(Posted: http://www.thefoxxfiles.com)
Filed January 7th by Chanel McFadzean in Exclusiveness, Law & Order, Mixtapes, Music, Politics As Usual
Many of us journalists with actual degrees in journalism and communications feel as if our jobs are being taken away by a geek with internet access. This theory is made a reality by various websites having the ability to sustain as much daily hits and unique users as mainstream media outlets; therefore making it hard to determine the credibility of the reporting and posts listed. The end result is amateur “industry” representatives taking advantage of the unsigned talent; payola.
Payola is when a person of influence i.e. a DJ or journalist takes money for “promoting” something as if it is their genuine belief. It is simply a paid advertisement without telling the public it is an advertisement. In short, payola is nothing new to Hip Hop, but with Twitter and the Internet being widely used, it is becoming more accessible than ever. Many website owners, promoters, bloggers and DJs have a much easier avenue to reach their prey; an unsigned artist.
Why is payola a bad thing? It is because you, the public, trust the opinion of a certain DJ/journalist/website. If they tell you something or someone is good for whatever reason, you should believe what they say. But if they really don’t feel that way and are just getting a paycheck, where is the credibility? Then you, the consumer wonder why there isn’t any “good music” out.
The following is an example of a Payola machine sent out to random unsigned acts a few days ago. Both parties deny being the headmaster behind the project.
4daLuvOfMoney Inc. & Blok Entertainment present Sour D & Goose2 hosted by DJ ENVY, co-hosted by Rico Paysos.
DJ ENVY is looking to give exposure to the hottest independent artist nationwide if you have that heat! This is the project for you.
Individual Slot Package: price $175 per slot (max of 3 individual slots) maximum song length 3 minutes and 30 seconds. If over song will be mixed and cut to fit slot allowance. song must be of good quality and original no music! no placement will be given for submissions over mainstream/industry beats! this is your opportunity to shine! take advantage. only mp3 files.
• mixtape will be on DJ Envy Myspace page & www.DjEnvy.net
• mixtape will be on Rico Paysos Myspace page
• mixtape will be receive digital distribution through ITUNES, Napster,Amazon mp3, eMusic, Rhapsody, Spotify, Liquid Digital, Verizon V-cast, Lala, Nokia, Amie Street, Shockhound, Zune, Last.fm, MediaNet (formerly MusicNet), Didlom, Tradebit, InProdicon,GreatIndieMusic, & Limewire!!!!
• mixtape will appear on WSHH.com, Thatshiphop.com, allhiphop.com, & vladtv.com, thisis50.com, wethewest.com, coast2coastmixtapes.com & more!!!!
• Artist receive shoutout drop from host: (submit script w/ fee)
• Mixtape will be a 5,000 physical CD mixtape campaign
• Artist receives 100 hard copies of the mixtape per SLOT so if you get 3 slots you get 300 copies as well as mp3 copy & zipfile! fully packaged jewel cases, cd inserts included!!!
• Artist can all have their photo on inside cover for no additional charge!!! (photos must be 300 dpi high resolution)
• SuperStar Package: Price $750This package includes all items listed above and the following:
• Artist receives 1,000 CD’s mastered & mixed down with jewel case & Cd inserts included
• Artist will be feature artist with picture of Front cover!!!!
• Artist will receive 5 drops from host!!!
• Artist will get 6 slots on the mixtape!!!!!
Payments due by Feb.1 payments maybe paid online via paypal.com & sent to 4daluvofmoney@gmail.com or via western union or money gram.
Google Sour D & Goose Dj Envy and see this is the real deal!!!!
Mixtape is set to release early 2nd Quarter!
DJ Envy denied knowing anything about the project via Twitter . Once Paysos got word he issued the following statement via email, “have some disappointing news. Unfortunately someone lied to DJ ENVY and told him I was charging people $750 to get on the mixtape. He was upset and thought I was ripping people off and without speaking to me lied and said he does not know me. I am very insulted and disgusted; I put together an opportunity for indie artist and a good situation for everyone involved. Due to this, I am no longer doing this project in conjunction with him and will no longer do business with him. As an artist myself, to believe that I did business with this man and he blatantly try to demean my reputation. I do good business, always have always will, and I’m anti a lot of attitudes in the music industry thus the motivation for the project and the cross promotion that is guaranteed by each individual artist and 4daluvofmoney Inc.’s promotion. We will be doing this project with a DJ that genuinely has respect for new talent and not look at us as merely a quick come up. Have a Blessed Day, and I will keep your email and contact you with any promotional opportunities I provide or that I come across. Men Lie, Women Lie, Facts don’t. I apologize for any confusion. I wish you much success in this foul game we playing in!”
Since then, DJ Envy’s management has told thefoxxfiles.com, “Envy hosted a mixtape for him about a year or two ago. Then we look online and see he’s calling himself A&R of Envy’s unsigned mixtape coming out & he’s trying to charge artist $750 to get on it, when Envy had no knowledge of this. Now he’s been calling all day apologizing.”
DJ Envy’s management went further to say directly to Paysos, “When I spoke to u last week, our conversation (if u wanna call it that) lasted 15 seconds. You told me ya name, asked if the price was still for a mixtape hosting, and said that you’d be in touch. At no point did we talk about u gettin ya artist up for the tape or any other details. We don’t do unsigned artist tapes for other people and if I knew that ya first volume was like that, we would have never signed off on that. You just went about it wrong my dude. You didn’t get anyone’s approval.”
They person in reference is Rico Paysos (who denies apologizing), rapper and CEO of 4daluvofmoney Inc. Paysos sells himself completely behind the original mixtape he did with DJ Envy [Envy Drop for Rico Paysos].
Whoever is at fault, the problem is some DJs don’t listen to the music before their label is on the project. Paysos claims that many DJs don’t ask to hear the music, “You simply tell them Yo, I need drops, give me $1500, they don’t ask to hear the music.”
Of course there is nothing wrong with DJs taking money from anyone to be a part of their compilation. It is not until they promote the music to you as a consumer that it should be labeled as such because in reality it is still a paid advertisement.
To unsigned artists:
Never pay to be on ANYONE’s mixtape and/or website. If your talent is that good, they will come to you. If at any time you do decide to pay for placement ask the following questions:
a. Where are the distribution lists/hit counts (for websites)?
b. Who will see this?
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