Back in the bad old days when musicans, performers and songwriters had to serve an apprenticeship and not just any kid off the strret could make it there were pluggers, talent scouts and agents. These people would look out for up and coming talent then they would contact the correct people on their behalf to arrange auditions etc help them on their way. At no time did they ask the acts for payment.....any payment made was from commision from earnings as a result of the extra work they got from this introduction. Now these talent scouts new their stuff and would never put forward a bad act as this wasted everybody's time.

Whatever happened to the bad old days.....

Now it seems acts have to pay to speak to the big shots.....that IMO is unethical. Fist off it encourages people with no talent and a few hundred bucks to submit rubbish...wasting everyones time and their money. It is also a neat earner for those at the top of the tree who already make a good living and should in theory be giving something back into the industry instead by helping those with great talent without asking for money up front first. I could go on and say more but you get my jist.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/songInfo.cfm?bandID=687727&songID=5238055