New Seattle Label Refuses to Dupe Artists

New Seattle Label Refuses to Dupe Artists

SEATTLE, Sept. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Suspicion is a dangerous thing, but it is standard fare in the music business. Everyone knows that record label contracts can be used to ruthlessly exploit artists. Once bitten, twice shy, as the saying goes. A new Seattle artist-label, Wax Orchard, brings a breath of fresh air to the industry by providing an honest, open alternative.

Wax Orchard is a partnership between two Seattle art/music/tech companies. Gould Music Services, a studio and production house, and Static Factory Media, a prominent local media organization, came together in the fall of 2004 when they realized the enormous potential of a joint enterprise. Where one was meeting and recording artists, the other was providing necessary design and marketing services. Their path was clear: promote music in a way that respectfully supports artists and their efforts to advance their careers in the music industry. Says co-founder and CEO Daniel Gould, "We are an artist- label rather than a record label because we cultivate artists, not records."

So Wax Orchard starts with the basics. Artists retain all rights of ownership on all recordings, abolishing the disproportionate power relationship between major labels and artists. This, however, is no longer novel. It is where Wax Orchard goes several steps further that makes it remarkable:

-- There are no option periods. Contracts are time-based and limited. There are no conditional renewals based on the success or failure of an album, or any other extenuating circumstances. This removes the artist from the fear of ambiguous accounting and of being unwillingly locked in.

-- The terms of the agreements closely resemble those of an artist/manager deal. This hybrid arrangement means that Wax Orchard has less money invested in pure profit off of CD sales, and a more balanced involvement in the overall success of the artist.

-- Up-front budgets, close attention to recording costs, as well as great local resources make it easy for Wax Orchard to conserve a substantial amount of money for re-allocation in marketing and promotion.

The best part is, you can go to their website (http://www.waxorchard.com/) and see this all for yourself. You can download and read the contract. You can see for yourself how uncomplicated the language is.

The combined efforts of unique in-house support and national distribution will be an exciting story to watch unfold. If this business model is phenomenally successful, then our worst suspicions will be eradicated. If it is not, then at least it is unmistakably clear that nobody got screwed in the process. That would be a major accomplishment in itself.

Wax Orchard's 2005 releases include:

PISTOL STAR - IN STORES NOW - stunning falsetto and songwriting from Paul Kimble of Grant Lee Buffalo

KJ SAWKA - street date: 10/4/05 - the West Coast's premier live drum'n'bass artist

NOVATONE - street date: 11/8/05 - soul/rock featuring members of Pearl Jam and Green Apple Quickstep

PIE - street date: 11/8/05 - rare '90s disaffected indie rock heaven

For more information, contact Ali Marcus at 206.322.3569 or ali@waxorchard.com.

This release was issued through eReleases(TM). For more information, visit http://www.ereleases.com/.

Source: Wax Orchard

CONTACT: Ali Marcus, Wax Orchard, +1-206-322-3569 or ali@waxorchard.com

Web site: http://www.waxorchard.com/

------- Profile: Ent