Public Enemy Trying To Get A Little Help From Its Friends
from the holding-songs-hostage dept
SellaBand is known for funding musicians' albums with contributions from fans -- contributions that not only help to record the music but also entitle the paying fans to a share of the revenues from the album after it's released. Up until now, the artists using SellaBand have not exactly been household names, making it susceptible to Masnick's law where critics could say SellaBand is only good for small bands. However, Chuck D and Public Enemy are aiming to prove that a big-name act can solicit $250,000 from fans to finance their next album. It's actually not all that surprising that Chuck D would go this route. You may not remember, but when Lars Ulrich from Metallica first freaked out about Napster, it was Chuck D who publicly debated him, and said that file sharing was "the new radio" and it was time to embrace it. Chuck D also testified before the Senate about how file sharing was a great distribution mechanism, and the recording industry was making a mistake trying to stop it. So you had to figure he'd be a fan of trying out smarter, fan-focused business models.Similar to efforts by Trent Reznor, Jill Sobule, Kickstarter and many others, SellaBand also has a system of fan-fundable tiers for its artists. For Public Enemy, supporters can buy into the project in $25 shares in order for Public Enemy to reach its ultimate quarter million dollar goal. And the more shares you buy, the more you get.
- 1 Part ($25) = "Believer" Level Incentive: Exclusive, numbered CD in Digipak
- 4 Parts ($100) = "Hype" Level Incentive: "Believer" Level, plus the opportunity to buy 2nd CD at 50% off, & Name in booklet
- 10 Parts ($250) = "Rebel" Level Incentive: All of Above plus Exclusive Limited Edition Public Enemy T Shirt
- 20 Parts ($500) = "Posse" Level Incentive: All of Above plus Autographed Copy of CD signed by Chuck D
- 40 Parts ($1,000) = "Terrordome" Level Incentive: All of Above plus Unlimited backstage pass for 3 years [Limited to 50]
- 200 Parts ($5,000) = "Bring The Noise" Level Incentive: All of Above plus Executive Producer Credit on Album [Limited to 15]
- 400 Parts ($10,000) = "PE Number One" Level Incentive: All of Above plus Studio Visit during recording session [Limited to 5]
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Filed Under: chuck d, fan funded, music, public enemy, rtb
Companies: sellaband
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On the right track
That said, there are an awful lot of PE fans out there, so this may work out for them.
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Neat Idea I have to incorporate this into my little business plan
280 note/entry) RtF(und) for each level of contribution/investment.
Big Ole GRIN !!
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Does anyone remember how awful the Apocalypse 91... The Enemy Strikes Black CD was? Heck, does anyone actually even remember that CD at all?!
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...uhh
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Re:
Obviously backstage areas can only accomodate so many people...
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Re: Re: @Dark Helmet
As I mention below(or above depending on if it is threaded or flattened, respectively), whats the point of only 50 people being able to get it; regardless if only 50 can go back stage, just alternate or something.
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Re: Re: Re: @Dark Helmet
If they sell out, 'the point' is around US$150,000.
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Re: Re: Re: @Myself
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Re: Re: Re: @Dark Helmet
Three reasons to limit that I can think of:
1. It's a RtB-RN(right now!)...urgency is always something you strive to instill in sales.
2. Depending on the venues and their normal level of back stage attendance, there is only so much space that they can give out (comfort, fire code, etc.)
3. To your last point, how would one institute alternating unlimited passes? They're unlimited...
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Re: Re: Re: @Dark Helmet
Sheesh, this is exactly like ISP's overselling 'unlimited' downloads when they know that if even a small fraction of their customers take them up on the offer then everyone is going to end up surfing at dialup speeds.
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Re:
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Re: @Robert Ring
"Unlimited backstage pass for 3 years [Limited to 50]"
Lets say you fork over the $1000 price tag only to have them tell you, "Sorry, already gave out 50. Thanks for the one grand though!"
Basically after 50 people pay into it, whats the point of anyone else to do the same? Just for the pure satisfaction of helping out your favorite band? Fnck That!
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Re: Re: @Robert Ring
It's not really clear, but that's how I interpret the levels. The 50 person limit could be reached earlier if people buy the levels above that one....
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Re: Re: Re: @Robert Ring
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Had not heard of Sellaband
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Re: Had not heard of Sellaband
I'm not sure how the revenue sharing actually works, tho. It seems possible that you could end up earning more money than you put in originally, but that aspect is not highlighted (presumably b/c the odds of it happening are either really low -- or it's not really possible).
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Re: Re: Had not heard of Sellaband
I agree with you on them lacking that certain je ne sais quoi. It seems to me they aren't really taking it very seriously. They could just be using it without really believing in it; which could be responsible for the lack of that certain something, or effort for that matter.
But then again I know not this "Public Enemy", so I could be mistake.
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Re: Re: Re: Had not heard of Sellaband
I sorta wonder who the Public Enemy fans are nowadays? People in their 30s? It'd be interesting to find out what the fan demographics are for Public Enemy.
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@Robert Ring: That's what I thought, too, but I think they are only allowing 50 people to purchase the unlimited backstage pass deal.
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Bass!!!
Apparently, only down to $25.
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Re: Bass!!!
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Re: Re: Bass!!!
If it weren't for that amazingly feminine blue background in your comment, I would think that you were new here.
Don't you know that sharing music is illegal, immoral, ugly, rape, murder, satanism, supporting Al Quaeda, supporting the Jewish Zionist Conspiracy, promoting Hitler, kicking puppies, drowning kittens, evading taxes, slandering the pope, urinating on Jesus, slapping Buddha, defaming Muhammed, anti-Amercan, anti-European, antivirus, harming the environment, pushing over nuns, eating meat, not taking mass transit, a homosexual act, a homophobic practice, and a hate-crime?
Well....don't you?
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Revenue
In THEORY, but only in theory, there should be revenue as soon as PE have made approx. 750'000 bucks out of their album, because they offer a 30% revenue. The problem is, that it is not entirely clear from what those 30% are calculated.
I have registered as an artist with sellaband and went thourgh the terms & condition. It states clearly, that the revenue is meant for EVERYTHING you earn. If they really do what it write, there should be a return on investment. Think that the boys don't really need a label who prefinances studio costs.
But as I've said. This is bare theory, if I had more experience with sellaband. I probably would bet on PE cause I think they are going to make some money with this.
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Re: Revenue
Sure, if the PE album is wildly successful, the original donors have a shot at actually getting a positive return on their investment. But I'm pretty sure that any savings account will have a better return in the short term.
I'm actually interested in your experience with SellaBand -- are you planning to raise funds with the SellaBand service? Why or why not?
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