How to Spot a Scam in the Music Business

Spotting a scam in the music business is a lot like spotting any other type of scam; If anyone asks you for money up front, it is most likely a scam. Often times, though, it can be difficult to recognize when someone is trying to con you in the music industry. Internet scams and get-rich-quick schemes are usually very impersonal. They are usually set up on a website through a company, and are easy to spot. However, people in the music business will often try to scam you directly to your face. They will be personal, friendly, and very direct with you. Most people don't trust companies, but they trust other people. That is why every day musicians and artists get scammed in the music business.

When I was in high school, I was approached by an "A&R" guy after playing a gig one night. He told me that he worked for an "up and coming" record label, and that he thought my music was great. He wanted me and the other guys in my band to meet him at the label's office/recording studio, so we could discuss signing with their record label. Later that week another member from my band and I went to the label's studio to have a meeting. The studio was really nice. They had a pool table, big screen TV, video games, a lot of really nice recording equipment and guitars. I was really impressed.

After a brief tour of the studio, we all sat down and they made us an offer. I was so excited. They gave me a copy of the recording contract to take home with me, so I could read it over a few times before I signed it. That's when I realized the whole thing was a total scam.

The deal was, they would record us for free in their studio, manufacture 500 copies of our CD, and then... SELL THEM BACK TO US FOR $5 A PIECE?!!! Not to mention, they were going to own the master rights to the songs and have complete creative control. So, this "free" recording process was going to cost us $2,500, and we wouldn't own any of our material. I was embarrassed that I ever even had a meeting with this label.