Hi, I’m a little late here, but I’m a Free Member of BroadJam and I was interested in submitting some song for the Film/TV destination program.

I would like to know, if it’s not too personal, how much in royalities and licensing fees do the guys who finally pick you music (MTV, Viacom, etc.) pay? Is it in the $1000’s? And how much do you usually recieve in publishing?

Thanks for any answers…

I just wanna send a HUGE thank you to Broadjam for helping me boost my career! Like many I held off for so long on setting up a website for fear of the costs and hassle involved, but Broadjam not only made it EASY they have inspired me to digitize my entire catalog and SELL SONGS!!! Having such a valuable home on the web is CRUCIAL to success and I am getting more clicks everyday! Having worked with members of White Zombie, Cirque du Soliel, Bad Company, Molly Hatchet and more I can say that BROADJAM’s Services are some of the most professional and valuable tools any artist, at any level can find! THANKS!

SVH

Solo Artist & Singer/Guitarist for Healer and Kurai

Hello George (pianoman1) and to all:

I know you sent me an e-mail to thank me for speaking up and for the support. I thought i’d answer it here maybe for the benefit of other members. I have been very vocal on all of these blogs since after the Web Transition began, (when i did not realize such a thing was going on.) I had many issues with the site and I realized all communications are done in a blog format. I laid out many points in frustration that I will not repeat here, (look in the archives) I have strong thoughts on the handling of the web transition itself and the on-going issues with it.

Speaking to your e-mail…. I know one of your issues was in submitting 400+ songs and geting nowwhere fast. Hopefully, the law of averages will favor you soon. I’ve been guilty of submitting a lot of material at other sites and this one too, hoping for the ” big break”.
Nobody said this would be easy. But i’ve learned a few things quickly.
(1) As one example, TAXI has a lot of Listings from Music Libraries. And Music Libraries may or may not shop your material. Most are no different than Broadjam, where we can sell downloads etc.. But I learned why spend the $5 per song at Taxi/SonicBird/Indie 911, etc.. on these kind of listing submissions when you can go to many, many Music Libraries DIRECTLY who will take your stuff. For Free. Very few won’t….ie: The Music Library being one. And you may have to “audition” a few songs for some sites but very few actually work exclusively with a middle man (ie: Taxi) There goal is to build a Library and they are open for business from artists directly. On these Music Sites A/R people may scan what they’re looking for. Or the sites actively shop your product (ie: Royalty free places but ONE NEEDS TO VERY CAREFUL ABOUT ROYALTY FREE SITES).
(2) Your frustration and others with the system Broadjam is using, is that it would be nice if we had a bit more of transparency on BJ TV/Film submissions. I understand it is “review” based on what gets forwarded first, but it would be nice to know that my song “ABC” was # 34 on a list of songs forwarded for submission # 123. (NY TV SERIES SEEKING….)
A simple e-mail to me for the money I spent. Also, I’d be curious to know for the artists that have the good fortune for a Licence deal for TV/Film….where their song placement was…..in the first 5 or in the first 10?….or were they the 100th song? Does the Submission Listing A/R even bother with songs after the first 10—20 they receive?? It would be nice to know and maybe Roy and staff will take note on this.
(3) Part of the Frustration in song submissions is the “generalization” of the actual listing’s. Song requirements aren’t as specific as they would be on sites like Sonicbirds or Taxi. In other words, they detail a SPECIFIC genre needed maybe something like “pure Country sounding like Traditional artist like George Jones”. With BJ TV/Film opportunities they tend to be wide ranging, (not always though)….. and its hard to know what song i might have that may be the best shot at a listing. I favor more specific type of listings that help us not waste money.

Anyway, Pianoman1 this may or may not help you but i did want to respond for the benefit of all. I hope other people use all or some of the blogs to help Pianoman1, Earl, Jim, Shekhar and Cameron by voicing concerns and offering support. ( i believe there’s 86,000+ )
This will be my last blog .

Thanks

Steve Dafoe

To Broadjam Team:

For a guy that never blogged before i’m sure making up for lost words here! Not sure where to park this blog so I’ll put it on all Active blogs.
Anyway, credit where credit is due.

1) I voiced an earlier blog about certain functions being way too long to open. The song edit process used to be 24 seconds…now we’re down to
about 9-10 seconds. Thank You.
2) The Captcha Feature in the Guestbook Edotor is great. I deleted entries before they went public….so I feel in control of this!
3) Receiving the proper Top 10 e-mails advising of ALL areas that a song may landed. Thanks.
4) Not as afraid to touch buttons anymore…..so to that end Web Transition appears to be better for me as of today.

Steve Dafoe

Hello All

To: Shekhar & George

The organization in England is the “Music Organization” by RICHARD JAY. Google him and whatever is happens…,,,but i don’t know if Music Org. exists anymore…..
…….. Congras Shekhar on a music submission for TV/film however…..I don’t remember seeing it “plastered” on the home pages…..like “Victoria Pope” or “Chicane Theory”, or “David Mills” and the like ….maybe you can enlighten myself on that sucess! But I do congatulate you on that!

To: Roy & The Techies

Here You go again ! I apologized for what I thought were Blogs being pulled in the past and I was reminded by Roy they are in an Archive. And I did apologize. But what a pattern you play. However, everytime a new Blog appears and when the topics get “HOT”……..all of a sudden the Blog is ‘archived”……..is retired and a new one appears! With a new Blog appearing today………”Make An Anouncement”………after “How Do You Use Broadjam”…….after the “Customer Service Blog”……. after “”Web Transition”……….after “The Owner’s Blog”……..after “Brett Favre–Last Pass Interception Blog”…. (you’ll get over his retirement! )

To: Shekhar & Jim Ferrie & E. Webb

Nice advice from Shekhar to Earl & Jim. (To try the IE & Firefox interchange.) The problem I have with is this NOT what the “techies” in Madison are suppposed to do with all Operating Platforms before they roll out to 86,000+ members? My company has “technology” that takes control of my computer , (with my permission), so they can solve software issues. We only have 3,000 members.

to: Roy & Broadjam

I know that I was told a “Live” person 24/7/365 on a Tech Hotline will not happen because it isn’t necessary……..if my website goes down on a Friday again and I am not in Biz for a 4-5 days………then I know you’ll refund all of my money for the inconvenience.

What bothered me the most about me being down for 4-5 days wasn’t that I paid my monthly fee on time………it was that BJ didn’t even say……..”sorry about about the inconvenience”……

More to come…………….

Steve Dafoe

STEVE DAFOE:
THANKS FOR THE INPUT…I THOUGHT I WAS ALONE IN THE FOREST.
IF “IMPROVEMENT” IS NEEDED IT’S GENERALLY A TWO-WAY STREET.
ROY ELKINS SAID SOME MUSIC SUPERVISORS LISTEN TO ALL SONGS SENT…SOME DON’T. I PERSONALLY HAVE ASKED CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE LISTING BUT ONLY GET “THAT’S ALL WE HAVE FROM THE USER”. I WOULD LOVE THE MEMBERS WHO ARE GETTING PLACED TO LET ME KNOW WHAT SHOWS THEY ARE IN. I’D WATCH JUST TO SEE HOW AND WHERE THEY ARE BEING USED. I MIGHT LEARN SOMETHING. PART OF MY REASON FOR QUITTING TAXI WAS THE DREADED “MIDDLE MAN”. IN THEORY BROADJAM BREAKS DOWN THAT BARRIER. IF I’M CRAZY ENOUGH TO SUBMIT MY SONGS THEN SUPPOSEDLY THEY’RE BEING HEARD…MAYBE. THEY ARE BEING SENT ANYWAY. I FIGURED MY PREVIOUS LETTERS WOULD GET DELETED BECAUSE THEY DIDN’T PERTAIN TO MEMBERSHIP ISSUES…THAT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE.
AT LEAST ONE PERSON REACTED…MAYBE MORE WILL DO SO.
GEORGE SLADEK georgesladek@yahoo.com

George brings up an interesting issue. With TAXI, (for those that have used them), we have the “dreaded” reviewer who says “yes” or “no”. At least you know where it is forwarded and you know when it is not and why (critique). I did feel a sense of relief when BJ started offering “TV/Film Deliveries” that guaranteed submission of a member’s material to a listing without the A/R middle man. I did experience this type of system before with a a company out of England who guaranteed that your songs are sent to the listings. Their system operated on the premise that each of your songs was “auditioned” to sit as a member on this site. If the song was good enough for this Music Library….well, then it would be good enough for any listing. When I did pay and submit to a listing i was provided with the information as to where and who the song went to. And then you waited. At least there was a measure of transparency at this site in England.

With the system Broadjam is using, it would be nice if we had a bit more of transparency on submissions. I understand it is “review” based on what gets forwarded first, (i think we are getting “reviewed out” as members as have to do each songs for Top 10, TV/Film submissions,etc..), but it would be nice to know that my song “ABC” was 34th on the list for submission # 123. A simple e-mail to me for the money I spent. Also, I’d be curious to know for the artists that have the good fortune for a Licence deal for TV/Film…..where their song placement was……in the first 5 or in the first 10?……or were they the 100th song? Does the Submission Listing A?R even bother with songs after the first 10—20 they receive? It would be nice to know.

Steve Dafoe

HEY FOLKS…ROY ELKINS & BROADJAM STAFF:
I’M FRUSTRATED BUT NOT IN THE MINORITY.
I WANT TO BE PROVED WRONG SO LET THE WINNERS SPEAK.
ALL I WANT IS TO SEE A LITTLE LGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL.

GEORGE SLADEK georgesladek@yahoo.com

I’VE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS LONG AND HARD. I’M DOING IT ANYWAY. I DON’T WANT TO INSULT ANYONE ALTHOUGH I HAVE BROACHED THE SUBJECT TO ROY ELKINS AND SEVERAL MEMBERS OF HIS STAFF. I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM A MEMBER WHO HAS IN FACT PLACED MATERIAL THROUGH BROADJAM. HOPEFULLY A FEW WILL RESPOND AND LET ME KNOW WHEN AND WHERE THEIR SONGS WERE USED AND BY WHAT COMPANY. I ALSO HAVE SOME QUESTION AS TO THE RATING SYSTEM MEMBERS ARE A PART OF PRIOR TO SONGS BEING FORWARDED TO A DESTINATION. IF THE MEMBER WHO HAS SUBMITTED MATERIAL IS NOT PRIVY TO HOW THEY RATED WHAT BENEFIT IS IT TO ANYONE? LOOK THE LAW OF PERCENTAGES HAS TO CATCH UP TO ME AT SOME POINT IN TIME. ONE YEAR AND 400 SUBMISSIONS SEEMS LIKE MY NUMBER IS UP.
GEORGE SLADEK georgesladek@yahoo.com

I use broadjam mainly for tv & film submissions , but I would love to see discussions forums on broadjam were artists can interact , it states as policy on broadjam that “It’s a place to discuss music, collaborate with other artists “. but discussion and collaboration is very very small part of broadjam in context with the rest of the site mainly because there is no discussion forums.

OOpps! “Measure twice, cut once” I see that there are the proper links, just have to use the edit button on the CD to add a proper URL.(ie: CDBaby) Apologies to all.

Steve Dafoe

I sure am feeling some of the pain expressed by the members in this blog. Jim’s point of the Web Hosting page down in January really was an issue for me in the Web Transition as mine happened twice and once on a Friday…….meaning the Tech people wouldn’t even see my e-mail ’till Monday and we may be up and running on Tuesday…..(out-of business for 4-5 days). I have voiced my concerns before upon more “real time” help for members like a 1-800 # and Live Customer Service on weekends etc.. Anyway, a couple of points/observations to add to the long list of issues brought forward.

Firstly , opening pages and editing songs is a very long process. When I want to edit songs, once you hit the “edit” button on Songs,(in our profile), it takes me: (a) 24 seconds + to get to page 1.(by default) (I have 4 pages). Then if I want to edit a song on page 4….(b) then it is about 24 seconds to open Page 4. Then (c) it takes 24+ seconds to open a song on Page 4. Once I have edited the song and I hit the “submit” button it takes (d) 25+ seconds to get it done and then i’m back at page 1. (by default). Then if i want to edit a song on page 2 , 3 or 4…..repeat all of the above. Be nice if the “default” took you back to the page I was working on.

Secondly, I noticed that we no longer have a “link” for people to buy our CD’s. (Not single songs) I had CD’s for sale linked to CDBaby for each CD. Now there is no available link. I thought maybe the “merchandise” button could handle this but it is set up for one URL only, and this area denotes “Merchandise for sale”, not CD’s. Any way, please will Broadjam bring back this feature? It worked for me very nicely.

Regards

Steve Dafoe

I wasn’t sure that this was the right forum to bring this up, but as Rich Pulin, Cameron Smith and Earl Webb have stated their concerns regarding the review process, there’s also a couple of things I’d like to mention.

1) For the last month or so, I’ve been unable to use either the photo edit or the song edit functions. Roy and Customer Service are aware of this problem. Now I can’t seem to upload new songs as well. I remember reading on a previous blog that George Sladek and others seem to be having the self-same problem. Would it be fair to say that this problem is universal? I know the techs are working on it, but I didn’t have these problems before the server transition period. And a month is a long time to be going without a resolution to thee problems. I don’t really use Broadjam as a fan base as I really don’t gig anymore, but I can sympathise with Cameron Smith and any other professional indie muso who’s using it predominantly as a fan communications medium. It must be very frustrating.

2) Since my win in the 6-pack, I still have not received all my prizes from Broadjam. I’m still waiting for the two most important (in my view) items which were supposed to be shipped direct from the relevant sponsors. I’ve asked CS, but still have not received any word about it. I emailed Margaret McClure, 6-pack Overall Grand Prize winner a couple of weeks back to see whether or not she’d received her prizes. She replied that she’d had some, but not all. Jesse Spohn has been a great help in helping to release some of my winnings from Portuguese Customs (obviously does not apply to ’stateside’ members) but Broadjam need to be aware that some of their contest winners are going to come from outside the US and the necessary foreign shipment requirements should be put in place in such an event. Also, outside of the US and (probably) Canada a $250 cheque is not worth much as, for instance, a European bank may charge up to 50 Euro (about $80) to cash it or credit it to an individual’s account. Th one time I won ‘Song of the Month”, I agreed with Broadjam to return the cheque and to be credited with an additional years’ Primo membership instead (a lesser value, but my decision and at my request). However, this may not be what all winners external to the US might want.

If I win something on Broadjam, I expect that the winnings will come from Broadjam and not direct from a sponsor and certainly not part-shipped. Otherwise, what guarantee do I have that I’ll receive the goods? My contract is with Broadjam, not with the sponsors.

I’m still waiting. Hopefully all of the above will be resolved soon.

Jim

………..and it seems to post your blog twice! sorry

I must say I can relate to many of the problems encountered by other members - on the whole I think Broadjam is a great tool and can be a lot of fun but I must say, just lately, I cant be bothered to log in, the sheer frustration of getting good reviews ( all 5’s ) but at the same time watching the songs slip away down the charts. Despite what I am assured, there is DEFINITELY something wrong with the review system no question. Also I always make a point of thanking those kind artists who bother to give helpful reviews but this has proved very hard as now I recieve e-mail notifications that my mails don’t get through ( only on Broadjam ) Also, this may be coincidence, but I uploaded a song a while back and It just does not get reviewed, even though it is in excactly the same genre as other old ones on there, they keep getting reviewed not the new one. Broadjam states that usualy newer songs take priority but for some reason this is not the case.
Something does need sorting and I hope things improve because when in full operation mode Broadjam is a good vehicle and as I said a lot of fun - all the best to you. Earl