It seems every time some new website music entity launches, they make the false claim they are leading their field in whatever it is that they do. When I read those claims it pretty much tells me their integrity and honesty is in question before we even know who they are or what they are doing.

So, I didn't even bother to look further. If they start off with an obviously false claim.. there's not much incentive to go further.

Brian

I was a mamber of Taxi a few years back and they gave me some critiques and forwarded some material but that was it. No one called me after I joined.

Earlier this year when i was on tour with a band who was working with them, we decided to it a shot. Since then, weve already been offered a publishing deal,and our music is going to be on MTV, who they work directly with. They just assigned us an amazing image consultant to style us for our next photoshoot, and are reworking our current bio for us, all within the first 3 months!

We are getting great benefits and would reccomend it to anyone who wanted to kick their shit up a knotch.

In our opinion, A&R select are the leading A&R company and the best bang for the buck.

If you want to send me an email with any other questions you can email me richardgkeating@gmail.com

Hope this helps and good luck with your project

Here is the way I look at things. If a company you have never heard of contacts you asking you to use their services and then at any point wants you to pay a fee, my advise is to run away as fast as you can.

------------------
bc

I'll bring a six pack & some chips over to your place tonight to watch the next episode. I love a good mystery...Although the plot does sound a little familiar...How many sequels to the original movie Jaws were there?

Midnite

[QUOTE]Originally posted by bcushing:
[B]The defending poster's name looks vaguely familiar too! hmmmmmm.[The plot thickens!}

I will play along. So how much money has each of these successes paid you? Usually MTV licenses music and doesn't even pay for it. Is that the case here?

Also, were those extra services you got free as well or did you have to pay more money for them? The publishing deal that you got.. how much did that earn you and does it continue to earn you money? You said your music is going to be on MTV because of this company. So who is your band? Where is the music going to be used? I'd think you'd be screaming from the rooftops about who your band is and what show and when your music will be on. If you look around on our site, you'll find 100's of artists who have done just that when their music ACTUALLY gets on TV. Sometimes it produces income, sometimes not. So give us the facts and not just the roo rah commercial advertising for the site and people can then make informed decisions.

I am also curious where in the TAXI membership it suggested they would do follow up phone calls during your membership? Would you rather TAXI spent all day calling their 10,000+ members (which would take their staff every minute of every day to do 1 time per year) or rather they spend that time to find more opportunities and do their jobs which is what you paid them for? Seriously, you're taking what seems to be a negative (i.e. where is this company spending their time/resources) and trying to make it sound like a positive. Or is it that they contacted you because they hope to make even more money from you?

If you're a real customer (and not a company plant) then I'd think you'd be chomping at the bit to share all this info with folks. All of it is something to be proud of and if you're in this band you describe, the entire point is to publicize the success and have people watch the show in questions to see your bands music which resulted from use of this company. So help us help you and give us the entire factual picture and not just the optimistic hopes of an otherwise brand new anonymous poster on this site.

HUNTINGTONS had been a national touring band for a decade. We played as Joey Ramone's backup band for his final two live performances. We've toured Europe and made 15 albums.

In the chance that this was legit I went ahead and gave them my number.

I got the call today from some guy who right away hit me up for the $299 for six months. The whole sales pitch "blah blah gave me your number and said to call you, because you guys rock!"

I knew it was crap from the moment that started. I told him that we'd played our final show ever last summer and that we've got new bands now. New bands (as in, we ain't got nothin' recorded yet!) and he was tryin' to sink me for all the bands. It was ridiculous.

I cordially got off the phone and within a minute he tried to call back again.

This is an absolute crapfest, folks. It's just a way to take your money and do nothing for you.

Do NOT believe it.

Just as was said earlier in this thread...if they're askin' you for you money, then it ain't real.

The guy's big sellin' point was that they will not take a cent commission from anything that gets played or any record deals you get or whatever. All they want is $299 every six months. I had to choke back the laughter.

later...Cliffy

I just received an invitation from this service, through myspace, and the first thing I did was Google them. That's how I found this forum. From what I've seen, they're out to ripoff musicians. But, I'll withhold final judgement while waiting on a reply. But...I won't hold my breath.

Here's my reply and their invitation:

Hello Ally,

If your company and this message is legit, why not go the extra step and start the message with a personalized greeting? Maybe something like "Hello Mickey"? If you do reply, and assure me that you're not going to ask me to pay for your service, then I'll consider your offer.

Sincerely,
Mickey Richard

----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: <A HREF='http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=43463727'>A&R select</a>
Date: Jun 1, 2006 4:04 PM

Hi ! ...My name is Ally,

I'm an A&R scout for several labels and music supervisors here in Hollywood, CA. Im reaching out to you because the music on your myspace site is being considered by our A&R staff for a potential label or publishing deal.

Please contact us at our Los Angeles office @ 323-924-5897 immediately or reply to this message with your best contact phone .. if your interested in having your music placed.

You can find out more about us @ www.arselect.com or here on our myspace

BTW, how is the music scene there these days? ...just curious ;-)

We look forward to hearing from you,

It *was* obvious that they are out to woo the artist, but at the same time, there is always that excitement that despite the probability it *could* actually be that break. Kinda like a lottery ticket I guess.

I figured that the best thing to do would be to google them as well and that is also how I got here. Personally I would like to know a little more about them.

I am going to call and talk to them tomorrow and see if I can get some references that I can call and check with.

Has anyone else tried this approach? Of course I would like to believe them and see my music used somewhere, just like every other artist would, but right now I am just not sure.

They claimed to already have a project for us and needed us to move on this real fast (red flag).

Then after listening to him rattle off all the services they offered I asked "well what is this project you have in mind. Then he responded with the biggest red flag ever ( rip off straight from the movie boiler room) he said "I cant really disclose that information, but hold on, let me go out on the deck.

Then he went on to tell us that they have a shown on MTV that they want to submit our music for. Then re stated the urgency of signing with them.

The other big red flag was that towards the end of our convo, he said " So if you want to go on this right now I can send you to the people who will set that up for you" what single band member in their right mind would or could make that decision, right then and there?

quote:

---

Originally posted by kimaliz:
My band was contacted by them in the same fashion last Friday.

They claimed to already have a project for us and needed us to move on this real fast (red flag).

Then after listening to him rattle off all the services they offered I asked "well what is this project you have in mind. Then he responded with the biggest red flag ever ( rip off straight from the movie boiler room) he said "I cant really disclose that information, but hold on, let me go out on the deck.

Then he went on to tell us that they have a shown on MTV that they want to submit our music for. Then re stated the urgency of signing with them.

The other big red flag was that towards the end of our convo, he said " So if you want to go on this right now I can send you to the people who will set that up for you" what single band member in their right mind would or could make that decision, right then and there?

Al quandt
Drums / Pleasing Melani
http://www.myspace.com/pleasingmelani

---

This was almost exactly my experience. I sent them a link to my myspace page late last night, and by morning I got an e-mail from them saying they were interested in my music and that they had soming lined up already that my music would be perfect for. Then by this afternoon, I got a call from a guy there, Joe Conte. When I asked him how they compared with TAXI he seemed taken offguard, but then was quick to continue with his pitch...utlimately basically saying that they pretty much do the same thing. He said they had a project lined up that my music was perfect for. When I asked him what it was all he would tell me is that it was a network TV deal but that he wasn't at liberty to say anything any further as I am just a member of the general public until I sign up with them and one of their deals. It's $200 for 3 months, $300 for 6 months, and $400 for a year.

Now, I have heard at least a dozen people say something about them getting placed with MTV. That's pretty much all I've heard. That would be cool, but most of my music on myspace is more country music than anything, maybe a little light alt rock/pop mixed in. I don't think they'd pitch it to MTV though, and that seems to be their main connection. I'm not even sure if there's any money in it or if it's just cool to say that you had something play on MTV.

Either way, I have some publisher connections myself that I can utilize anytime for free, so it's that down payment with no guarantees deal that's got me on the fence.

I do agree that there are red flags flying all over the place, but I've also heard a number of people that are very satisfied with their services. I just don't know if it would help me at all and if it's worth the money to see.

Any other info anybody has on this would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
stonecountry

I'm more curious as to who might have had a lot of success with these guys. So I have emailed them asking if they could provide me with any success stories as well as some references.

The thing you need to understand is that these guys are actig kind of like managers. It is a manager's job to use his contacts to get you work and to make you money.

The only difference is this... For managers, if you don't get paid, they don't get paid.

With A&R Select, they get paid, and you just hope they do something for you. No guarantees though.

So beware of the scam. From their point of you view all music is "good enough" and worthy enough for them to ask you to become a member.

Let's see how they respond to my email asking for references.

I think its cause when you google "a&r select" this thread is about the third or fourth link that shows up.

There's also this one: http://www.berkleemusic.com/discuss/message?message_id=6131502&forum_id=13328

and this one:
http://cdbaby.org/stories/06/05/25/4215506.html

and of course their myspace page.

i met the founders of A&R Select at a party - they were fun and neat people with a real Love for music, and seemed up to some interesting things in the music biz.

the staff has been very personable and helpful on the phone and via email, and have answered all my questions.

i went in person to their office and met the rest of the staff, who took time to talk with me, even though they were at work on computers and phones looking for and submitting artists for deals.

they have very interesting deals and opportunities to submit my music to, so i am really giving it a shot. they also have interesting extra opportunities, like gigs in other cities, and chances to win a free 6-month renewal, so i think that's cool.

i have not encountered any hidden fees. but yes, they are a business and need to pay their overhead (office and staff, computers, and do the things people in the music biz do to maintain relations)

to me, they are a bunch of authentic people with a Love for music and a desire to do something similar to TAXI, and why not?

my thinking is: if you have the money to spare, would like to build a relationship with some people that are making things happen in the music biz, and would like to take a chance, then try it out. if you're not happy with the service after 6 months, or maybe can't afford to renew, then don't renew.

Whenever I read letters from a company that doesn't even use the English language properly in their initial contact...It is hard for me to take them too seriously!
Sorry, but that's how I feel.

In Mickey's post, here's what I found -

"...if your interested in having your music placed." should be "if YOU'RE interested..." EEK !

When I send out important professional letters, I use spell check and/or an editor. I'm not claiming to have perfect
grammar, but I think it's a good idea to check this stuff if you want to be taken seriously.

Emily

quote:

---

Originally posted by bwimmer:

my thinking is: if you have the money to spare, would like to build a relationship with some people that are making things happen in the music biz, and would like to take a chance, then try it out.

---

Well, ummmm.... That's pretty much people's attitude when they go to a casino, isn't it? "Money to spare" and "take a chance" are not really two phrases you can associate with building a career.

I agree, though. If you've got money to burn and want to take a flyer, then not only try these guys, but try as many other guys like them as you can afford.

But if you want to build a career, I think you need both a budget (which means money DIRECTED at specific things with a PURPOSE) and a plan (which means not just "taking a chance" on something that happens to come by).

Just my $0.02.

--- Ed

You sound like exactly the type of customer they are looking for. Easy to please. happy and willing to part with money based on hope and little more, and fearless trust of the unknown and unsubstantiated. And you don't ask many questions. Perfect.

I hope you'll reconsider and be a bit more cautious. You can't blindly trust anyone. There are many worthwhile thing to spend money on that don't require optimism and speculation to produce value. You owe it to yourself, your career and your family to approach your career like any other business and only spend money on well researched, well proven entities.

I have not been contacted by this particular company, though a similar thing happened to me. I'll tell you the method we use to know if they're for real...

Just give them your address and tell them you look forward to hearing your attourneys interpetation on their proposed contract.

I think its funny how these places solicit like crazy, and then immediately run to this message board to defend their "honor" (if you will)... why is that? It never seems to work, but it is slightly entertaining.

Giddy is fun...Naive is expensive...Older & wiser is what JPFolks is all about.

Midnite

Hi! my name is Amy

I'm a music scout for wwww.arselect.com

We are based out of Los Angeles, CA and license music to TV and Films as well as label deals.

Your music is being considered for some upcoming label/publishing deals. Please give me a call at our Los Angeles office immediately @1- 323-924-5897, or just reply to this message with your best contact info (phone .. etc) if you are interested in some help getting your music signed.

You can find out more about us here on our myspace site.

btw. how is the electronic scene in Indiana?

Thanks
Amy
New Artist Department
www.arselect.com

Now, I must mention my profile CLEARLY states I'm in chicago. Next of all, having called back later that day I was informed that Amy "wasn't in today." A friend of mine called and was told Amy was in a meeting.

The next day I received a call from 'Joe' that was enticing. He had an 'Indy Film' lined up that was going to Sundance this year. My music was also slated for video game submissions. Joe was cordial when I told him I'd wait over the weekend to get back to him.

His buddy 'Mike' was less cordial. The high-pressure sales tactics started here with the information that while this was Friday, the submission for which my music was scouted was going out Saturday. I listened politely and told Mike I'd call Monday. A few hours later, ARS called back but I didn't pick up.

I'm a big fan of Google and I'd like to thank everyone that took the time to post here. These scams cannot last for long if people are vigilant.

Share what you know!

-C

PS

I wanted to add how cute I thought it was that they were playing my music while on the phone with me. For as interested as they were, they didn't bother to notice that my myspace page links to my homepage. Even though I indicated this to them, the server logs show no mp3 downloads...

ArSelect has saved my life! My skin feels softer and I look younger! Other products moisturize from the outside in whereas arselect helps your body moisturize from the inside out. I've lost twenty pounds already and I do LESS exercise than I used to. It's grrrreat!

Buy now! Operators are standing on your face!

Seriously, folks. This is a business venture we should seriously consider. Artists are so desperate (I've been there) that any chance - no matter how slim or unlikely - is almost too hard to resist. Pefect clients for a con.

Let's create our own "songwriting contest", "indie radio station", "label" or "A&R firm" and ask for a small entry fee. We'll make a fortune in no time.

The lesson : don't ever give money upfront to anyone, ever. We are the talent - the material from which the music industry is built. THEY are the investors and middlemen. We write songs. They put them out. They take the financial risks in exchange for some financial rewards. We take NO financial risks and still get some financial rewards in exchange for being the party that brings forth the actual material (without which there would be nothing at all). It's a partnership.

If your material is strong, people will gravitate towards it. Remember that and keep working on improving your craft.

But do not pay money to the middlemen who should be paying you. Even "legit" agencies like Taxi make more money from the thousands of amateurs (who have no chance of interesting anyone other than their drunken aunt with their songs) than from any actual placement.

We are desperate, naïve, dreamers. Find a well-paying job that keeps you happy and able to continue making music. Then write and improve your art. Make music for music's sake and stop trying to "make it".

Unless your name is Paris or you know someone who knows someone ("cool cred" indie bands are just as bad as far as I'm concerned), forget about it.

Stop wasting your energy, hopes, time and money on "getting heard". When you come up with "the song", you'll know it. And everyone else will too.

Until then, good luck. To all of us.

You are just as blind as the people who signed up without researching ARselect or asking questions.

While it's clear that TAXI is the most popular service of it's kind, it doesn't mean that they are any more or less effective on getting your music placed than any other service.

Most of it is on the musician. I doubt if AR Select or TAXI would turn down somebody waving $$$ in their face.

There are a lot of people who have not done well with TAXI. That doesn't 100% mean it was TAXI's fault, but there is always a chance that the music was good marketable enough but TAXI didn't do their job. Of course, more than likely, the music wasn't good enough.

Just like the recording studio I run, the quality of results is dependant moreso on the clients than on myself, the engineer.

Thus far, no one here has a right to call AR Select a scam. Unless you have tried it with a hit song (impossible) there is no way to test just as there is no way to test TAXI.

AR Select does seam to have an active sales department, but who doesn't? TAXI has a very active sales department too, but they've taken the relaxed, no pressure approach.

I think the big issue here is TAXI is half the price and has a proven track record. That, in itself, makes it to be the most logical choice.

My wife got a phone call from "Joe" at A&R select after giving her number to a scout after one of her shows in London. (she just got back from a two-month tour opening up for Maggi, Pierce and E.J.) I returned the call acting as her manager.

Since they didn't go the MySpace route with her and the first contact was via the phone (well technically in person, and in London know less), it felt a little more legit. But I have been in the music business for a long time and I was immediately skeptical.

I have dealt with these kinds of companies before and the amount they were asking for was usually in the thousands, not the hundreds. (most of them were NYC based).

I am glad I found this forum because I think that skepticism is healthy. I cannot begrudge a company like AR select for attempting to make money, as long as they are legitimately trying to get the artist out there because they know that that is where they will make the real money (in the finder's fees paid by the record companies or MTV or whoever)

However, my nagging question is this:

If you think the music is so good, why do you need our money up front? I'd rather work with you on a commision-based basis where we both have something at stake.

If I had $400 lying around, it might be worth it. "Joe" is a slick salesman and the pitch sounded good because they sound like a hungry start-up company. I am just not sure what they are hungry for.

And BTW, why isn't anyone pimping their bands in this forum?

Here's my wife's myspace page. If you are into Ricki Lee, Michelle Shocked et. al. you might dig it:

myspace.com/alisonlewismusic

Thanks for everybody's input. Just a sidenote, I've been a member of Taxi since Jan, and I've enjoyed being a member. While I've gotten a ton of forwards, I've gotten one song placed in a DVD so far. Mainly, I found that their free convention was worth the membership fee. The ASCAP Expo is pretty much the same thing, in exactly the same place, and costs the same price as the Taxi's annual membership fee. A lot of the same industry people are there, too. The Road Rally was an absolute blast, too, by the way.

Just thought I'd throw my 2 cents in. Oh, and I will pimp my music on here. ;-) check out www.claybutlermusic.com and http://www.myspace.com/claybutler

--CLAY