I am from Atlanta, Ga in the United States and I am wondering why a business professional looking to do business in their country and abroad would allow themselves to get involved in such negative conversations via internet which obviously is public domain and expect people not to concerned with the company's validity and credibility. I mean, seriously, if you do music, then do music. If you are a real establishment, then create a positive presence on the web, like a website and customer or client testimonials so it will help promote your business and help reduce threads like these.

If you are an established company with established clients then you shouldn't have a problem putting up a website with a valid address, phone number and such. Why does that seem to insight such angry responses from a company that claims to do business with the likes of Amy Winehouse or anyone associated with her? I mean, all of the majors, major independents and independent record companies all have a presence on the web. That is the new way. I mean, what sells more cds or downloads? I'd have to say downloads. Actual physical media sales are taking a downward turn since the introduction of internet downloads and file sharing. So, having a web presence is essential if you want to convince anyone working or surviving in the music business that you can actually be effective when promoting and marketing any artist, period.

I received an email actually asking people to submit their music for an award. It read as follows:

It's not to late to have your music nominated for this inaugurate award.

You can mail your music direct to:

AnR Magazine.
PO Box 319
VIC 3065
AUSTRALIA

Or for a submission form email:

anrpub@bigpond.net.au

Deadline for submissions is the 14th of December 2008.

Recipients will be published for MIDEM 2009.

I decided to send something just for the heck of it. I received an email regarding a letter of offer. Nothing was mentioned about any award or award ceremony. It read as follows:

Thank you for the excellent music and information you forwarded to us.
I'm sorry if it has taken us some time to get back to you but we receive in excess of 100 CD's and demos each week.

I have today had a good listen to your excellent offering and have replied in writing to you with a letter of offer.
You should receive this in the mail in the next 7 to 10 days.

We have affilliations and associations with over 60 international labels and are expanding all the time!
Our work spans publishing, licensing, film and radio in many countries.
Recently AMMA was appointed international representative to the very prestigious Fmi Music Market Brazilia, Brazil.
AMMA also picked up AustralAsian agency for the giant UK labels Revolver Records & Heavy Metal Records.

We also have several number one artist, Grammy award winning artists and gold/platinum award winning artists and writers in our catalogues/roster.

Do give our letter of offer some serious consideration as we look forward to hearing more of you and your music in 2009.

Kindest Regards,
Norman McCourt. (Director- AMMA) (Editor- An'R artist, repertoire and international licensing)

So logic tells me that there has to be a sinister motive involved because in the follow up email, an award was never mentioned. Whose to say that I didn't already have a publisher or vehicle to market my music overseas? And why wasn't an offer ever mentioned in the initial email?

Please, if you are really a credible company, just keep it real from the beginning. If you are trying to sell something, then sell it. Believe it or not, there are people who will actually purchase your services for face value as long as you are upfront about your purpose and can prove your credibility and abilities. But if you are trying to hide, deceive or mislead things then you risk these type of conversations posted on the web that will ultimately aid to the destruction of your legitimate or illegitimate business.