JPF Home Page Forums General Messages Industry Message Forum Anybody heard of Adam Knight Music Group?

Just got contacted today by Adam Knight himself (it is obviously a small outfit), saying an employee had turned him on to my music (okay, maybe not *that* small) and he liked it. (Potential red flag there, but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.)

Very professional-looking Website; good design, no bad grammar or misspelled words. Small catalog, mostly Christian music (wonder which of my songs he *did* listen to?) but says he branched out into secular music a couple of years ago.

Booking agent and promoter, I guess; I assume the 10% fee is still standard for booking agents--it's what I used to pay 25 years ago. And it's not up front, it comes out of my pay (or fee, or whatever they call it), so that part's good.

It's the promoter part that's a little bit of a concern. They supposedly get radio play to enhance the attendance at concerts, which is understandable--and it costs money, which I think I'm supposed to front, with a guarantee (spidey-sense tingling here) that I'll get it back.

And no, we have not talked price--yet. At this point, we've just exchanged e-mails, with me asking questions and Adam answering them. I've warned him I'm going to be really busy for the next month. So I'm kinda keeping him at arm's length for now until I find out more.

Some questions. First, is this outfit legit? Anybody here heard of him/them, or dealt with him/them? Second, is this upfront for radio stuff the way it's s'posed to go? I really don't know. My first inclination is to treat the guy like he was legit, because he's not going all super-salesman on me--but even if he is legit, I still may not be willing to do it.

Oh, and statistics. Fellow's name is Adam Knight, and the firm is Adam Knight Music Group. Out of Kingsport, Tenn. URL is www.adamknightmusic.com.

Anybody know anything? Thanks.

Joe
www.soundclick.com/bands/7/joewrabek_music.htm

Joe,
Looks to me like they are primarily a fee based promotion service. From their contact page, I saw the list of services they offer, which includes:
Radio Promotions
Album Production
Distribution
Bookings
Multi-Media Marketing
Career Consultation

Obviously, since they are not a record label, you can expect to pay for all their services. Some will be up-front, others perhaps based on a percentage of sales which they try to get for you, but under those circumstances, you may have to sign some kind of agreement and then live with the terms. It doesn't mean it's "bad", but you'll have to study the agreement, pricing and terms and see if it's worth it for you. You'll have to understand exactly what "the deal" is between you and them and make a business decision as to how well it might pay off for you.

You can also spend about $300.00 on a "Taxi" membership and get lots of promotion. Like anything else, it may or may not pay off. You're not in a hurry are you?!

Anyway, that's my input based on what you told me and what I've seen at their web site.

Perhaps other's here have had a direct experience with them and can tell you more about them. You might also ask Adam Knight for a list of referrals, meaning, a list of his happy and satisfied customers. Then you can call a few of them and see how they like his services and if it's done them any good!

Regards,
Michael

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The OUTLOOK may often appear bleak, but the UPLOOK is always bright!
Michael Borges
Praiseworthy Productions

[This message has been edited by Michael Borges (edited 05-16-2006).]

Hi, new to this, but just wanted to say that we received the same email from this guy today. Have not responded, but curious to see what anyone else has to say!

I know Adam....He's been around Nashville for years. The last time I saw him was at a number 1 party for Faith Hill back in the fall.

He has a booth at Fan Fair most years in Nashville and I see him at various industry functions.

Pretty well connected for everything I know.

Before our band broke up Adam Knight Music Group booked us for about 2 years. Put alot of bacon on the table for me!

For this or any service, in the music business, or in any other business, my rule of thumb is this:

Don't buy anything you don't need. If you don't know whether you need it or not, don't buy it until you are sure you do. Consult your team (you have a team, don't you? if not...that's what you should do...put together a team. Do a search here on team or teams for more info.)

If you decide you need something, shop around, get references you can verify independantly. (for example, contact villesongwriter and stratpicker, have them write you personally and give verifiable information...if you don't know what verifiable information is or how to get it, never buy anything...not houses, cars, boats, or chewing gum.)

Never buy ANYTHING you can't afford, don't fall for the credit card scam that banks have been selling us for years, I have friends who are still paying for pizzas they bought five years ago. They laugh at me because I don't use credit cards. I have four paid for cars, two kids in private schools, and haven't worried about money in years...and my wife and I haven't fought about money in well over a decade.

I have absolutely nothing against the business in your question, I give the same advice to my kids about ANY purchase.

All the Best,
Mike




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You have to practice improvisation. -Art Tatum

Mike Dunbar Music

Mike,there is nothing wrong with credit cards if they are used right,in fact they are a good tool,but if the persons using them are not smart,it can be their downfall.

Common sense is a missing factor with most people that get themselves in trouble with credit,you can't spend more than you earn on a continuous basis,soner or later it will catch up with you.

Everett

Everett

[This message has been edited by ECA333 (edited 05-30-2006).]

Mike,it's not the fault of the credit cards,it's the lack of common sense of those that ill use them.

Everett

After doing some research, I think we will pass. Mr Knight is only 24, still "has milk on his whiskers" as my grand daddy would say. Can't possibly have too many years experience in Nashville, unless he started in high school! Not too many positive things on this company to be said out there in the internet world. Think I will keep my money and maybe look at Taxi.

Interesting to note that the two supporters were single posters.

[This message has been edited by johnnydean1 (edited 05-31-2006).]

I found this website doing a google search on Adam to see what he is up to these days. Ask him to hear his story. He grew up in Southern Gospel Music and had his first Top 20 song promoted at 16 and sold 147,000 copies of that with the first single he promoted. He may just be in his 20's but he is well respected by alot of people on Music Square.

for info on credit cards:

http://www.daveramsey.com/


I guess I'm just a wierdo, nothing against anyone who wants to use credit cards. Good luck.

My advice to my kids will not change.

Mike

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You have to practice improvisation. -Art Tatum

Mike Dunbar Music

[This message has been edited by Mike Dunbar (edited 06-01-2006).]

!!! WARNING RE:ADAM KNIGHT SCAM !!!!

As an unsigned band, to be approached by someone ‘in the business’ who seems very impressed with your music and offers you opportunities to help get your music played on radio, tour etc…, is extremely tempting. To be offered the chance for your hard work and enthusiasm to be acknowledged and help in taking steps to make your band a success is what we all want.
So when we received an email from Adam Knight, who apparently saw our EPK after being recommended by a friend, and who wanted to offer us guaranteed airplay, and a US tour, we took the opportunity. He was charismatic and friendly, calling and emailing frequently, keen to answer questions and accommodate what the band wanted. Until he started asking for Western Union payment, alarm bells should have been ringing. He dissuaded us from using paypal (because it charged a fee….what about WU??). In the end, unfortunately, we weighed it up and because the contract said after 3 months if we hadn’t made more money than we paid in, we would get a full refund, we did it. We made sure we got a signed faxed copy of the contract from him. But as soon as he received the money…silence…. After much hounding he assured me it was all going to plan and the final touches to the tour were being made. When pressed for dates to get time off work etc…..silence. After numerous attempts at calling him, when we spoke, he again said everything was fine, and our band were getting a good reponse. Eventually absolutely no contact could be made. The last phone call was Adam assuring us that if we did want a full refund that was no problem……nothing!

We are very disappointed, and distressed that a fraudster like ADAM KNIGHT is still pulling people into his SCAM.

We WILL get our money back, and will keep letting people know of our experience until this guy NEVER has the opportunity to SCAM anyone else.
You and your music are worth more than this selfish fraudster.
PLEASE DO NOT HAVE ANY DEALINGS WITH ADAM KNIGHT.
Let him know why, about this info and search the internet and you will find many other similar stories…..don’t be one of them…..

Hate to break the news, but beware. This is an email I recieved...Hello,
I believe I am one of the last ministries that Adam Knight of Adam Knight Music Group has scammed. My name is Doug Moesta with Moesta Ministries. www.dmoesta.com
I have filed a formal complaint and heard back from the State of Tennessee Department Of Commerce and Insurance, The Better Business Bureau of Knoxville and also The State Of Florida. I did file a complaint to the Kingsport Police Dept which I have not heard back from thus far.
If you or you know of any other groups that has been scammed by Adam Knight, I would like to hear from you.
Thank you and keep singing,
Doug Moesta
Also check out www.americangospel.com near the bottom of the webpage.
I know Adam personally and never dreamed he'd do such things as he as in the past several years. I don't like spreading bad news, but don't want to see others get hurt by his actions.

This same 'promotor' was circling around a few women musician groups I'm involved with and several people had horrible experiences and were warning us that it was a scam. Anytime they ask you to spend money to make money... well...

I don't have personal experience with this promotor just passing on that this has been going round the boards and no one has said anything good about it - just the oppposite, in fact.

Anna

Okay... Last few posts prompt a question. Y'all were all complaining about the services (or lack thereof) you received from Adam Knight. (And I have no feelings one way or t'other, by the way. I do not know the dude, and at this point have not had him do anything for me.) These were also *your* first posts here. What attracted you to this place? Gonna stick around (nice folks here, in case you hadn't noticed)? Or did you just pipe up to complain about Adam Knight?

Joe
www.soundclick.com/bands/7/joewrabek_music.htm

For me, I'm just here to complain about Adam Knight. I peruse the internet looking for references about him... like here

http://www.sonicbids.com/forum/topic_view.asp?topic_id=40916&page=1

and here

http://www.hellosaltlakecity.com/music/TerryDaun.Cfm


and here
http://cookiecuttergirl.com/musicscamsites_text_iframe.htm

and here
http://www.smokymountaingospel.com/_christ-biz/adam_knight/adamknight_main.htm

and here
http://carolynrichards.net/news.shtml

and here
http://www.country-bea.de/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=576&sid=57d34c2d1eb08f7f30a9225ad141f4e4

and I tried going to the Adam Knight website but it's down. hmmm.

And I did check the claim about the Buyer Beware list with the State of Tennessee and wahtya know he is there.

And I got all that just from a bit of googling, which is one of the things I do when approached with people saing they like my music and want me to give them money so they can 'help' me. The other thing I do is ask for input from music groups that I am members of and then research that feedback for myself, and make my own decision in the matter.

oh wait... I forgot... I'm just here to talk about Adam Knight. Not about how this was a total valid post, one that I've seen on many yahoo musician groups, and sonicbids, and myspace, etc. over the past year, and that just happened to be listed here right out in the open for everyone to see, and free for everyone to comment on to help the person trying to get info on this subject. I guess they thought they were entitled to everyone's input.

For the people that posted the good stuff about Mr. Knight - that is what I'm having trouble finding on the net - perhaps you could share an artist page or link to an article, etc. that would support your good personal reference, not that you need to defend your position, I'm jsut sayin'... I'd be happy to look them up, then the next time someone asks about this cat I could include those links with the rest, if I care to respond to the posting. I don't have any of those myself cause I can't find anything valid on him or his company, and I'm a pretty decent internet stalker.

Well this IS a fun board. So friendly. I'm going back over the lyric forums, at least only the songs get ripped apart, but at least it's for a constructive purpose.

Oh wait - I only signed up in case Adam Knight's name appeared. My personal crusade. Now I have to leave. This sucks, cause I really did like the chapter meetings and the lyric forums. Next time I'll know better than to get involved, I'll just stay in total lurk mode until I get another shot at Adam Knight - Music Promotor

Anna,

Not sure why you're upset. As I see it the comment wasn't even directed at you in the first place? Often when someone is being exposed for being a scam, we'll suddenly have 3-4 brand new posters come here to "defend" the person as if they are happy customers. Often we later find out it's jus the scam artist (or their cronies) themselves posting the support. The same can happen in reverse. Someone is ticked off (for often valid and occassionally invalid reasons)but they feel the need to also create a bunch of new user ID's to support their complaint, rather than just letting others come on their own. On this post (which is quite old) there's several posters who never came back to post. That's pretty suspicious wouldn't you say?

That said, that didn't apply to you in the first place. You have over 40 posts. So I am not sure why you're so offended?

Brian

I understand questioning the few people who were single posters and defending Knight, and someone did question that by pointing out "hey these last 2 are recently signed-up single posters". The comment that offended me was directed a the 'last few people' who were 'complaining' about Knight - of which I was one (and at the time had very few posts). It definitely did not make me feel welcome to browse around and find topics to jump in and post on, and it questioned why I was even here and if I was goign to stick around. Even if I had only posted on this - maybe so far it's what I felt comfortable with, who knows, but why should we have to defend which topics we choose to butt in on or 'prove' ourselves by... by what.. having a certain number or posts, or being here a certain amount of time, or.. choosing a 'more worthy' topic?

It just made it feel quite unfriendly to participate here. I'm not sayin' I couldna just shined it on, prob'ly usually the best approach, but why jump on people for talkin' out loud, even if they just entered the room or were previously quiet. Again... not talkin' about the couple o people who posted one time - talkin about the reference to the 'last few posts' who were 'complainin' and questioning if we were gonna stick around or not. Just felt quite unfriendly.

Frankly, I agree with Anna. I thought the post was a little rude and really unnecessary. Just my own humble opinion, of course.

Anna, sounds like I should apologize. Didn't mean to be rude (I probably am acerbic--can't blame it on bad hair days, because bald people don't got any to blame it on). I've probably just gotten overly suspicious over time from hearing horror stories of people being visited by scam artists. I was the one who started this by asking what people knew about this Adam Knight person, and I was seriously interested in y'all's opinions.

Anyway, don't mind me; there are people here who are nice, and I wouldn't want you to be shy of (or around) 'em. Sorry.

Joe
www.soundclick.com/bands/7/joewrabek_music.htm

Well Joe - this is how much *I* overreacted - I didn't even realize u were the same guy that asked the question in the 1st place!

If u can forgive my bitchy rant I can certainly accept your gentlemanly apology! Gotta tell ya I just had a lot of fun at yr soundclick page...

DLG & Niteshift - Thx so much for the understanding, I was feelin' kinda raw and seein' ya'lls input felt great.

Hell today is payday - round of beers on me let's call it a day!

Thx guys

Anna
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http://www.withouttheblonde.com
http://www.myspace.com/annatutor

I have a signed contract with Mr. Adam Knight. As of this date he is in default. He is no longer accepting new artists because?? I just wish he would have taken care of the one's he had. I am out the initial fee plus loss of income on venues he supposedly had booked. Yes I am a first time poster but I assure you this will not be my last. I am a traditional Country artist/songwriter in Nashville. I have had dealings with Adam you may e-mail me to get the scoop. Silas