact I got was much more personal and I talked to the same agent 3 or 4 times before signing up. I was contacted by my ‘assigned contact’, but it took me a couple weeks to put the volumes of info they wanted for the bio together and he only tried once to set up a phone interview (2 weeks in advance!) We are like the one band that commented previously, not so much commercial, a progressive tilt to guitar-driven hard rock. We get a ‘weekly submission report’ and intermittant special project submissions, but nothing more…and no returns of e-mail and phone calls…and I am not threatening, just trying to find out if there is something I have missed that is holding things up. I would at least like a electronic press kit out of the deal, ya know!
It’s kinda like paying a Contractor up-front for a home repair…you’ve all been there, too!
I’ve since done an extensive Google on any offers that come my way!
41 Kirk Blue // Sep 22, 2008 at 1:44 pm
Just wanted to thank everyone for the comments
I got the same form letter from Lauren at Hitt Music Group this weekend . Which I found amusing . I quit activeley persueing music in 2003 . The stuff on myspace was something I recorded on my computer with free software ,
on a drunken night for my wife . She wrote the
words and wanted her friends and family to
hear it . Never thought of anyone being interested in it since I can’t sing , I’m just an old
lead guitarists that got tired of the bar scene .
I figured there was a catch …..
Thanks again
42 Uulabelle // Sep 23, 2008 at 12:19 am
THANK YOU EVERYONE who have posted about Hitt Music. This is the post I got on my myspace– verbatim to some of yours:
Digging the tunes… Great stuff. Anyway, my name is Julia from the Hitt Music Group and I’m on here scouting music for an independent film that my company is submitting music to. After checking your page and listing to your tracks, I believe my company would be interested in possible submitting your tunes to this opportunity. Do you have anymore songs that are like the ones on your page?
I would need to speak with you about this so I can get some more info about you and your songs to see if this opportunity is something that you can even be a part of. So if you can respond back with your contact info, “i usually prefer the phone” I will get in touch with you with all of the info you will need in order to get your songs submitted in time.
Anyway, I will also leave my contact info at the bottom of this email incase you would like to get a hold of me first.
Thanks and I’m looking forward to chatting soon.
Cheers,
(a woman named Julia)
I’m not looking back… this can’t be real.
43 Turk // Sep 25, 2008 at 1:39 pm
i got the same message, sounds like hollywood trash
44 kenneth // Sep 25, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Same here-
Digging the tunes… Great stuff. My name is Heather, and I am a representative of the Hitt Music Group, here in Los Angeles, California. I am presently scouting music to be submitted for an independent film project, with whom the Hitt Music Group has developed a direct working relationship. After viewing your page and listening to a few of your tracks, I believe my company would be interested in possibly submitting your material to be considered for this project. Do you have any other songs that contain a similar style, and/or sound as the ones that I have recently previewed?
I would need to speak with you in regards to this matter, as so I can garner some more information about you and the background/style of your music collection. I can be reached via phone, and/or the attached email address. The sooner we make contact, the sooner we can collaborate to determine your eligibility in being considered as a possible interest for our associated music companies.
I am attaching my personal contact information, as to provide you with a direct contact to our office.
Thanks and I’m looking forward to connecting soon.
Cheers,
Heather Jones
http://www. Hittmusicgroup. Com
323-230-5647
45 Greg // Oct 5, 2008 at 8:50 pm
Much thanks to everybody for your advice on avoiding scams. I was ripped off by a service called “Big Noise” out of Providence, RI. It’s a similar thing where they ask for a fee, claim to be submitting to ‘music professionals’ and just act like things surprisingly didn’t work out. I called to talk with the owner, Al Gomes, and he freaked out when I questioned his legitimacy. Steer clear people.
Big Noise is a hoax.
46 -Steve-S- // Oct 6, 2008 at 2:50 pm
got the same message from a “jackie demster” what a bunch of crap. talked to a “sid” and suprisingly jackie “wasnt in the office” all sounded great until the 400 thing came up. told him id call back. found this site THANK GOD and sent a nasty email back to “jackie” and called sid back and told him how scammy this really was.
47 Brittany // Oct 6, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Hey everyone! I saw this link posted in a blog by a friend of mine. This is a message that I just received: http://i35.tinypic.com/245zuaa.jpg
I’m not sure if they are real or what not? They said if my I’m interested to contact them. any ideas?
48 Ben Travis // Oct 7, 2008 at 9:13 pm
Same story as everyone else, except one other tidbit. The guy I talked to said he was listening to my song “Today” (he was looking at it on my site) and that he thought it would be nice for this comedy movie at Warner Brothers. The only problem I saw with that is that the song is about *death*, and is extremely sad.
It was also interesting that when I told him who I was, he had to really look me up and figure out which person I was. He had me tell him my Myspace address, etc. so he could find me. Then he said he wasn’t in his office, and that he needed a few minutes to listen to my music so he could be familiar with it.
I have this feeling they tell everyone they’re “not in their office” because so many people don’t call them back. Once someone does call, they need time to figure out who it is since they probably send that email to literally *everyone* on Myspace.
The more I listened to him talk, the more it sounded like a sales pitch, and I realized he was going to ask for money at the end of it. When he finally said they needed $399.00, I said, “I’m actually looking for a record label that wants to get behind me and make *me* money, and not the other way around. He explained that the money isn’t important to them, and that they really only want the money so they know who is serious… the logic goes like this: if you are willing to pay a huge fee, you must be a serious musician who will be willing to work hard. That’s what serious musicians do, you know. Pay fees for services they haven’t yet received.
I already own a timeshare, so I don’t need this too. I recommend not signing up with any company that wants to charge up front fees. They can have a percentage of whatever they get me, sure. But whenever I pay up front fees, suddenly the companies aren’t interested in talking to me much anymore. Go figure. It’s almost like they’re spending their time and energy on getting those *fees* and not helping artists.
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