Hello Fellow Musicians.
I recently had a very depressing fiasco with a company called A&R Select.
Now, I don't have 100% convincing evidence that this was a total scam, but I'll admit I was getting the heeby-jeebies.
I know I know, I definately shouldn't have just jumped into the smoothe talking reps sales pitch, but I did. I got excited that someone "actually like my music". I'm an 18 year old song writer, and it was a cool feeling to have someone from West Hollywood, CA, call me, and start telling me about how my music had potential, and how their services could help me get a step up in the industry. A&R Select's "extensive" services are: writing the artist a bio, setting up an online store for the artist, a band/artist music/image consultation, making a press kit, and a press release for the certain band or artist.
Im pretty sure it was $299/6mnths and like $499/1yr.
...very depressing, I know. I was drunk with compliments, and thought,"hey what the heck". So I bought it right on the spot for a year.
To cut to the chase....I received my "bio" a week later, it had 17 sentences, 3 misspellings, and 2 fragments. Thats all I should need to say about that. Then I was scheduled the next week for my music consultation. (The Music Consultation is where one of the reps talks with you one on one about the cd you submitted by mail to them after you signed up, they go over the pros and cons and other constructive criticisms) The rep said he would call me,he didnt. I forgave him. The next day he claimed he was bombarded with work and thats why he forgot and asked if we could do it the next day. I said sure. He didn't call. I don't hear from the guy for another week and a half until I decide to contact him myself and ask him when we can get this going (it was on a friday)....I'm already disgusted, but I'm nice about it. He says, " Yeah of course man, I'm all ready...but uh, just give me an email monday morning to remind me". That to me was the biggest joke of all....remind the guy I'm paying to do his job...OK! But I did. I reminded him monday morning via email, because I spent $400. But no call on monday! He was too busy he said ONCE AGAIN. I have had it at this point, but I continue to keep my patience, I didn't want to get any bogus service because I gave him a piece of my mind. So I told him once again that tomorrow would be fine. Well Tomorrow came around and he didn't call me. So I wrote a very long email to the "CEO" (who still hasn't emailed me back) reporting the negligence of my representative and the other complaints I had had while being a memeber and, in short, telling him I want my money back. ..and also a little email to my rep, with that document I sent to the "CEO" attached to it just so we weren't hiding anything. Funny enough, i get a call that night from a very very sympathetic and apologetic rep. But I told him I want my money back and I'm done. Unfortunately I'm only getting refunded half my money becuase the "bio" and the online artist store were part of the services I paid for and I ...had received them. ALL OF THIS HAPPENED IN THE PAST MONTH. THE FINAL REFUND DECISION WAS MADE TODAY, BUT I STILL HAVE YET TO SEE THE MONEY IN MY ACCOUNT.

Now I don't want to pass judgement onto a business that might have all the right intentions in mind, A&R very well could become a great asset in the music industry. But as far as I'm concerned it was very scammish and something in my life that I could have done without. The experience was a quite embarrassing and humiliating one. I'm still kind of depressed. haha

So I want to start a support group!...obviously you can't hear my tone of voice as I type. But I take my experience for what it's worth....
A few good lessons or two to learn:

***Always know who your dealing with, do research, ask around, don't just jump into (or feel pressure on the phone) something like that, especially if they are asking for money up front.***

some embarrassment, and definately some good laughs.
But You Guys are all friends here in the Just Plain Forum and it's good to hear im not alone in this.

[url]http://www.myspace.com/robertlyontunes[/url]