Lots of rumors are flying about Da Band from MTV’s Making the Band II. Apparently there are questions about whether Sarah has quit the group and whether the group will ever make any money. Here are parts of the SOHH.com article ‘Da Band’s Grim Financial Future, Goodbye Sarah?‘ (emphasis is mine):
Sarah, a misfit from the onset who was said to be “not hip-hop,” was also a no show during the premiere of Da Band’s new song “Bad Boy This, Bad Boy the on DJ Kay Slay’s radio show in New York.
Show fans are also buzzing about the group’s recording contract after last week’s episode revealed Da Band conferencing with their manager over an apparent three percentage points they’d receive on every dollar their record makes. To put those numbers in perspective, even if they sold 1 million CDs at about $17.99, they’ll go home with less than $100,000 each after splitting the money six ways and less than $50,000 if they only go gold. And that’s before the group has to “recoup” (repay) costs such as the recording budget, the advance, half of the price of the videos, and half of all of the independent promotions.
This means Da Band will have to rely on other financial means including touring and endorsements to make a living. Wendy Day, CEO of Rap Coalition – a non-profit organization aimed at the unfair exploitation of artists in the music industry – says going platinum is a feat and puts her own spin on Da Band’s money shortfall.
“Here’s my educated guess: the label gave a 12% deal (standard) which got split between two companies involved in the making of the show (6% and 6%) and one of those companies (most likely the production company) then split their cut with the group (3% and 3%),” said Williams who started Rap Coalition (lots of good info here) in 1992. This appears to be similar to the American Idol show, which also takes a cut of the artist’s recording contract.
“Regardless, 3% is excessively oppressive, bordering on straight rape,” continues Day, who provides a detailed breakdown of “The Financial Realities of A Record Deal” on her website, www.rapcoalition.org. “Who is the scumbag behind that show? Puh-lease, it ought to be called ‘Making Rich Power Mongers Richer’ … And you can quote me.”
A few weeks ago I mentioned a bit about the contract signing scene. I was hoping that the scene was just for show, and that the group members had at least read their contracts before signing them. (Of course they should have had lawyers look them over too.) Not that they still wouldn’t or shouldn’t have signed, but at least they’d know what they were getting involved with. But after seeing (I think it was) Fred’s reaction to the ‘news’ that they’d be receiving 3 points (“I ain’t doin’ it!”), it seems pretty clear that they didn’t read the contracts at all. I’m surprised that these aspiring musicians haven’t learned how the industry works. They should have known that they’d be pimped on the records and that the way to make money is by touring. That’s been documented so many times that it should be common knowledge by now — especially for people trying to get in the industry. I guess these guys just believe what they see in the videos.
I have a question about the numbers calculated in the quoted article above. If anyone knows whether artists get a cut of (actual) retail, wholesale or list price/MSRP, please leave a comment and let me know. I always assumed that they got a cut of wholesale, but the article’s figures seem to be based on retail or list price/MSRP.
Nice article. Thanks for the tip. I’ve been tracking items on artist compensation for a while now.
— twf
despite my problems w/ watching these negroes make fools out of themselves I can’t stop watching. Did I misinterpret that scene? is the group getting 3 points all together and not 3 points a piece? I agree with the guy you quoted, that is borderline rape.
“Making the Minstrel Show” is what they should call it.
they’re getting 3 points as a group, so it’s .5 points each!
P.DIDDY KNOW WHAT HE’S DOIN… IT’S JUST ANOTHER MUSIC INDUSTRY MOVE TO MAKE MORE MONEY DAHHHH!!!!
i think Chopper needs a little bit more maturing, Dylan has gotten a lil better, Fred should keep it moving in the bizz his style is unique plus he got a mouth to feed, Sara…well…her voice is off the chain…so if she has trouble dealing with the band..f*** it go solo, she bound to cop a deal, Ness…has plenty of potential…plenty…i wanna see him go places…and Babs…lol ya’ll beware….but the band as a whole…need to stop fighting so much and learn to work as a team…more than so learn each other become a family and get money….it’s out there they just gotta get it…
ok sooooo “DA BAND” is a disgrace to hip hop music!!!!!!!!! p diddy thinks he is the greatest thing on earth and hes a money grubbin lame ass fake rapper. everyone in da band is ghetto as hell……fighting all the time. Diddy will do anything to make money!!!! DA BAND SUCKS MY ASSHOLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
rocks in watch i think im bout to blaze da band
eilliot ness is me motherfucker nigga dont talk about the mothefucking band livbe nigga ubffualo wings
i just saw Da Band’s newest video on MTV … they are absolutely terrible…. AND the production is worse ! … I mean really .. a jamaican rapper thrown amongst 5 other dysfunctional MC’s … anyone spending a dollar on Da Band would get more entertainment by lighting Da Dollar on fire.
FRED is sexy but i’m mad he picked them ugly groupies
Fred is da man.Sara she can sing NESS shit is tight. BABS IS cool CHOPPER is cool Dylan need to get his shit together . I heard FRED is married is that TRUE and how old is his child.
I love Making Da Band II. I don’t see the band staying together. However, I feel that Sara and maybe Ness have a chance to be successful in the entertainment business. The rest may as well enjoy this little fame while it last. IT Will COME To A End! The end it almost near. Also, I like this show because it give us the viewers a chance to see how it really is being in a band. We see alot of groups/bands breaking up, and we always wonder why. This show let us see what really goes on (too raw for TV).
i think da band will go a long way because when you know a group or people walk for some cheese cake and for them to do that they really do earn to be together so i still have faith and them and at the begginning it may be rough but then at the end they all are happy see the band is trickie so watch them adn the band going be toghether as long as p.diddy is they manger they iight so if yall going talk trash then don’t post nothing if yall going talk good then do what you got to do sara-she going places even with her family she still get ups there and do her think
babes-she blazin and off the chain rap is hot
fredd-fine and whoa
dlyan-diddy did alot for him he mess up and get right on track
chopper-he’s becoming a man
ness-he’s a leader
DYLAN DYLAN DYLAN!! Dylan is my favorite member of the group. In many of the episode, he was enduring some hard time deciding on wheter or not to tour or go see his probation officer. I Respect him so much, you black getting his stuff 2gether is so impressive to me. Thanks Puffy 4 giving Dylan THe Opporitunity!
sUp EvErYbUdIe wElL YoU KnOe WuT I LiKe aLl oF ThE BaNd mEmBeRs bUT iTs jUsS AlL Of yO PrObLeMs cAuSe yOu kNoE AnD WeLl i tink dat DYLAN!!!!!!!!!!!IS F**KEN handsome and well yeah chopper can be to sumtymes and i tink dat i had watch your guys show liked 15 million tymes but like da same one all da tyme but well anyways holla at you gurl!!!!!!!!!!IM OUT!!!!!
Da Band just brings total shame to the industry as a whole. Their existence is like Michael Jacksons marriage, just one big joke. So many brothers and sisters would give their right arm to have the blessings that they have. You talk about some ungrateful negroes in the game. The things you went through to get a shot you should do everything to keep your momemtum up because you are here today and gone tomorrow in the music biz. You reap what you sow and Da Band will soon be history cause most of them is not serious about longevity, they’re just here for today. The only ones that will prosper will be Sarah and Ness, the rest need more than a prayer cause their stuff is tired as a runaway slave.
think the band shoulnt break up i found alot bout them and p. didy dosent even give them a chance…thats f up !!!!!!!!!
I think that P.diddy is just an money making machine and he knows how to make money off of people. I just don’t understand why he just ended this group like that. I think Bad Boy is the worst lable and that P.diddy gets people signed to his lable make money off them and there no more sign of them. Like for example what the hell happen to that group Dream and that group of white boys. He is mean and shell fish, i think he label should come to and end. SO he can see how it feels, he took a group of people different people from the hood and put them all in one house off cousre there going to get in fight. You just don’t do that to peolpe. Have them a cd, make vidoes, making money, have them all on tv and than end it . I last espiode i saw they did good it looked like they were coming together and they were happest as ever. And than diddy breaking the group up. He knew what he was doing from the begging. I the no respect for him or and one that workes for Bad Boy, because there shams. This is just my opinion. I hope Da Band blow up as a group with out the help of Bad Boy.
IAM REALLY MAD AT PUFFY BUT I SHOULD HAVE SEEN IT COMING AND KNOW FROM HIS HISTORY OF FU****** PEOPLE AROUND LIKE 112 AND THE DUDE IN JAIL FOR HIM,I DID LOVE THE SHOW I WATCHED IT EVERY WEEK I THINK THAT IS WRONG WITH PUFFY IS DOING TO THEM, HE KNOW THEY WERE GHETTO WHEN HE SIGNED THEM HOPEFULLY THEY CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN ON THERE OW WITHOUT PUFFY.
“i think he label should come to and end.”
You all do realize that Mr. Combs DOES NOT have to work. He is a multi-millionaire that has BEEN putting it work, making hits and hit artist.
Puffy isnt new, stop actin like he is. He built his empire, the music BUSINESS..(u need to understand that part BUSINESS) is about MONEY, and if the artist arent on their toes, they are gonna get took, simple as that. And if “Da Band” though they were gonna blow up off of a record they were HUGELY mistaken because ANYONE that as ANY knowledge of the music industry knows YOU DO NOT MAKE MONEY OFF OF THE LP, its touring, merchandise, etc.
Them kats are dont appreciate and are not even all that nice to begin with. I do agree that Sarah and Ness will make it and Dylan can too is he realizes he IS NOT as nice as he thinks he is and needs to work on his craft like ALL artist do. But the others are nothing special although, since they have gotten the exposure (another thing they do not realize) they all should be able to build on their careers.
If they dont, thats purely on them, NOT PUFFY. Puffy put them into a position many of us dream of, its not up to Puffy to make sure they fulfill that dream, Puff done his part.
The problem is, the fame got to majority of the group and they think they are nicer than they are and they aren’t simple as that.
And its NOT a shame on hiphop, its more of a shame on the generation.
Don’t kid yourself people, 95% of the stuff on TV is on SOLEY to make money FIRST, then satisfy everyone else.
Sarah, Ness, and maybe Dylan will have a future.
Fred = DMX reject
Chopper = Everyone from the south reject
Babs = Just doesnt have the right attitude to make it in my opinion. Being aggressive is one thing, but being rude as if you already made it and “didnt need puff” is a bit much.
None of them are that nice. Ness GREW (in terms of talent) the most. But even his lyrics are booty. But he did take the opportunity to learn…and that may take him further.
Sara can sing. But so can most folks I go to church with. I like how Diddy truned her into something sexy. She jumped on that mess right away. Since she has her foot in the door she may go places…sometimes all you need is a foot in the door. And realistically, da band was bringing her down (on so many levels).
Babs has a decent flow…but she is too shitty to folks…you can’t be humble and hungry and be shitty at the same time. Somethin’s gotta give.
Chopper and Fred sound like every other young angry rapper…only they ain’t rappin’ about anything new…the same on shhh.
Dylan…ohmygod!! This cat is messed up on so many different levels. That ain’t music…just cuz some young indiscriminate girls think you are attractive does not mean you are a QUALITY artist (ditto for Chopper).
They were just entertainment. If they were any good they would have already gone platinum…hell even O town went platinum and them cats were even more booty.
If Diddy breaks them up….its because they brought it on themselves. My only beef is…now what am i gonna do on thursday nights…i guess wait until tuesday when the only other good thing is on tv…chappelle. I’m rick james…beotch!!!!
ALL I’M GONNA SAY IS….START OVER! A NEW SEASON
A NEW SET OF RAPPERS BUT DON’T NAME THEM THE
BAND!
I love DA BAND and FRED is HOT!. I’ve watched it since the beginning and I think it’s wrong that puffy is only keepin Ness and Babs. he shouldn’t have split them up because i think they could have made it.
I don’t care what nobody says. Dylan is fine. I love his lips and his accent. um um um
I DONT EVEN KNOW WHAT TO SAY….I THINK ITS A GAME TO GET US TO BY THE CD …. HE SAID HE WANTED THEM PLATINUM NO MATTER WHAT?
I am angry at P Diddy.I feel that Diddy used the group to make money on MTV. Those kids came from the hoood struggling and they were hungry. They believed P.Diddy and they trusted him.The time that they spent together allowed them to become close like a family. Also Ness and Babe should have told Diddy that it is all or none because we are a Band. I understand that life goes on . but if the shoe was on Fred, Chopper,Dylan,or Sara would they have left them behind. I feel P. Diddy is wrong. he knew that the Band didn’t know the bussiness . there are other Artist That he fucked over. Diddy you’re going to pay .Remember God Don’t Like Ugly. Just like you took advantage of these innocent kids It’s bound to happen to you sooner or later.
fuck p diddy he fuck over the da band the little bitch and he will get what he deserve with his punk faggot new yorker ass he auint shit fuck him and everyone he messed overwill get theirs and he will get his
Hey p. diddy watch out for shine you little bitch because he coming for yo hoe ass
seriously, i really feel that puffy is just milking these dudes for there money!!!!! he knew that he was going to break them up from jump. the band would be hotter if they had better producers. this whole thing was just a stunt for mtv to make money off of the show instead of the group. babs is hot by all means, my favorite, i like her drive and her lyrics, and ness. dylon sucks and so does sarah, she CAN NOT SING TO ME! they could have got someone much hotter. chopper is hot only because he has that image to move the crowd. If u ask me they dont have a chance but i did enjoy the show. groups that are bought together like this never last. its the groups that come up together form the same hood stand strong. shit made for tv is a joke regaurdless of their talent, and let alone puffy at that! his whole success has gone to his head, u can just tell by his arogance and them dumb unessasary shit he be coming at them with!!! fuck that no deal is worth the embarrasment. hes a corn ball to me and hes making them look corney too.but i feel them when an oppurtunity comes you want to take it no matter what but we all know puff milks the hell out of his artist, so u decide, just my theory.
All I know the best thing said for the band is Ness and Babs!!!!!!!!! They are hot ass hell and will be in the future. I even got a chance to listen to Ness’ new joint on the radio. That shit is hot to deaf!!!! When tha’s album drops I’ll be sure to cop 2. Do the damn thing Ness, you got it baby!
Diddy just go sick of them all, they are all dumb asses that need to grow up and work on thier skills before they can make enough money to pay thier bills, damn maybe next time diddy can take some convicts and make a rap group, bet they’d sound alot better!!!
I was disappointed in the band but hey they kept the best two to me Ness and Babs but he should have kept sarah too cuz she can sing and she is sexy. The band was hard to me because it was something different and didn’t hear that coming from many labels right now but yea puff you do screw people ova and i really think you took the control you had to the extreme but hey whats goes around comes around so its gonnna come back to get you yo Holla AND NESS DO YOUR THING GO SIGN TO ANOTHER RECORD LABEL CUZ DIDDY AIN’T REALLY WORRIED ABOUT YOU NOW YOU CAN MAKE IT BIG WITHOUT THAT NIGGA