Anyone heard of AMMA (Australia)

Subject: RE: Anyone heard of AMMA (Australia)
From: GUEST,Marlene Duval and Associates, New York
Date: 27 May 10 - 06:21 PM

International Criminal Charges laid against Portuguese singer Yolanda Soares (Iolanda Isabel d'Albuquerque Pina Soares) and her Manager Carlos Vicente (Carlos Alberto Salvador Vicente) and "By The Music"(son o No.014672/020711 - contribuinte No. 506 227 871).

The charges relate to obtaining goods and services by deception from international sponsors.

Upon advice of Australian Authorities in Melbourne who have been investigating the illusive Australian Music Marketing Abroad (AMMA)and Mr Norman McCourt (apparently not a Director nor Editor of the A n'R - artist, repertoire and international licensing),criminal Charges have been laid against little known Portuguese singer Yolanda Soares (Iolanda Isabel d'Albuquerque Pina Soares), her manager Carlos Vicente (Carlos Alberto Salvador Vicente)and "By The Music"(son o No.014672/020711 - contribuinte No. 506 227 871).

"By the Music" is a Portuguese registered business.

Charges laid for "obtaining goods and services by deception".

These charges relate to a National Marketing Campaign for her world tour , a sponsorship obtained with the use of fraudulent so-called "AMMA / An`R" music award from Australia.

Yolanda Soares and her management now also have serious questions to answer to shareholders of Portuguese bank Montepio.

Subject: RE: Anyone heard of AMMA (Australia)
From: GUEST,Daniel, Lisbon
Date: 26 May 10 - 01:40 AM

This AnR/AMMA (which has nothing to do with respectively AMA or A&R, two real music entities in Australia) has now reached Portugal, adding to the UK, USA, South Africa, Australia and believe it or not; this wannabe starlet Yolanda Soares even managed to get a sponsorship from Montepio bank, a 200 year financial institution by bragging about the "prestigious" AnR Award of Excellence. Well more precisely the fraudulent, fake, preposterous and pathetic sticker:

http://www.montepio.pt/ePortal/v10/PT/jsp/montepio/patrocinio2.jsp

Montepio bank's sponsorship managers know about this scam and guess what... they still have it on their Institutional page!!!

Subject: RE: Anyone heard of AMMA (Australia)
From: Andrez
Date: 25 Apr 10 - 07:32 AM

The trouble is as the famous American saying goes, "there's a sucker born every minute" and thats how bottom feeders like this lot survive

What gets me of course is that it appears that you don't even have to have a registered company or even a legitimate trading address to run these scams overseas. Just a computer and a pretty superficial "angle" to dangle out there to tempt musical newbies looking to promote their product in a pretty cut throat industry.

Of course then there is the question of how any money that is actually made running this "show" is accounted for in terms of income? If there is no legit registered company, then is it private income and who is it that is actually benefitting? Hmmmmmmmnnnnnnnnnnnnnn, wonder what the Tax Department thinks about that?

Good on you guys in New York, keep up the good work!

Cheers,

Andrez

Subject: RE: Anyone heard of AMMA (Australia)
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 24 Apr 10 - 11:33 PM

"We have this matter in the hands of our USA attorney"

Unnamed & no contact address! Possibly mythical? :-)

Subject: RE: Anyone heard of AMMA (Australia)
From: GUEST,Marlene Duval and Associates, New York
Date: 24 Apr 10 - 07:15 PM

Here is how my team see things….

Who does not want to be coining it in like Madonna or Lady GaGa ?
Place adverts on free sites and mass spam e-mails.
Attend 1 MIDEM function, or dupe people to represent you at a MIDEM function.
People respond to spam, MIDEM, free adverts on free blogs and websites and chat pages specifically orientated to the music industry Etc.
You only want non Australian clients for this to work.
Charge a fee to potential musicians who are gasping for some PR and status-quo improvement, plus promises of potential contracts with big named distributors.
Get a P.O. Box Address where people send money to.
Make sure they only send physical CD, an MP3 could be traced or too much work to deal with – after all this is a scam, so, money in, not out.
Bank the foreign money orders – or cash them.
Buy a barcode (ISSN 13 NUMBERS +/- AUD $35.99).
Possibly recycle the ISSN Barcode over and over.
Print the odd monthly or quarterly Magazine (eg. in China, 40 pages, full color, low gr paper +/- AU$1300.00 per month ?) that you can send to your "exclusive" clients – do not forget, you may not sell these magazines as they are actually not genuinely recognised or accredited by any relevant music bodies.
Make sure the recipients of the magazines are part of a select mailing list – no public enquiries allowed.
Charge an extra fee for "AnR Awards" or/and "AnR Award nominations" (charge up to an extra AUD $2700.00 for this).
Cancel the "award" ceremony at the last minute for some reason beyond your control (blame the caterer or an offshore volcano) and then simply mail something that will make the poor sods believe they won something.

Optional is in which order you wish to follow the above 14 procedures.

Subject: RE: Anyone heard of AMMA (Australia)
From: GUEST,Marlene Duval and Associates, New York
Date: 24 Apr 10 - 08:39 AM

My client received THIS threat this morning - actually it should have been directed to my firm here in New York - no name needless to say.

I say, BRING IT ON "MATE" - "MAMMA, AND VIRGIN MUSIC AUSTRALIA ARE WAITING FOR YOU" !

........................................................................

Private and confidential
(Do Not Post read © information at bottom)

Cease forthwith!
Retract all unsubstantiated media immediately please!

Before publishing always:
(1) confirm with a minimum of at least 3 reputable and reliable (and liable) known sources.
(2) interview the party concerned for comment.

If you do not take these precautions it could be expensive now or at some time in the future
as legislation concerning "litigation and the liability there of" are constantly being re-drafted!

We have this matter in the hands of our USA attorney for further considerations.

No action on your behalf will be considered a deliberate act of complicity, of liability.

We will enter into no further correspondence in this matter.

Kindest regards,
An'R – artist, repertoire and international licensing.
New Music Promotions Dept.



The information contained in this email is intended only for the use of the An'R client to whom it is addressed and is confidential in all
manner and also copyright © 2000. The information must not be forwarded, copied in part or in full or displayed on web forum or web
blogg sites. To do so will incur an infringement to the applicable © law It contains privileged information. If you are not the intended
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email in error, please immediately advise us by return email and delete the email without making a copy.
Please obtain permission from the holder of the © before transmission to all 3rd parties.
© 2000 An'R Publications.

Subject: RE: Anyone heard of AMMA (Australia)
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 22 Apr 10 - 05:08 PM

Just read the whole thread and make up your own mind, mate. :o)

Subject: RE: Anyone heard of AMMA (Australia)
From: Y_Not
Date: 22 Apr 10 - 02:26 PM

I know this subject has cropped up again and again, but I received this email today, my partner did answer 2 international phone calls but could not hear the caller.


I tried to phone and a lady answered, however, it seemed as if she was not able to hear me.

From: The Mayfair Collection
Subject: Dear Tony - Hello from Geneve, Switzerland

Greetings from Geneve, Switzerland
I trust you do not mind me contacting you in respect of a notice you poster on a website in respect of some Australian firm named AnR

http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=112553&messages=153&page=1&desc=yes


Could you please tell me if this is LEGIT ?

We have someone who claims to have won the reward and is looking for a HUGE sponsorship from us based on this award she is supposed to have won !

I look forward to your feedback, if, and when convenient.

Many Thanks
Sebastian

I would just like to know what you make of this?

Thanks

Tony

Subject: RE: Anyone heard of AMMA (Australia)
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 11 Feb 10 - 05:44 AM

Oh - looking further at the 'search site'..

we get
(domains for sale????)
~~~~~~

You must be a Gold Member to view other domains. Click Here To Upgrade Now!
Example domains: gatesfoundation.org nasa.gov slashdot.com spry.com whitehouse.com


hmmm...

Subject: RE: Anyone heard of AMMA (Australia)
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 11 Feb 10 - 05:38 AM

Oh btw ... did a whois just now on

http://www.anrmagazine.com/
at
http://whois.domaintools.com/

Results...

Whois Record

ANrMagazine.com is for sale

The owner of the domain you are researching has it listed for sale.

Buy ANrMagazine.com now >

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Interesting, eh wot! :-)

Subject: RE: Anyone heard of AMMA (Australia)
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 11 Feb 10 - 05:24 AM

I see this thread has surfaced again... it took some months for "Norman/whoever" to stop sending me many abusive threatening emails (see message at 09 Dec 08 - 08:28 AM) - it appears that they may have ceased after some contact with various ISPs in the chain between us, who got full copies of everything - as did Joe & Max (since Max also got some "interesting/amusing" personal responses) ... oh, and several Aussie legal authorities, whose response was mainly underwhelming, to say the least... :-( no wonder ther are so many active scammers out there...

Whether the 'scheme' is legal or a scam, I don't know (I'm only saying this since things were made VERY personal for me!) and don't really care... unless they start on ME again.... :-0

Subject: RE: Anyone heard of AMMA (Australia)
From: Andrez
Date: 11 Feb 10 - 04:39 AM

Regrettably the "real" Norman hasnt been all that engaged in standing up for himself. I think anyone with a reasonable modicum of sense could distinguish between a troll and a legitimate person after a handful of posts

In addition, the hypothesis of a fake Norman somehow doesn't account for the lack of registration of AMMA as a legal business etc discussed much earlier in this thread, nor does it account for the spurious requests for overseas artists to let AMMA do promotional work for them etc, etc etc.

If there is an imposter around its time the real N stood up for himself

Cheers,

Andrez

Subject: RE: Anyone heard of AMMA (Australia)
From: GUEST,Lori
Date: 04 Feb 10 - 09:10 AM

Yes David, I feel someone is pretending to be him to write their rubbish.

Subject: RE: Anyone heard of AMMA (Australia)
From: GUEST,David Shaw-Parker
Date: 02 Jan 10 - 08:00 AM

I've had dealings over the internet with Norman McCourt and he's been nothing other than a genuine and reasonable fellow; a really nice guy as a matter of fact. I'm wondering whether there's another Norman out there who's making trouble...

Subject: RE: Anyone heard of AMMA (Australia)
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Dec 09 - 11:26 AM

those nice folks at AnR/ AMMA responded to my post with the following insightful comment- "your an idiot". Odd that someone claiming to be int the publishing business lacks the most basic grasp of english grammar.
these people are scum pure and simple. I hope they are prosecuted and jailed.

Subject: RE: Anyone heard of AMMA (Australia)
From: GUEST,Tony McManus
Date: 07 Dec 09 - 06:15 PM

I believe these people are criminals and Norman McCourt should be in jail. I have asked repeatedly to be removed from their spam list and the deluge of shite continues. I have been refered to as "a turkey" by McCourt who oddly then continued to beg for my business. When I pointed out that I already have two publishing deals, one of which covers Australia, he responded with some boneheaded drivel asking why I need two deals in Australia......seems his school covered joined up thinking the same day they covered manners and McCourt was absent.
I have reported him to Telstra and I hope they prosecute him.

Subject: RE: Anyone heard of AMMA (Australia)
From: GUEST,Lori
Date: 01 Dec 09 - 12:15 PM

Hi,
I've met Norman (the real one!) a couple of times and read a couple of copies of AnR magazine. I've never had any in-depth dealings with the man, just a brief casual conversation, but I also know a few other people who have known him for longer than I have. I do feel able to vouch that he is not into ripping artists off nor insulting people. I can't comment on Australian legal matters as I have no knowledge in that area, but the business seemed to me 'legitimate' in terms of not stealing nor spamming. I would suggest that the 'AMMA' sending those emails people have been receiving, is not 'the real Norman McCourt'. It very much smells like something fishy and not like something the 'real' one would be involved in. That is just my take on it. :-)
Lori

Subject: RE: Anyone heard of AMMA (Australia)
From: GUEST,Anna
Date: 22 Nov 09 - 10:08 PM

Norman McCourt and AMMA are crooks and frauds. Don't send them any CDs or money. Any one who asks an artist for money to license their product is a fraud...Artists get paid for their licensed products!.

Subject: RE: Anyone heard of AMMA (Australia)
From: Andrez
Date: 21 Oct 09 - 11:04 PM

Mind you the "happy bunny" was local to the town the state and Australia where " you know who" operate. Thats a whole lot different to promotion of the work of overseas artists.

In their sort of circumstance the "happy bunnies" would have had some legal remedies open them through consumer affairs or the court system if they felt that what was promised was not what was delivered.

The issue here has always been about being legally accountable, transparency and being able to deliver.

Cheers,

Andrez

Subject: RE: Anyone heard of AMMA (Australia)
From: JHW
Date: 20 Oct 09 - 05:41 PM

Thanks. We did have one post

From: GUEST,grumpy ray - PM
Date: 19 Mar 09 - 08:24 AM

Who used Norman's services and was a very happy bunny

Subject: RE: Anyone heard of AMMA (Australia)
From: GUEST,Western Canadian Guy
Date: 20 Oct 09 - 10:32 AM

Thanks so much for keeping this blog up. You need stuff like this to expose these sorts of people.

Subject: RE: Anyone heard of AMMA (Australia)
From: GUEST,George E Brooks
Date: 07 Sep 09 - 04:45 PM

Hi
I am a lyric songwriter... I have 7 songs on CD's that are professionally arranged by Paramount Group in Nashville, TN. USA
I am the sole owner of my songs. My record lable is (SKI Master Music) Ski Master music has a copyright and plus I am a member of
(ASCAP)
If you care to have one of my CD"s you can contact my by phone
604-521-7133      Fax [phone] E-mail [e-mail]
            
Thanks Much          George E Brooks

Subject: RE: Anyone heard of AMMA (Australia)
From: Andrez
Date: 16 Jul 09 - 06:18 PM

No worries UK Singer. Australia isnt just a short drive up the road if you want to have a "discussion" about monies paid or services (allegedly) provided. I'm sure there are plenty of locally based promoters in the UK who can work with you to help get you to where you would like to be.

The logic of the enterprise never made any sense to me: why would someone in the UK or the US or Canada for example, want to send hard earned money to an elusive organisation based in a country that is about as far away as you can possibly get from the mainstream music markets in the Northern Hemisphere? It might make some sense for local artists to consider using their services because at least you have some recourse through Consumer Affairs or similar agencies if you find that you need to have that kind of a discussion but for overseas musicians ? Never!

In the meantime all the best for your career and make sure you spread the "word" about this particular scAMMer to anyone you know in the UK that might even remotely be tempted by any email "offers" from Australia.

Cheers,

Andrez

Subject: RE: Anyone heard of AMMA (Australia)
From: GUEST,UK_Singer
Date: 14 Jul 09 - 06:52 AM

Hey, i've been getting emails from this guy for ages - i have no idea how he got my email. I decided to see what all the fuss was about and came across this forum. I think that the contributors to this thread are amazing and have informed and educated me on what was clearly a scam. I'm so grateful that there are people out there taking time from their busy lives to ensure that aspiring musicians like myself don't get fucked over! Thanks to all of you, you have made my morning a very interesting one! If only i didn't have to go to work and could read this thread right to the end. So many Q's - will norman ever reply? Are lynda and norman the same? Are Otto and norman the same? How many faces (both legitimate and illegitimate) does norman have? will he now get hold of my details and threaten me? Who knows?....

xx

Subject: RE: Anyone heard of AMMA (Australia)
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Mar 09 - 07:38 AM

Just the other day received one of their missives, now under the name

"Licensing & Publishing"

with the same PO BOX address as the other companies...

Subject: RE: Anyone heard of AMMA (Australia)
From: GUEST,Warren Ont.Canada
Date: 19 Mar 09 - 09:22 AM

I just got an email too. Even though this post is quite old now the info and discussions still have merit. Doing some research to proctect your business is never a bad idea. And after reading all of this and not being able to come up with any solid info on AMMA myself I can safely say I will stay cautious of them.

Subject: RE: Anyone heard of AMMA (Australia)
From: GUEST,grumpy ray
Date: 19 Mar 09 - 08:24 AM

Ooh I do love a good mystery. Except that it isn't.
It was when I first stumbled on this thread many months ago. I got one of those emails that seems to have upset everybody so. Compared to most of that sort of stuff that I get, simply because I'm in a band and have a miniscule web presence, it was rather tame.
Normally I'd bin it but I scrolled down and the address was local. No probs, they can have a CD and, if nothing more, we'll at least have one kicking around someone's office in our most immediate market. I rifled one into the post and promptly forgot about it.
A couple of weeks later an exceedingly glossy magazine, the seemingly much reviled AnR Magazine, a heap of accompanying CDs and a placement price list arrived in the mail.
So far so good. I could follow the logic. I give you money and my band gets a placement in the magazine, the more the moola the better the view. I worked for a Melbourne street magazine for a few years and game is the same albeit a far more upmarket approach and a narrowly defined audience.
Hmmm. Better have a look on the net, that paragon of virtue, surely that won't steer me wrong. Not much really, no web site, a few mentions and then I found this thread. It was just after it closed. The first time.
I read the entire blog, as it was at that point, and to be honest, had more and more misgivings the deeper I got. I came on cobber's salutary remarks and snapped out of it. After all extrapolating inference is rather shaky ground upon which to perch an allegation.
Norman's own addition obviously didn't help the situation but then how does a person react when one reads such things about themselves as have been inscribed in this thread.
Anyway, I'd made up my mind so I forgot about it. Until a couple of days ago when, thinking I'd have a laugh with a friend, I found the thread again and realised it had arisen again, just as eloquent and equally as full of fact as its predecessor.
You see Mudcatters, in the intervening months we sent Norman some money and in exchange we designed and placed a basic looking ad in AnR Magazine. Given it's glossy nature (and we're talking top end) it stuck out like dog's nuts. The 3 songs we put on the accompanying CDs came up ok but we master for hi fi not radio so our levels weren't as up there as most of the rest of the recordings on the discs.
About a week after we got our copies of the mag we got a small licensing deal with a New York record company for one of the songs. A few other things have occurred since then and with our new album almost ready, we feel we're putting this next one out to far more opportunities than the debut.
And we're not talking big biscuits for big biscuits were never promised. We are a niche band despite our predominantly folk/country approach and Norman's forte is sourcing licencing in foriegn markets. He does other things but we're interested in the licencing at this time. We have no desire to chase fame and fortune on any other terms than our own, and I have expressed this to Norman personally. His, or for that matter anyone else's agreement on that is not required.
What Norman does won't suit everyone. He's not a starmaker. He's one of a myriad of people around the world, making a living by helping people who know their craft, generate a living for themselves. And won't always succeed as is the case in life.
Up until we parted with the cash we had given Norman a CD and five sheets of paper, and he had given us an impressive industry magazine and 6 CDs. That's a pricey scam to be running among predominantly poor musicians.
I've written this because some of you people have ripped yourselves off. I've no doubt Norman's services could be useful to some of you although probably useless for the rest. We have no problem throwing our CD at an opportunity when it comes along but I can understand how some people can be precious about that sort of thing.
We use Norman's services because his magazine offered us, as we saw it, an opportunity to get into a market we hadn't thought about.
I won't tell you I know Norman because I don't but I can say that since I've been dealing with the bloke I have found him to be a typical industry person, that is, able to talk and absorb as much bullshit as I can. But then isn't that exactly what this industry runs on? Bullshit.
By the way, my band is grumpy neighbour and we're at;
www.myspace.com/grumpyneighbour
so you know I'm not having a lend of you. and no, we haven't put Norman on our site but we only briefly mention the fact that we've been in the soundtrack of Fat Pizza and Shift and Swift Couriers for the last 4 seasons. We're not super professional like other musicians.
grumpy ray

Subject: RE: Anyone heard of AMMA (Australia)
From: Rowan
Date: 18 Mar 09 - 05:40 PM

It could be an attempt to try and con Google's algorithms into lifting the profile of AMMA's website. That, and the lack of attention to spelling in one's advertising, would almost certainly add up to a hallmark for low rent attitudes and practices.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: Anyone heard of AMMA (Australia)
From: Joybell
Date: 17 Mar 09 - 05:56 PM

Hello Andrez, Quokka and Dennis and all again. Can't resist a puzzle. Can't find anyone who knows any of the performers here. Many of the links don't work. I'm still puzzled about the spelling mistakes.
Cheers, Joy

Subject: RE: Anyone heard of AMMA (Australia)
From: Andrez
Date: 16 Mar 09 - 05:40 PM

Hi Quokka,

Its doesnt get any better. If you do a search on some of the people cited under the "endorsements" section you get some weird stuff. For example, searching on one name takes you to this endorsee's website. Now I dont know who the artist is and its no reflection on that person (apart from their business sense) but when you look at the contacts link on this site, both spAmmer addresses and emails are listed again.

If you do a search on some of the other names and poke around on these websites (as if you dont have a life and something better to do) its all seems to be a little "iffy".

Leads one to speculate about an interlocking series of "websites" all reinforcing each other to achieve particular aims to the casual observer......... websites aren't particularly hard things to build and set up.............. but then I couldnt really that paranoid, could I?

At least this discussion is serving to provide some perspective for working musicians who cant afford the time or money to deal with low rent business practices.


Cheers,

Andrez

Subject: RE: Anyone heard of AMMA (Australia)
From: quokka
Date: 16 Mar 09 - 09:15 AM

About the "about" above... it's a bit of a worry when they can't spell 'Streets of London', Christy Moore or Stockton's Wing properly!

Subject: RE: Anyone heard of AMMA (Australia)
From: Dennis the Elder
Date: 10 Mar 09 - 07:09 PM

Click on contact in the above message, then look at "about" and "endorsements".
The ID of "about" is easy, does any one know of those pictured and quoted under "endorsements"

Subject: RE: Anyone heard of AMMA (Australia)
From: Andrez
Date: 10 Mar 09 - 06:52 AM

An "interesting" link. However try clicking on the contact page for details of any specific person or office and you get Zilch. At least we can see the principal on the link above even if you cant get any actual contact details.

:-)

Cheers,

Andrez

Subject: RE: Anyone heard of AMMA (Australia)
From: GUEST,fiddlercrab
Date: 10 Mar 09 - 01:16 AM

http://www.anrmagazine.com/about

Subject: RE: Anyone heard of AMMA (Australia)
From: GUEST,Rachael Rice
Date: 16 Feb 09 - 12:05 PM

This thread is so helpful, thanks for keeping it up. I just got the email from them today: AMMA is clearly invasive and horrible.

Subject: RE: Anyone heard of AMMA (Australia)
From: JHW
Date: 16 Feb 09 - 10:51 AM

I just got the canadian music week thing too. I'm sorry the thread drops to expletives at times - don't forget that if someone now gets an AMMA or An'R email and googles to see what's what they'll get this thread - can we try and keep it presentable

Subject: RE: Anyone heard of AMMA (Australia)
From: Andrez
Date: 16 Feb 09 - 02:04 AM

Of course if you happen to know the organisers of Canadian Music Week, you could have a quiet word in their ear about the claims of association.

Dunno how they would respond, but if someone was trying to make money out of my organisation by claiming a non existent association, I know the lawyers would take a very dim view of same and they have been known to write some really pointed letters along the lines of "cease and desist".

Alternatively, they could also advise Canadian Artists of the existence of a scam in their news letters.

Just a few thoughts off the top of my head,

Cheers,
Andrez

Subject: RE: Anyone heard of AMMA (Australia)
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Feb 09 - 01:12 AM

They replied to my "fuck off" response by sending another email that included a graphic with their logo and a bunch of artists I have never heard of or at least not in 20 years. However, the tag at the bottom of the graphic said: "in association with Canadian Music Week". Hmm...

No doubt they are are scammers who prey on singer/songwriters who are looking for breaks.

Subject: RE: Anyone heard of AMMA (Australia)
From: Andrez
Date: 15 Feb 09 - 08:25 PM

Clearly they made you an offer you were able to refuse :-)

Cheers,

Andrez

Subject: RE: Anyone heard of AMMA (Australia)
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Feb 09 - 08:01 PM

Funny... they have been quiet around here for ages. However, today I received an email that just says, "An'R accepts music by submission form only.
If you would like to receive a music submission form

Email:

[e-mail]

With the subject header

Music Submission form"

Followed by a poster graphic for Canadian Music Week. I know the organizers of CMW wouldn't want to be associated this this crew and apart from having the graphic in the email body there is no reference to any association.

Anyway, just another "heads up" that these assholes are still at their game and will likely snag another uninformed newbie with their deceit.

Subject: RE: Anyone heard of AMMA (Australia)
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 21 Dec 08 - 02:07 AM

The funny thing is that when I tried to search for any artist who was with them, I only found a couple. A while later, some of them had removed the reference, or downgraded it in their resumes... :-)

Subject: RE: Anyone heard of AMMA (Australia)
From: Andrez
Date: 20 Dec 08 - 06:20 AM

Scam !!!

Cheers,

Andrez

Subject: RE: Anyone heard of AMMA (Australia)
From: GUEST,Brian McCarthy
Date: 19 Dec 08 - 10:22 PM

I just received an e-mail from AMMA asking for music submissions---I couldnt find any proof that these people exist---Scam?

Subject: RE: Anyone heard of AMMA (Australia)
From: Joybell
Date: 19 Dec 08 - 05:25 PM

But why is the language in the posts on this thread -- by the company supposedly -- so different from the letters quoted here? It almost looks like a scam disguised as a scam, disguised as a scam.
Cheers, Joy

Subject: RE: Anyone heard of AMMA (Australia)
From: GUEST,Jonny Sunshine
Date: 19 Dec 08 - 08:21 AM

I see this thread's still going. Still no word from reply from anyone at AMMA to let us know which of their artists have had number one hits, won international awards. Just someone slagging off the posters here and making vague threats. Which isn't the way I'd expect an successful international music mogul to behave (like they'd have the time to be bothered...)

Subject: RE: Anyone heard of AMMA (Australia)
From: Andrez
Date: 18 Dec 08 - 05:36 PM

Well clearly the approach defies any logic if the business is legit. Its the risk to unsuspecting artists and musicians that concerns me about what is being put out on the 'net.

I'd like to suggest that if anyone is really motivated to send any money for "promotional purposes" that they should reconsider and send it to any local charity in time for Christmas donations to the truly needy. That way the money will at least do something socially useful.

Cheers,

Andrez

Subject: RE: Anyone heard of AMMA (Australia)
From: GUEST,JHW in the Library
Date: 18 Dec 08 - 12:01 PM

I had the 'award' email too. Thanks Andrez for the anr mag link. I'm still baffled by the approach!

Subject: RE: Anyone heard of AMMA (Australia)
From: Andrez
Date: 18 Dec 08 - 04:59 AM

My old grandmother used to say: "never leave a possum unstirred".

So for what its worth, here a pic of the master spAMMer himself with a bio no less.

http://www.anrmagazine.com/about

I'd be really interested if anyone can substantiate, or otherwise comment, on some or any of the bio claims on Normans CV.

No problems if that isnt possible but at least there is a little more publicly available info straight from the horses mouth to flesh out the picture a little more.

Cheers,

Andrez

Subject: RE: Anyone heard of AMMA (Australia)
From: Y_Not
Date: 17 Dec 08 - 09:45 PM

We have been a theatrical agent in the UK for over 20 years, and also I'm also a lover of Folk Music.

I would first of all like to congratulate all the genuine folk that have contributed to this thread and shown a real sense of community.

AMMA are saying that they will take a percentage of the artist's earnings which then by definition means they become the artist's agent, personal manager, publisher or promoter.

A guide from the THE BRITISH EQUITY UNION is;

Never pay an upfront fee to an agent/ personal manager or promoter.

A legitimate agent, publisher, manager or promoter would never ask for money upfront from an artist to join or register with their company.

And if WE take the time to look after our fellows, and are then referred to as LOSERS by some spurious shady outfit, then I would like to say, I am proud to be a member of THE MUDCAT LOSERS.

WELL DONE EVERYONE!

www.nylandmanagement.com

Tony Nyland

Subject: RE: Anyone heard of AMMA (Australia)
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Dec 08 - 08:27 PM

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:

[e-mail]

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.