James Hyland 2010 People's Album :: Please Read Carefully

Dear Friends

2009 has been a year of transition, reflection and looking forward. I?m sure you know by now that South Austin Jug Band broke up earlier this year. It was a tremendous 9 years; I met amazing people from all corners of North America and Europe. But like many things in life, it was time to move on. I now look forward to many new challenges and opportunities. First among these is the making of my first solo album. The record industry of today, however, is primarily comprised of failed business plans and burdened by even worse art and preparation. My options are simple: sign with a record label and surrender all rights to my songs and intellectual property, or start a grass roots movement to help fund the art itself, and keep it free of outside influences guided by the bottom line.

Having done the label routine I know from experience the pressure that is applied to write music that lends itself to conformity. Songs get overproduced and lose all original style. This environment is unhealthy to the creative process. I know there is an audience out there that is aware of what?s going on in the record business. For instance, Andrew Schapter?s 2006 Documentary Before the Music Dies turned a spotlight on the problem. The music industry is growing and the record industry is shrinking.

The power of who makes records is concentrated in the hands of too few people. Artist must pass a test or series of auditions while standing with their musical gifts in judgment and hear ?no? from a record executive who decides what other people are going to like. I say it does not have to be that way. I know that people like you do care. They do go to live shows and they will support the art if given the chance.

I write all this to say I need your help to make a record. I need your help and I am asking you to be a part of this project. I put my faith and music credibility that music lovers, if given the opportunity, will support the artist and his or her art directly. I am asking for your help in funding my next album. In exchange for your support, you will receive something depending on the size or your donation.

Here are the projected production costs:

Studio: $200 a day (10 song album needs at minimum 10 studio days) $2000
Engineer: $300 a day (10 days) $3000
Producer: $300 a day (10 days) $3000
4 studio musicians: $100 a day each ($400 a day total) $4000
Mixing: 5 studio days (includes studio, engineer, and producer) $4200
Mastering: $1500
Production: 2000 CD?s (costs $1.25 per unit) $2500
Radio Promoter: ($1000 a month w/ 3 month minimum contract) $3000
Publicist: (1000 a month w/ 3 month minimum contract) $3000
Grand total to record, mix, master, manufacture, and promote an album $26,200

As you can see, the costs add up. This amount however pales in comparison to the amount of money a studio would spend funding the record. All proceeds from the record sales would go to repay the label. In short, they collect first and in full before the songwriter or artist sees a dime, and the label would control the rights of the music. It is both financial and creative suicide for the artist to sign with a label.

For artists like me, albums are ultimately marketing tools. Albums introduce my music to people who in theory will buy a ticket to a live show if they like the product.

Here?s the rub,

I am initiating a fundraising drive that will start today, October 5, 2009, and will conclude November 30, 2009. All the money raised will go to production costs and the costs associated with pushing and promoting this album. To ensure transparency, all who donated will get bi-weekly updates on the project once the recording has begun.

What will I do with the money?

I will record a 10-song album. It will be for sale at a ?name your own price? listing. People can pay what ever they want for it, including nothing. It will be free and available to everyone. It will be available for download from my website, as will a hard copy by mail if folks wish to have that. I will release the album, promote it with a publicist and radio promoter, and tour behind it. The idea of this album is to simply get back to work: to get back on the road, reconnecting with old friends and making new ones.

When will I begin the recording?

December 2009. This is the month I am going into the studio. The album will be recorded and mixed during this month. The goal for release is April 6, 2010. I will use the radio promoter for the 3 months around the release date, March, April, and May. I will also hire the publicist for the same time frame, and most likely retain them for publicity around touring dates.

What do you receive for being a supporter?

Aside from my eternal gratitude, you get the knowledge that your donation will only be used to record and push this album. Depending on the size of your generosity, you will also receive different things at different levels.

$10 ? A thank you in the liner notes
$25 ? A signed CD + a thank you in liner notes
$50 ? A signed CD + a signed poster + and a thank you in the liner notes
$100 ? 2 signed CD?s and a t-shirt and a thank you in the liner notes
$250 ? 5 signed CD?s, signed poster, 2 t-shirts, and a thank you in the liner notes
$500 ? Lifetime guest list (where available) + 10 free signed CD?s, and thank you in liner notes
$1000 ? Lifetime guest list plus 1 (where available) + 10 signed CD?s and thank you in liner notes
$2500 ? Executive Producer credit + Private Party

Why?

I need your help to make my next record. I need your help to avoid the mire of record company debt and influence. I am asking you to take part in this process and have your name attached to something that will last forever.

How?

There are 2 ways you can donate. You can give an amount and be done with it, or you can bundle a group of donors to reach a higher threshold of the Star List. Please note that credit can only be given to the person who bundles the donors. For instance, if you bundle $100 by having you and three other people give $25, those other donors will not receive the free-signed CD under the $25 bracket. You, however, will receive the goodies at the $100 mark.

Please make your check or money order payable to JH 2010 People?s Album Fund.

JH 2010 People's Album Fund
c/o James Hyland
PO Box 152081
Austin, TX 78715-2081

Read MORE at the OFFICIAL web site: http://www.jameshyland2010.com/

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