JPF Home Page Forums General Messages General Message Forum Diamond Garden Music

Hello;

I'm a new member here.
Could anybody tell me if they've had any experience dealing with Diamond Garden Music & Troy Martin?
His company has offered to publish two of my songs but there would be a fee of $390.00 that would go towards the cost of distributing and manufacturing the album my recordings would be on. Thank you.

Welcome aboard Kim!

Simple rule to follow - they pay you, you don't pay them.

Best, John

Hi Kim,

People here, long before my time, seem to have had a word to say about them. It doesn't sound good.
http://jpfolks.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=902052

What John said.

$390 bucks wouldn't go far enough to matter regarding distribution etc.

Hi Martin;

My apologies, I should of made it clear
...it was to help pay for...supposedly a small part of the distribution.

Hi Gavin;

Thanks for the info. much appreciated.
As I've mentioned to Marvin...my apologies,I should of made it clear
...it was to help pay for...supposedly...a small part of the distribution.

Thank you for the welcome John & the info! Much appreciated!

Hello Kim:

It seems too good to be true... someone has made an offer to publish two of your songs... but there is a "small " distribution fee involved. Do some research about this individual and organization... then run, don't walk... to the nearest exit. If you have never had a song published before now... visit your local library and check out every book they have regarding the song publishing and music industry in general. If it sounds too good to be true... odds are... it is a scam of the first magnitude. Has a contract been forwarded for you to review and sign? How long do they plan to "tie your songs up" while they publish and "distribute" your work? What are their distribution channels? Has a specific artist been mentioned to do a cover of your songs? Are you to be the artist/vocalist? Are you a member of a PRO organization such as BMI, ASCAP or SESAC? Ask them for opinions before you get a music attorney involved. This has all the earmarks of a bad deal for you.

All this aside, welcome to JPF where we do our best to provide advice intended to keep folks from wasting their hard earned money.

Regards and best wishes, ----Dave Rice

Hello Dave;

I've found some unflattering remarks about the company here & on Google.
The offer I got came from Troy Martin who co-wrote "Baby's Gotten Good at Goodbye"' recorded by George Strait.
I've done some research on publishing, obviously not enough. No contracts...I was told they need to get my songs on the market. towards that goal, they'd pitch songs one at a time, usually in person to artists and their producers. He also told me there are many other opportunities for independent music already recorded today, such as television and motion picture use, They circulate their best songs to the producers three times a year on a promotional CD. The CD this Fall is called Original Songs 2017.

They had an have an offer for me. He said they would like to include both of my songs on the CD which will be distributed to more than 500 recording artists, record producers, record labels, television and motion picture producers, and radio programmers, etc. in December.What the money was for...goes towards the cost of distributing and manufacturing the album my recordings would be on. I would remain self-published until my songs are licensed for commercial use and then I would have to ask them to be my publisher at that time. I am a member of Socan in Canada. Thanks for the info. Dave. Much appreciated.

I understood that.

My point was that real and effective production and marketing and distribution would cost a lot of money. I don't know how much but I'm guessing in the tens of thousands minimal depending on what your goals and targeted markets are. $390 buys a cup of coffee and a few other things. It seems almost pointless to ask for...unless...it is going to be merely pocketed by the solicitor.

I have no way of knowing and know nothing of this company, but I would be hesitant to make the payment.

Good luck with your music.

Martin

Humm,
I believe Diamond Garden Music is basically a demo service. Nothing more. As noted by others here, I would pass/run to the nearest exit! Good luck.

The entire industry is known as "vanity publishing". It is done with books, poetry, the modelling industry (you are paying for photographs that go nowhere), professional awards (yes, that award for financial advisor of the year can be bought), a listing in "Who's Who" etc, and it involves you paying the freight. The scam is all about stroking your ego, feeding your desire etc.

As everybody has already said...run away from these types.

IF someone really believes in you THEY will make the investment for a share of the potential they see in you.

Scam, run for your life.

Diamond Garden Music is simply a house in Mt Joliet, TN. Just like thousands of other home studios in the Nashville area. If you wanted to pay to have a demo made that is one thing and $390's as good a fee as any if they are doing the arranging, editing etc. But it does get sketchy when they start promising you the stars and moon. It can take a decade to get established here in the Nashville area and yeah like the lovin spoonful -- most people can play twice as good as you do. There is no magic bullet and really no shortcut. Most name artists have known the songwriters they work with for many many years - y'all ain't going to bust through that wall long distance..... Good luck to ya

Sue,

The BIG difference is that you do not give your publishing to the place that does your demo and these days $390 is not such a good deal.

To KIM: DO NOT DO IT. Publishers pay to demo songs they want to publish OR they have you bring them songs fit for pitching. They do not act as a demo service AND take your publishing on the song. Find a legit demo studio, shop around A LOT and find the best deal (always listen to samples and ask for references and check out to see they are REAL people and not just the buddies of the studio) and once you have a quality demo then you can shop for publishers.

But FIRST.. don't do ANYTHING until you learn how the business actually works. Look for a book by Jason Blume or even an old copy of John Braheny's classic "The Craft and Business of Songwriting" often available at used book stores or libraries and considered the bible for songwriters learning the business in it's day (and he was an early mentor to many of the other established authors such as Jason Blume). PLEASE do not spend a dime until you have at LEAST read one of their books completely so you understand the basics on how it all works, otherwise you'll be ripped off most of the time and may make a mistake you'll regret the rest of your life.

Welcome to JPF. I look forward to seeing you around!

Brian

Thanks for the info. Brian. Much appreciated. No demoing just pitching songs. They had an have an offer for me. They said they would like to include both of my songs on the CD which will be distributed to more than 500 recording artists, record producers, record labels, television and motion picture producers, and radio programmers..blah,blah, blah...I've read one of Jason's books...a gold mine of info...I've been researching, reviews regarding Diamond Garden Music...& the reviews weren't good. Glad to be part of this group!

That is a lot said in very few words. Here's to you Sue.

I want to thank everybody for their opinions. Wishing all of you the best with your music as well. Cheers.