Matchbox Records: FYI

Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2004 1:32 am

Hi,

I just thought I'd post this for people, especially those in the UK. I'm in no waying saying that Matchbox are bad or anything but just thought this info would be useful for people that have dealings with them so they can make a fully informed decision...

I sent my demo off to Matchbox. Their website says they are an A&R company and that they also do marketing for bands.

They responded and said they really liked the demo but it turns out they charge £300 (about US$450.00) to put one song on a compilation CD which is then allegedly touted around record labels. They also have an ad in the NME and plug you on a few internet radio sites.

Now, there is nothing wrong with this per se. They are up front about the charges so that is cool. But I decided that before I spent £300 I would contact a number of bands from the last compilation album and see if they were impressed or not.

Only about a 1/4 of them responded (and someone on UBW responded and a friend of mine from the stabilsers in London who had also been approached) and the general feeling was:

1. Although the compilation does exist and can be found on Tower Records website for example it is pretty poor quality in terms of packaging.

2. The NME ad is tiny and you'd need a magnifying glass to see your bands name.

3. no one had any response as a result of the compilation

4. The 'adverts' on the internet radio sites are all done by the guy who runs the company (it is apparently a one-man deal) and they are apparently really unprofessional.

4. All felt that they wished they'd spent the 300 on sending more demos to more labels or to pubs/clubs to get acts.

This doesn't mean they are not good. Perhaps the other 3/4 now have so many gigs and emails from the compilation that they don't have time to respond to my email and the others might just be bitter because they aren't actually that good and want to blame someone else.

Anyway, it was enough for me to decide I didn't want to spend the money.

I hope that this give people a bit more information to help them decide on whether or not to deal with Matchbox.

Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2004 3:19 am

sounds rough. thanks for the heads up.

Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2004 4:55 am

That sounds EXACTLY like an experience I had a few years ago with a US company "RODELL RECORDS" .

I had the same thoughts as you, and didn't go through with it.

Thanks for the heads up!
Ron

Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2004 8:52 am

i never had to pay to have one of my song on a compilation!

rule #1 : there is not any good label that will ask ya money ! Never.

Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2004 12:39 pm

Yeah, I wouldn't pay that much to be on compliation cd. I would definitly have lawyer read over the contract if you decide to go through with it. To make sure its legit. Just to cover yourself you know?

Posted: Thu Oct 28, 2004 2:01 pm

at least right up front Rolling Eyes

anyone had any experience with TAXI? I get their emails regularly but have not had to courage to have my material examined thoroughly for its defects... Shocked

Posted: Thu Oct 28, 2004 2:07 pm

Tuttle, pal.... try these...

http://www.fat-cat.co.uk

http://www.fresh-sounds.co.uk

I'm wayin' the up at the moment.

Posted: Thu Oct 28, 2004 6:52 pm

at least right up front Rolling Eyes

anyone had any experience with TAXI? I get their emails regularly but have not had to courage to have my material examined thoroughly for its defects... Shocked

ubw newbie Joined: Nov 13, 2004 Location: UK Posts: 18

we never found fresh sounds to be much help

in most cases we try to go without paying for promotion (because we're skint) in a lot of palces where we have found pay-to-play, pay-to -be featured we have found it not worth the cash!

Most of the adverts in the back of the NME (unless it's for venues) are scams

Shocked

Guest

Please don't confuse this company with the real Matchbox Records in The USA. We have never charged an artist to be on a compilation CD and I doubt we ever will. In fact we have never charged an artist to be on our label and probably never will. I have heard of this sort of thing but it is never anything we have done. in fact we haven't yet done a compilation. We may do one soon but as of yet we haven't seen the need. Please feel free to visit our website.Matchbox Records
Very Happy

Thanks for taking the time to read this post and checking out our site.

Norm Coleman
President
Matchbox Records
norm@matchboxrecords.com

Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2005 11:53 am

never heard of matchbox

can i just say,stay away from a&r companies

if you dont want to go down the demo to record company route,get yourself signed to a management company,send them a portofolio if they like it they will only take money from earnings,these management companies really push you forward cos the more you make the more they make and will look after your carreer
i kno this route sounds kinda sucky cos you pay around 20% to managers,but if you think you could take control of your career aswell as write music,record it and perform it you will die of ulcers Laughing

*edit*carrying on from what alek said about labels asking for money,ive been sending tunes to a label since august cos they liked my stuff but said the standard of production needs to be higher(i agree aswell)they never asked for money just more tunes and tunes choonz toons tunes,ive had about 8 emails since letting me kno my progression,never asked 4 any coin.
a&r companies boo
management companies boo but they will get you the best deals,there like sports agents Very Happy

Matchbox Records: FYI

UBW Resources

Music Forums

Music Forums

Partners