I thought I'd come back from hiatus briefly to bring you the news, straight from a band that was actually OFFERED a Bodog recording contract, that the Bodog band competition is officially a scam - created to rope talented upcoming bands into awful recording contracts with the promise of $1 million dollars in advance money - money that the band members would probably be re-paying until they were living under bridges and fist fighting each-other on youtube for $5 a pop.
This is big news to me because I seriously considered entering the competition this year, and am now very freaking grateful I didn't. Plus, I'm a big fan of "The Slants" as you well know (see the awesome remix to your right). :)
Here's their official press release, chock full of tasty evil Bodog trivia.
Press Release: The Slants Reject Million Dollar Recording Contract and Reality TV Show Opp...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FEBRUARY 26, 2008
THE SLANTS REJECT CHANCE AT MILLION DOLLAR RECORDING CONTRACT; TURN DOWN BODOG BATTLE-OF-THE-BANDS AND REALITY TV SHOW, REFUSING TO SIGN CONTRACT
Portland, Oregon's dance-rock band The Slants, while carrying a consisten touring schedule, have been participating in Bodog's Battle of the Bands, competing (and winning first place in every round) in Portland and Seattle, and earning an invite to the semi-finals in Los Angeles, California--until they decided to throw a million-dollar contract back in Bodog's face.
Prior to rejoining Bodog and other competing bands in Los Angeles for the next round of the battles, The Slants were given a 73-page contract to sign. They were told that the non-negotiable contract had to be signed and submitted within ten business days, or The Slants would not advance to the next round. Thus they would not be eligible for the grand prize, a million-dollar recording contract from Bodog Music, label subsidiary of Bodog Entertainment.
After consulting with their entertainment lawyer, who told them he would need more than ten business days to go through the contract with a fine-tooth comb, The Slants decided the contract was too dodgy to sign. So, on advice from their counsel, they told Bodog Entertainment they would not be signing a non-negotiable contract filled with bear traps.
"We've decided to turn down the opportunity to participate in the Bodog Music Battle of the Bands reality TV show to win a million dollar recording contract," says bassist Simon Young on The Slants' decision to leave Bodog's Battle of the Bands reality TV show. "This was just not the right fit for our band at this time - or any band, really. We were being strong-armed into signing a non-negotiable contract that would strip away any artists' rights and that is completely unacceptable."
The Slants are the true definition of do-it-yourself independence, and have been since their inception. From self-recording, mixing, producing, and releasing their own material, to financing their own tours, The Slants have not sought outside label support, investors, or any financial aid, aside from competing in the Bodog Battle of the Bands for a chance to win a million dollar recording contract.
"We entered the competition almost on a whim, just to have fun and see if anything cool would come out of it. It was a lot of fun winning the rounds and meeting other bands, but regardless of what their corporate reps thought, we were definitely never desperate for Bodog," comments keyboardist Jen Cho.
"I even took out a second mortgage on my house to pay for this record,"
states Young. "The last thing we're looking for is some arrogant company with millions of dollars thinking that they can dangle the 'possibility' of winning a contract 'valued' at a million dollars to strip away everything that we've been working so hard for. I'd rather keep playing shows, making music, and getting kicked out of clubs for fire-breathing, than sign a contract giving a corporation with dubious influence in the music industry control of my music and merchandising."
Young continues, "It is my hope that there aren't any bands desperate for the publicity that they are willing to gamble their futures for a 'chance' to win a 'million dollar recording contract.' If anyone continues, they better have a pretty
good lawyer and a whole lot of luck. We've enjoyed the ride and meeting
new bands, but as soon as I saw that contract it was like red flags all
over. We're done."
The Slants don't count their time on the Bodog circuit as a waste, though. They learned many valuable lessons, including a reminder never to enter a battle of the bands competition again (regardless of its reputation or marketing describing how different it is) and they enjoyed the attention Bodog showered them.
"We've enjoyed the ride while it lasted. Getting first place in every round and being featured on Bodog's website was nice," Young confesses. "Having them trying to force us and other independent artists into a binding and heavy-handed contract was not."
Look for The Slants to continue touring in support of "Slanted Eyes, Slanted Hearts", their debut full-length, and hitting an area near you this spring and summer.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Alex Steininger at In Music We Trust PR alex@inmusicwetrust.com.
------------------Check out "The Slants" here - I'll be back with more music in, uh, March. Yeah, that's it. March.
6 comments:
haha, awesome
what a crock of failure...
i'm glad the slants (and you) didn't get into any trouble.
If only they knew they didn't have to really sign the contract. Half of the bands that won to go on to the tv show never signed the contract.
--- 'll be back with more music in, uh, March. Yeah, that's it. March. ---
It's April now and I really start to miss your new music :(
Anyhow, Keep up the good work with SoR end pGR
More than a week ago, Bodog shut down its entertainment division, especially msuci and tv, fired all its staff. Bodog is scum.
The comment above me is true. I have a friend who worked for them. Bodog up and fired each and very employee of their battle of the bands, music, tv and fight divisions. From what I was told they got rid of over 200 people with no warning whatsoever. Calvin Ayre didn't even have the decency to email the company or staff to tell them. They all found out through a press release from Calvin Ayre announcing his retirement and sale of the company. Most fucked up thing that this billion dollar company did also from what I understand from numerous friends who worked there was that since Bodog could not legally do business in the United States, they forced his US employees to work as private contractors and as they all voiced concerns over being payed as private contractors while they were forced to work under Bodog's guidelines and owing back taxes to the IRS, Bodog re assured them along the way that there would be light at the end of the tunnel and that they were making sacrifices to put legs on the company. Then in January they were finally paid as employees on a W2 and told they had a job for at least another year which gave them hope that they can pay taxes in 2008 to make up for what they would owe for 2007; in May, BAM they were all canned. Weeks before they would have been eligible to collect any sort of unemployment and some with thousands of dollars in debt to the IRS. I only know what I witnessed having been friendly with a few of Bodog's employees but I know that this company had real talent working there and real potential. These employees sacrificed a lot for Bodog and had real dreams of making it more successful. Just like the million dollar check they dangled in front of your band's face, they dangled the same light at the end of the tunnel in the faces of employees who thought they were building a solid career for themselves. It is a shame that is was run by such greedy egotistical slime. All the while that supposed philanthropist Calvin Ayre was making video blogs painting a portrait of Bodog not having any Assets in the United States, he had staff all over the country working for him. If he was so sure there were no assets in the US that anyone could legally say he was doing business in the US, not sure why I also learned that Bodog sent 3 men to a US office and had them seize over 10K worth of computer equipment and drive it across the US border back into Canada. Shady scum. 10 bucks says that Bodog picks up in this entry and contacts you to delete it too.
Post a Comment