SellABand Music Model Gaining Traction

This is the future for both mainstream and niche acts to find their global audiences and make it by sheer talent alone, and no doubt Famesource will also be big winner

Yeah I like it– still not perfect because the cost of producing an album requires money up front, but I like this idea better than Amie Street for sure. Also seems to replace the entire end-to-end process, which is nice.

It’s especially cool to see multiple interesting new models out there, none of which requires me to pay a dime for art I don’t like. Kudos.

Finally! No spelling mistakes in this post. The last three did have, see my comments there.

Let me get this straight: 2,700 bands have signed up for the service and four have actually made enough money to record? How exactly does this correlate to notable traction?

Don’t get me wrong. I actually like SellABand. It’s an interesting model and a service that I think is worthwhile. There’s little risk to all parties, so I’m not criticizing the service, however I do think it’s way too early to talk about “gaining traction” when only four bands have raised the $50,000.

This is one of the better business models out there regardless of products or services. I’ve liked the idea from the first time I’ve stumbled upon their site a couple of months ago.

I am happy that this business model is working because it gives hope to my startup’s business model which has some elements of similarities.

Having 4 artists reach the target within 7 months is a great achievement I think for a site that is relatively new. As more and more music lovers become aware of Sellaband the number of recording artists will grow in leaps and bounds. The great thing about Sellaband, is that it was started by ex Sony Music Europe execs, who have ALL the expertise and ALL the great contacts to get things done. Artists get introduced to a number of top producers/studio’s and get to choose the one they want to work with to record the album.

It’s a brilliant thing for artists and investors I think, with very little risk (like you said), as any money invested is held in Escrow until the target is reached, so until the $50k, investors can move or refund money at any time.
When it is reached, and the album is recorded, sold worldwide (online and in stores), investors share 50% of the cd profits, and 1/3 of the ad revenue from Sellaband.com, as some of the tracks will be available for free download. Millions of people visit to download = lots of great paid advertising from the likes of Heineken, Sony etc. Hey, believers also get a limited edition cd for every part they invest in an artist Not bad for $10 eh?

I really can’t say enough good things about the bosses of Sellaband.com, the fantastic music-lovers who are putting their money where they ears are, and the MANY great artists who are on Sellaband. Whatever music you are into, there are so many worthy musicians waiting to be heard, and recorded, on SAB.

Love, Mandyleigh XX

Hey, I just realised that’s me in the grab you got…. I`m the little orange one

I really like this business model, better than Amie street. Because of the feeling you get after ‘believing’ in an artist, and working together towards the 50K.

The startup is from The Netherlands by the way, not German. They are just located there.

You can read some more here + aritsts replies http://www.theplugg.com/2006/1.....hype-real/
The model seems to be working great, artists are raving about their success on SellaBand, I wonder what’s happening with some of the winners.

As a believer on Sellaband (SAB) and having bought a-few-100-$-of-parts - divided amongst a handful of artists - since Sept 06 I have watched it grow and grow and have connected with artists who I’d never have met and the overall impression gained is that it really instils a new-found confidence in emerging artists to follow their dreams thanks to direct encouragement from fans of music, world-wide. Surely, there’s a great future in such a web-model. A revolution on the way? Power to the people …

This is a very innovative model to help the upcoming bands/artists in distributing their music to fans…and well if they are good ..the fans like their music..the fans pay…the fund accumulates…the band gets to have its own album recorded….

in no time…internet is able to cut the red-tape in the music industry….

Great model - replacing the system from bottom to top …

- sharing rev - along the whole way .. makes a ton of sense for everyone!

- Rbowles

Mike, I think you forgot to mention one of the main selling points of “believing” in a Sellaband artist: you are supposed to get returns on your investment in the form of a cut of advertising and cd sales. I believe this is only paid out once per year though (kinda lame).

Im a believer on Sellaband and love the concept $10 for an albulm when target is reached is great value,for me the interst is not in making profit but seeing the artists Ive supported reaching target,a real community spirit is alive and kicking

Hi guys,
I’m new here so hello to all! I’m one of the artists at sellaband and I can say it is bound to change the music industry. All it takes is people who want to pay for an album up front, for only $10. think about it, you pay way more than that for an album now and all you get is the chance to listen to the CD until it burns. Well in sellaband, you get the album, you build personal relationships with the artists and you get returns for your investment. you have nothing to lose….sellaband is the hope to make this crazy industry a fair one. But it can only happen if people believe!

besotes
Lily

I’m a producer as well as an artist on Sellaband - I’ve seen this thing literally explode since November when I joined up.

I think these types of concepts are the future of music as we know it, it puts the onus back onto both the artist to write and record the music they really want to, but also, it gives more ‘power’ to the consumer, allowing them to invest money towards artists and music they actually like, rather than simply following trends and marketing strategies set out by big record labels.

I think that if they aren’t already, the majors will be looking with great interest at Sellaband, - indeed, it’s something they should be worried about.

:0)

Phil

SellABand is an intriguing idea, but like my buddy Drama 2.0, I disagree that this is any indication of success yet.

Michael - I appreciate your efforts to call early winners, but I think you’re going to be caught with your pants down. Scribd (sp?) is a worthless company. It ADDS complexity to the internet rather than decreasing it. It’s adding friction to a world with ever decreasing friction.

All of these models: online music, video, blogs, etc. Any content that is driven by what is “cool” versus what is useful will have a very low rate of success. As I mentioned on the post about the Prom Queen show on myspace, you’d need to make 1000 mini-shows to get 1 hit. The ROI is simply not there.

About SellABand vs. Amie St… As a matter of fact, and as an artist registred in both, is easier to get rewarded (including financially) for you music in SellABand than in Amie St..

To answer to Drama 2.0, yes, 2,700 bands have signed up for the service and four have actually made enough money to record, and if you see that SellABand started in August that’s a really big achievement - you can see SAB as a new record label that less than one year after its creation has covered their expenses, made profit, have a considerable number of well-paid employees and released already 4 albums (actually 6 - 2 of them compilation CD’s) with its costs already covered even before production.

Hello Jay,

I don`t mean any disrespect to you and I see your point but although we don`t know the success of it all yet, I`m willing and waiting to find out. I`m willing to take the jump and see where I land.

As with everything in life there are no guarantees but to be honest this is one of the best ways to get out there, and let the world be your audience, and it truly is.

Please keep an eye on Sellaband and its artists because with imput and critique of any validity it will either `make` or `break` something. I believe that Sellaband is a great thing and I am willing to say that I feel it will `make` a big difference to artists and alot of listeners. The world needs to have good stir-up where the music industry is concerned! I am there to help stir.

Hope to see you on Sellaband one day

Love always, Mandyleigh

Hi,

verry thanks for the good article and the interesting discussion. It ´s cool

Greetings from Germany
Sven Fischer

awesome write up. any publicity is great for the cause of sellaband. Thanks for taking the time out for the team and the revolutionary process. This is moving and it is all real. I was amazed to get so much help world wide in such a short time. Absolutly amazing! I cant say much else then “its all real” and “its amazing” Thanks again for the write up on sellaband.