Comments on: A&R Unlimited not worth the money http://www.jimhodgson.com/2009/04/01/ar-unlimited/ Adventures of a Recovering Fat Guy Wed, 01 Feb 2012 23:08:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: The Still Life http://www.jimhodgson.com/2009/04/01/ar-unlimited/comment-page-1/#comment-111515 The Still Life Tue, 06 Dec 2011 16:18:08 +0000 http://www.jimhodgson.com/2009/04/01/ar-unlimited/#comment-111515 A&R unlimited is a MASSIVE scam, or should I say was because they have recently disconnected their phones and the website is no longer up. Paul Michael, is also a musician himself (fronting the band Andrejack from LI) and is the mastermind behind this all. We paid $800 and all that we received was a member web page. No meetings, no compilation cd, nothing what we were promised. We filed a claim with te BBB but that's obviously never going to matter because the business is obviously no longer doing business. A&R unlimited is a MASSIVE scam, or should I say was because they have recently disconnected their phones and the website is no longer up. Paul Michael, is also a musician himself (fronting the band Andrejack from LI) and is the mastermind behind this all. We paid $800 and all that we received was a member web page. No meetings, no compilation cd, nothing what we were promised. We filed a claim with te BBB but that’s obviously never going to matter because the business is obviously no longer doing business.

]]> By: Daisy http://www.jimhodgson.com/2009/04/01/ar-unlimited/comment-page-1/#comment-93838 Daisy Wed, 16 Feb 2011 20:15:39 +0000 http://www.jimhodgson.com/2009/04/01/ar-unlimited/#comment-93838 BRENDA, You have to call the better business bureau. I am so tired of people scamming muscians. Taking advantage of an artist, whether they are independent or not. A&R UNLIMTED is nothing but a BIG FAT SCAM, taking advantage of the underdog. I AM NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE. PEOPLE LET'S JOIN AND SHUTTING THIS COMPANY DOWN. I AM GOING TO START AN ONLINE CAMPAIGN AND THEY WILL NOT PREY ON THE WEAK ANYMORE. THIS WOMAN HAS SCAMMED SO MANY PEOPLE THROUGHOUT HER LIFE I AM SURPRISED SHE IS STILL ABLE TO DO IT. SURPRISED SOMEONE HASN"T KICKED HER UGLY ASS OFF THE INTERENET. I will be posting further info as I get it, the authorities are going to be called in and an investigation is going to happen here. To many people are losing their shirts. BRENDA,

You have to call the better business bureau. I am so tired of people scamming muscians. Taking advantage of an artist, whether they are independent or not. A&R UNLIMTED is nothing but a BIG FAT SCAM, taking advantage of the underdog. I AM NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE. PEOPLE LET’S JOIN AND SHUTTING THIS COMPANY DOWN. I AM GOING TO START AN ONLINE CAMPAIGN AND THEY WILL NOT PREY ON THE WEAK ANYMORE. THIS WOMAN HAS SCAMMED SO MANY PEOPLE THROUGHOUT HER LIFE I AM SURPRISED SHE IS STILL ABLE TO DO IT. SURPRISED SOMEONE HASN”T KICKED HER UGLY ASS OFF THE INTERENET. I will be posting further info as I get it, the authorities are going to be called in and an investigation is going to happen here. To many people are losing their shirts.

]]> By: Brenda http://www.jimhodgson.com/2009/04/01/ar-unlimited/comment-page-1/#comment-93616 Brenda Tue, 08 Feb 2011 19:00:36 +0000 http://www.jimhodgson.com/2009/04/01/ar-unlimited/#comment-93616 A&R Unlimited is not worth the money. They pressure you into this awesome deal with daily calls sometimes 2 or 3 times a day. Then after you pay them, you get a membership card and then you never hear from them again. (You do get occasional mass emails from them with the A&R Directory) They have an archaic system where instead of an EPK like most places want, they want you to send them a physical press kit. That makes no sense since a scanned picture is definitely not better than a Jpeg, AI Pic. And when you are ready to cancel they want you to send them a written letter via "Registered Mail" one month before the anniversary of your start date. Registered mail??? That is only for items that are worth money not a letter. And then you send it to their P.O. Box and the post office sends you back your letter because there is no one that can sign for it. HMMMMMMM. I would say A & R Unlimited borders the line of SCAM.... maybe not necessarily a scam but shady nonetheless. Get on Reverbnation, keep gigging and BELIEVE. This company is definitely NOT going to take you in the right direction. All the best on your musical journey!! A&R Unlimited is not worth the money. They pressure you into this awesome deal with daily calls sometimes 2 or 3 times a day. Then after you pay them, you get a membership card and then you never hear from them again. (You do get occasional mass emails from them with the A&R Directory) They have an archaic system where instead of an EPK like most places want, they want you to send them a physical press kit. That makes no sense since a scanned picture is definitely not better than a Jpeg, AI Pic. And when you are ready to cancel they want you to send them a written letter via “Registered Mail” one month before the anniversary of your start date. Registered mail??? That is only for items that are worth money not a letter. And then you send it to their P.O. Box and the post office sends you back your letter because there is no one that can sign for it. HMMMMMMM. I would say A & R Unlimited borders the line of SCAM…. maybe not necessarily a scam but shady nonetheless. Get on Reverbnation, keep gigging and BELIEVE. This company is definitely NOT going to take you in the right direction. All the best on your musical journey!!

]]> By: Sam http://www.jimhodgson.com/2009/04/01/ar-unlimited/comment-page-1/#comment-86529 Sam Thu, 15 Jul 2010 17:31:26 +0000 http://www.jimhodgson.com/2009/04/01/ar-unlimited/#comment-86529 I got the call last week. It was surprising and so weird. I relly did not need validation however i am glad the word it out! I got the call last week. It was surprising and so weird. I relly did not need validation however i am glad the word it out!

]]> By: JANE http://www.jimhodgson.com/2009/04/01/ar-unlimited/comment-page-1/#comment-86240 JANE Thu, 01 Jul 2010 18:46:56 +0000 http://www.jimhodgson.com/2009/04/01/ar-unlimited/#comment-86240 way to go Jim. First of all let me address Jan's post, where she says Jackie Shea is great over at ANR ---omg, people, guess what- Jackie Shea does not exsist. JACKIE SHEA IS JOANN GULLO. She use to use that name way back when she had the magazine, Jackie Shea was created to fend off unhappy advertisers with INSIDE CONNECTION. Now she is still using her fictisious alter ego.. lol.. I have to laugh because Joann promotes herself as this big record industry executive.. If you really knew , you would have to laugh like I do everytime I read where she promotes herself as "A BIG DEAL"..so funny, so funny!!!!! I could tell you guys some stories that would absolutely blow your mind! I'm just sayin'..... way to go Jim. First of all let me address Jan’s post, where she says Jackie Shea is great over at ANR —omg, people, guess what- Jackie Shea does not exsist. JACKIE SHEA IS JOANN GULLO. She use to use that name way back when she had the magazine, Jackie Shea was created to fend off unhappy advertisers with INSIDE CONNECTION. Now she is still using her fictisious alter ego.. lol.. I have to laugh because Joann promotes herself as this big record industry executive.. If you really knew , you would have to laugh like I do everytime I read where she promotes herself as “A BIG DEAL”..so funny, so funny!!!!! I could tell you guys some stories that would absolutely blow your mind! I’m just sayin’…..

]]> By: jim http://www.jimhodgson.com/2009/04/01/ar-unlimited/comment-page-1/#comment-86151 jim Fri, 25 Jun 2010 13:16:30 +0000 http://www.jimhodgson.com/2009/04/01/ar-unlimited/#comment-86151 Not really, buddy. Sorry! Not really, buddy. Sorry!

]]> By: Sami K http://www.jimhodgson.com/2009/04/01/ar-unlimited/comment-page-1/#comment-86142 Sami K Thu, 24 Jun 2010 23:59:23 +0000 http://www.jimhodgson.com/2009/04/01/ar-unlimited/#comment-86142 Jim, Do you know any of those national radio promoters that will actually do the work? I know you mentioned the topic offhand... I'm looking but I don't want to be scammed on that end either. Jim, Do you know any of those national radio promoters that will actually do the work? I know you mentioned the topic offhand… I’m looking but I don’t want to be scammed on that end either.

]]> By: jim http://www.jimhodgson.com/2009/04/01/ar-unlimited/comment-page-1/#comment-85835 jim Wed, 09 Jun 2010 11:06:59 +0000 http://www.jimhodgson.com/2009/04/01/ar-unlimited/#comment-85835 Actually, they don't really. At least not to my face. Glad you liked the post though. Actually, they don’t really. At least not to my face. Glad you liked the post though.

]]> By: HQ http://www.jimhodgson.com/2009/04/01/ar-unlimited/comment-page-1/#comment-85830 HQ Wed, 09 Jun 2010 05:11:51 +0000 http://www.jimhodgson.com/2009/04/01/ar-unlimited/#comment-85830 LOL... yo Jim I can tell a lot of people call you a know-it-all asshole kind of guy...LOL. u sticc to you story an thats that!!! N I AGREE WITH YOU U DONT NEED RECORD COMPANIES!! not when we have the INTERNET!! itunes, youtube, myspace, facebook, an others.. IF U create a BUZZ THE RECORD COMPANY WILL COME TO YOU!! peace n blessings to all of you. LOL… yo Jim I can tell a lot of people call you a know-it-all asshole kind of guy…LOL. u sticc to you story an thats that!!! N I AGREE WITH YOU U DONT NEED RECORD COMPANIES!! not when we have the INTERNET!! itunes, youtube, myspace, facebook, an others.. IF U create a BUZZ THE RECORD COMPANY WILL COME TO YOU!! peace n blessings to all of you.

]]> By: Tim Lacy http://www.jimhodgson.com/2009/04/01/ar-unlimited/comment-page-1/#comment-85381 Tim Lacy Sat, 01 May 2010 22:38:45 +0000 http://www.jimhodgson.com/2009/04/01/ar-unlimited/#comment-85381 Thanks to all who posted. I too have been contacted by Paul Michael. He left a message on my home voice mail. (don't know how he got my number either??? I'm not too worried) .He did mention his companies name though...quick google search and here I am. Allow me a slight indulgence for a moment..... I have worked in the music business for close to 25 years now. I am a Guitarist, Vocalist, Songwriter, Producer, Engineer, Technician. I was an assistant to producer Paul O'Neill (Aerosmith, Badlands, Savatage, Trans Siberian Orchestra), I engineered at S.I.R. studios in New York in the early to mid 90's,( TOO many names to drop). I did session work with Paul Pesco (Madonna, Steve Winwood), Pete Marshall (Misfits, Iggy Pop), Nick Moroch( David Bowie, Vanessa Williams). I sang backup on some major label stuff. I worked for Ross-Ellis LTD helping design artwork for roughly 75% (if not more) of all the indy stuff that was released in the late 80's and early 90's (Wax Trax, Triple XXX, Rough Trade, Mammoth, Roadrunner etc..)... Point being, this guy (Paul Michael) doesn't know me from a hole in the wall. I don't know how many "friends" he has on the "inside", but I was on the "inside" and I saw first hand how difficult it was and probably still is. I discovered one real truth...the only person who can really help you..... is YOURSELF! I have remained an "indy" artist the last 10 years or so as I don't know how the record industry works anymore. I used to know! I don't anymore. I recently watched a performence on MTV of an artist named Katy Perry..... Never heard of her before, but there she was on my TV, part of the "current" music industry machine. I listened..... The band was great. All young cats. She was....mediocre at best. Very nice voice, but nada on the originality meter. ( sort of a third rate Alanis M.) Who signed her? why did she get signed? Her best song of the set wasn't even one of her own songs... it was "Hackensack" by Fountains Of Wayne. Most of the people I knew are either out of the business and moved on to other things or have diversified and have their hands in a multitude of projects. (You have to be pretty crafty these days to stay in the game). I was around when Badlands got signed to Atlantic Records. Management and Lawyers were involved. We did a record at the Record Plant NYC, the band made a couple of vids for MTV, did a few tours, sold some CD's and that's how it went. Everyone had a job to do and they got paid. Jake E Lee was and still is one the most respected talents in his genre. Ray Gillen is still revered as one of the best vocalists in his genre almost 15 years after his death. Katy Perry... I don't know.... but my sense is that her 15 minutes is up..or not. She made me miss Joni Mitchell. I just don't know how the music industry works any more.... If these people (A&R Unlimited) are offering a service and are working to perform that service, great!..... Now, how successful they are at it, I don't know. All I know is that I've never heard of anyone on their roster. I chose the people and places I worked at because they had the reputation and integrity I knew was needed if I was going to pursue success as I understood it. There are musicians way more talented than I who will never see the inside of a major recording studio or get to work with pros, much less become a professional. Some of these people may be looking for some help. Help is out there but YOU have to put yourself out there and make as many friends in EVERY aspect of the industry. No "one" company can do that for you. If this company can hold up their end of the "deal" (whatever that may be)then fantastic. But the first rule of business has always been...."BUYER BEWARE"... Two simply words...there are no instructions with that phrase, just "buyer beware" . If it sounds too good to be true it probably is. We all create our own opportunities. I have made some very good choices and a number of poor ones throughout my "career". It's all a learning experience. At best, these people (A&R Unlimited) would only be able to guide an artist. You, the artist, will have to do the rest....... and be careful what you wish for!...... Can't wait for Ironman II . Peace, Tim Lacy The Monochrome Cherubs Thanks to all who posted. I too have been contacted by Paul Michael. He left a message on my home voice mail. (don’t know how he got my number either??? I’m not too worried) .He did mention his companies name though…quick google search and here I am. Allow me a slight indulgence for a moment…..
I have worked in the music business for close to 25 years now. I am a Guitarist, Vocalist, Songwriter, Producer, Engineer, Technician. I was an assistant to producer Paul O’Neill (Aerosmith, Badlands, Savatage, Trans Siberian Orchestra), I engineered at S.I.R. studios in New York in the early to mid 90′s,( TOO many names to drop). I did session work with Paul Pesco (Madonna, Steve Winwood), Pete Marshall (Misfits, Iggy Pop), Nick Moroch( David Bowie, Vanessa Williams). I sang backup on some major label stuff. I worked for Ross-Ellis LTD helping design artwork for roughly 75% (if not more) of all the indy stuff that was released in the late 80′s and early 90′s (Wax Trax, Triple XXX, Rough Trade, Mammoth, Roadrunner etc..)… Point being, this guy (Paul Michael) doesn’t know me from a hole in the wall. I don’t know how many “friends” he has on the “inside”, but I was on the “inside” and I saw first hand how difficult it was and probably still is. I discovered one real truth…the only person who can really help you….. is YOURSELF!
I have remained an “indy” artist the last 10 years or so as I don’t know how the record industry works anymore. I used to know! I don’t anymore. I recently watched a performence on MTV of an artist named Katy Perry….. Never heard of her before, but there she was on my TV, part of the “current” music industry machine. I listened….. The band was great. All young cats. She was….mediocre at best. Very nice voice, but nada on the originality meter. ( sort of a third rate Alanis M.) Who signed her? why did she get signed? Her best song of the set wasn’t even one of her own songs… it was “Hackensack” by Fountains Of Wayne. Most of the people I knew are either out of the business and moved on to other things or have diversified and have their hands in a multitude of projects. (You have to be pretty crafty these days to stay in the game). I was around when Badlands got signed to Atlantic Records. Management and Lawyers were involved. We did a record at the Record Plant NYC, the band made a couple of vids for MTV, did a few tours, sold some CD’s and that’s how it went. Everyone had a job to do and they got paid. Jake E Lee was and still is one the most respected talents in his genre. Ray Gillen is still revered as one of the best vocalists in his genre almost 15 years after his death. Katy Perry… I don’t know…. but my sense is that her 15 minutes is up..or not. She made me miss Joni Mitchell. I just don’t know how the music industry works any more….
If these people (A&R Unlimited) are offering a service and are working to perform that service, great!….. Now, how successful they are at it, I don’t know. All I know is that I’ve never heard of anyone on their roster. I chose the people and places I worked at because they had the reputation and integrity I knew was needed if I was going to pursue success as I understood it.
There are musicians way more talented than I who will never see the inside of a major recording studio or get to work with pros, much less become a professional. Some of these people may be looking for some help. Help is out there but YOU have to put yourself out there and make as many friends in EVERY aspect of the industry. No “one” company can do that for you. If this company can hold up their end of the “deal” (whatever that may be)then fantastic. But the first rule of business has always been….”BUYER BEWARE”… Two simply words…there are no instructions with that phrase, just “buyer beware” . If it sounds too good to be true it probably is. We all create our own opportunities. I have made some very good choices and a number of poor ones throughout my “career”. It’s all a learning experience. At best, these people (A&R Unlimited) would only be able to guide an artist. You, the artist, will have to do the rest……. and be careful what you wish for!…… Can’t wait for Ironman II .
Peace,
Tim Lacy
The Monochrome Cherubs

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