Subject: Rodell Records - CD Compilation Ripoff
From: simmons@ittc.pgh.wec.com (Garry Simmons)
Date: 1995/05/08
Message-ID: <3ol3vl$ab8@smirnoff.ittc.pgh.wec.com>
Newsgroups: rec.music.makers
A friend's band got an offer from Rodell Records in Hollywood to be on a compilation CD they were putting together. This guy Adam Rodell seems to be a lot slicker salesman than most. He talked about signing them to a development deal and doing regional promotion etc, etc. After several phone calls, the band got a "contract" in the mail. It offered:
Rodell Records to produce 1000 CDs containing one song each from
20 different artists. Each band gets 45 copies. Rodell Records will`
distribute the remaining 100 copies to their "major industry
contacts" (or somesuch blurb). All this for the sum of
$650 / band !!! The $650 covers Production Expenses and is a
sign of the commitment of the band to "making it" or something.
What load of BS!
No mention of the band putting up money was made until they were so excited
to be getting "signed" that they couldn't see thru this scam. I had to
pop their bubble Friday night at a gig before they popped their bubbly. :-(
This is a perfectly legal offer. I'm sure that if Rodell Records gets 20
bands to send in $650 each ($13,000 total) that they will press 1000 CDs
(cost ~ $3000 w/ decent booklet) and take the remaining $10K to the bank!!
The 100 CDs will get mailed to radio stations and record labels (as
unsolicited recordings) which will be immediately filed in the trash since
this is just a bunch of no-name bands with no promotion or marketing behind
them. Rodell has already made their money and has _no_ reason to push the
comp.
Anyway, besides this being a warning to other bands, my friends aren't
quite convinced this is a BAD INVESTMENT. Your replies will be forwarded
to them. In general, NO LEGIT RECORD COMPANY WILL _EVER_ ASK YOU FOR MONEY!
IF THEY DO, RUN (DON'T WALK) AWAY!!!
Garry Simmons
Simmons Recording
Subject: Re: Rodell Records?
I do some writing, and once I had to review a show by one of the crappy
bands on a Rodell Records compilation. Thus, I went to the club and had to hang out with Mr. Rodell (can't remember his first name). The guy was wearing a purple suit and had a haircut like vintage Denny Terrio. Very scary. (And extremely weaselly.) I wouldn't trust him for a minute.
G.B.
Melissa (sasenter@sunset.backbone.olemiss.edu) wrote:
a local band around here (virginia) did some comp CD with them and
they think they suck, apparently they paid to have one song put on a CD
that was supposed to get sent to all sorts of record stations/labels but
it wasn't worth it, i mean i'm pretty sure if i got sent a CD with 18
bands on it I had never heard of I'd toss it right away double so if i
recognized that the label was rodell, i mean face it the only reason the
bands are on there is cuz they paid, rodell doesn't care what they sound
like, anyway that band i was talking about had only bad things to say
about them
In article
> Anybody heard of these guys and
> give me some info about them?
My friend Keith has a band and they were approached by Rodell Records with the impressive letter...You have been selected.....etc...
Subject: Re: Rodell Records?
drumnman@cybergate.org (Stan Fornaszewski) wrote:
>My friend Keith has a band and they were approached by Rodell Records with
Has anybody sent a tape to them and not been accepted? I had a very
simialr experience with them.
JJ
:You know, I was soooo happy to be put on Adam Rodell's "wish list". It was the third such offer that my band had
recieved, and contractually speaking, it was the most sound (or so I thought). Right now, I've got 40 some odd "Sounds
from the Underground" CDs in my office, and I'd be lucky to give them away at a show without losing face. Indeed, to
the unsuspecting surveyor a mention of such an accomplishment (top 10 of 2000) looks admirable. But apparently those
who know, know well enough about Rodell Records... Damn, I wish I'd been in "the know".
O. L. Sartori
From: gondola@deltanet.com (Gondola Bob)
Date: 1996/03/13
Message-ID:
Newsgroups: alt.music.independent
Supposedly A&R folks claw themselves to pieces trying to get to his unsigned-band CDs, but I really doubt it, especially considering the
quality of the bands on those things. I believe he's based in Santa Ana,
CA, incidentally.
Subject: Re: Rodell Records?
From: dkincade@runet.edu (David F Kincade)
Date: 1996/03/08
Message-ID: <4hq2pb$stt@newslink.runet.edu>
Newsgroups: alt.music.independent,rec.music.makers.bands
: Anybody heard of these guys and
: give me some info about them?
Subject: Re: Rodell Records?
From: drumnman@cybergate.org (Stan Fornaszewski)
Date: 1996/03/19
Message-ID:
Newsgroups: alt.music.independent,rec.music.makers.bands
They received all the paperwork and took it to their lawyer. Their
lawyer(15 years of practice) said the paper work does not protect their band. The paper protects Rodell Records only, and basically releases Rodell from any implied obligation and/or liability.
Keith called Rodell, to talk to the man in charge. The man, said Keith's
Band's lawyer (of 15 years) knew nothing about the legal end of the music business.
Then the conversation led on to "Who" was Rodell going to send these comilations to?
The Man seemed very put out and asked Keith,"Would you like me to send you a list of these Major Labels?". Keith replied: "Well, Yeah! That would be nice if we could find out before we send you all this money...." The man
replied, " Have a nice day. Good Luck with your music Career....and
suddenly there was a click and a dialtone.
I wish Rodell would put the same amount of effort they use to write up
these wonderful letters, into working WITH and FOR the bands they are
contacting.
Maybe they do that. However, I find Keith's experience far less than
satisfactory for my money.
From: jayjay@primenet.com (Suspended Animation)
Date: 1996/03/25
Message-ID: <4j71m5$hva@nnrp1.news.primenet.com>
Newsgroups: alt.music.independent,rec.music.makers.bands
>the impressive letter...You have been selected.....etc...
>I wish Rodell would put the same amount of effort they use to write up
>these wonderful letters, into working WITH and FOR the bands they are contacting.
>Maybe they do that. However, I find Keith's experience far less than
>satisfactory for my money.
In Reply to: I wish we'd checked before doing that RODELL thing... posted by Push on September 22, 1997 at 11:19:33:
(push)