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Would You Pay For Access? Blazetrak Hopes So.

Blazetrakimage from www.newamerica.net Would you pay to have a successful musician, producer, songwriter or choreographer review your portfolio or answer a question about the music industry? Startup Blazetrak thinks so, and has built a platform to make the transaction happen. Most of the professionals charge $100-$200 (R&B star Kenny Lattimore will let you spend the day with him for $7500.) and answer via a short video. The video insures that the response comes from the pro, not an intern; and Blazetrak will give a refund if you don't get a response within 30 days. 

Some of the stars and professionals involved include: Big Boi from Outkast, John Rich (of “Nashville Star” / Big & Rich), Paul Worley (Country Music Songwriter/Producer), Rich Harrison (Grammy Award Winning Producer),   Carlene K (Celebrity Make Up Artist), and Tara Conner (Miss USA 2006). Another possible use for the platform could be, for example, for Beyonce' to view audition tapes from dancers and get paid for it.V

Would you pay for access to a star or industry insider? 

View a Blazetrak intro video:


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44 Comments

  1. People pay all the time for music conferences and seminars and VIP parties, just to get close to people. It is more than worth it to have the undivided attention of someone who can ACTUALLY help my career. Worth a $100 bucks to me EASY.

  2. This is a waste of time and money. What ever happened to hard work and networking? This is nothing more than a scam to make you believe that you’re successful. The old true and tried ways always work. You can not BUY success. We smell a snake oil salesmen with Blazetracks approach.

  3. It’s easy to make money exploiting people’s dreams of stardom. Also, maybe a great avenue for wealthy stalkers?:)
    I suppose there’s some sort of value to it, but I just can’t imagine anyone I’d pay to talk to (well, maybe George Martin). It sounds basically like a celebrity golf tournament, except the money doesn’t go to a charity.

  4. In a lot of industries paying for advice is pretty typical. But in talent-discovery industries (like music and writing), pay-for-review has tended to get a bad name. (1) The people who pay tend not to be the most talented. So (2) the reviewers don’t expect to see talent and tend to be disinterested.

  5. If you are the kind of artist who pays your way to success, and if you actually care what these “stars and professionals” think, your music is probably terrible.

  6. I disagree. No one is paying for success, you are paying for access and OPPORTUNITY. I live in Minnesota, and I am a huge Quincy Jones fan, if he were looking to sign some new talent, how would a person like me ever get him to have a serious look? I cant call him, email him, text him or anything…and i live thousands a miles away from him. If he were on this site, i would pay with ease. It beats buying a plane ticket to fly to LA and HOPE to run into him. Think out the box!

  7. This doesn’t sound too helpful. Often the most talented writers and performers don’t have the greatest insight into giving helpful feedback. I’ve seen this lots of times at workshops/camps I’ve attended. The best teachers rarely have their names in neon.

  8. I don’t see this as a helpful opportunity at all. Non of these people and so called professionals are really going to take your question any further than the x amount you pay that they feel that amount is worth in their time. You are paying just to see Big Boi and Beyonce say, “Hey there so and so…”. Nah, get me a job at the label or let me produce a track for you even if its underground or something and actually let in go all the way through with no stipulations and maybe we are talking but just to anwser a question…nah. And Beyonce getting paid to review dancers for her show…please…it benefits her to have a good show with good support so why should she get paid to do something she needs to be doing anyway. Thats like saying the choreographer should pay her to teach her all those dance moves she uses…makes no sense.

  9. That is often the case in sports. The top coaches are often not those who were the superstar performers. I think those who had to work a bit harder in sports tend to have a better understanding of what it takes, and often can explain it better, than those who excelled in competition.

  10. Ok, I just checked it out, and i dont see people giving “How to succeed in the music biz” advice, They are actually looking for people to WORK with. Rodney Jerkins wants to sign producers and songwriters, Rich Harrison wants to sign an a few different types of artists. I dont see any, “Hey nice to meet you videos”. I think u all got it all wrong here. Like I said earlier, if Quincy Jones were looking for talent to WORK with on blazetrak, I would be all over this in a heartbeat. And if one of u say he is not one to know what he is talking about, u might get slapped (same for Darkchild and Harrison when I think about it, lol)

  11. Actually, I have put together the BETA site for something that will do all of this FOR FREE. We are rolling out with over 200 consultants in March. There are no sign-up fees, and if you decide to hire one of our consultants, it’s up to you and them.
    We not only have people who can advise bands and labels, but also working musicians (wedding and corporate event musicians), aspiring music educators, and more.)
    We have a video, too! Go to the bottom of the beta site and click on the video at the left side.
    Why pay when you can get free advice? Makes no sense…
    http://www.musicianslifecoach.com

  12. I think the difference is no one will have a clue who your “Consultants” are, so why would they care about any feedback or opportunity offered. I would rather pay Quincy Jones (a known trailblazer in music) $150 to review and consider my work, then a “consultant” who could be sitting at home in his pajamas claiming to know what he talks about.

  13. If you really want to get laughed at by a panel of “stars and professionals” save yourself $200 and sign up for American Idol.

  14. Whats the difference in standing in line for 10 hours and missing work (and $200 in pay) and spending money to get to a city where AI is holding auditions.
    or
    sending $200 to Rodney Jerkins to get a personal opinion and chance from one of the best producers in history? No opportunity comes for free, there is a cost to everything. You pay directly or indirectly anyway u slice it.

  15. After reviewing the site, they are simply filling the need of most bands/artists that still carry the hope of the getting the record deal and landing on the radio. At DFEST (www.dfest.com) last summer I spoke with a analytics guru that told me google searches like “how to get a record deal” were still infinitely more popular than searches like “how to make my band money” or DIY related searches. This guy has a site called http://www.wearelistening.org that offers something similar to aspiring bands, etc. Those of you that visit this site daily understand the huge shift that has and is occurring in the music business BUT, it seems the masses do not. On the other hand, I don’t see this as a complete waste of time if the willing participants have real expectations of what they are actually getting for their money.

  16. If people want to pay for the opinions and feedback of an industry insider, thats fine – but that is likely ALL they will get from the transaction. I just hope people don’t have any misgivings about what this service will actually be able to do for them. Just because a famous person likes your music or thinks you could be a success does not mean it will happen. If people think that they’ll pay for the service and if someone likes them, they’ll somehow help them get signed or something like that, they are SERIOUSLY mistaken.

  17. Just because a famous person likes your music or thinks you could be a success does not mean it will happen.
    That’s going to be the challenge. Even if you are talented, many of the traditional opportunities are gone. Labels don’t have the money to sign many acts. Producers who don’t expect to get paid via a label don’t have the incentive to find acts who can’t pay them directly. Booking agents are still very useful, but if you don’t already have a national following or a record deal, they don’t have much incentive to take you on as a client.
    The music business is changing so fast that even the experts don’t have as many resources at their disposal to help you. They can give you advice, but may not be able to open doors for you because those doors don’t exist anymore.

  18. What is needed for success is NOT the opinion of someone successful. An opinion isn’t a marketing plan, it isn’t a well written press release, it isn’t the daily grind of updating your websites and social outlets.
    There’s an endless amount of work that goes into building and maintaining a career. Advice is a good thing if the person who gives it really knows the artist, their goals, and most importantly, their art. But what most artists need is help getting shit done, not an opinion. True artists ignore the opinions of others and forge their own paths.
    And offers like this have been around for a zillion years. Back in the 80’s, there were a bunch of services in the back of Rolling Stone where you could pay someone to get your tape to a “record executive”. Nobody ever got signed this way, and its pretty doubtful anyone will get signed this way either.
    If you’re an artist and you’ve got money to hire someone, make sure you get their sweat along with their opinion.

  19. Hear hear!
    Go online and book gigs for a Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in different towns. Find a few other artists to play with you. Make up some posters (8 cent copies) and mail them to the venues, to the other artists, record stores, etc, or hang them yourself. Mail your CD to the local radio stations. Email the local weeklies and newspapers and ask them to help promote the show. Spread the word on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and email. Your gig pay (plus tips and merch sales) should cover your expenses (gas, copies, postage, etc). Sleep on some floors and let the venues feed you. You’ll have a great time, it won’t cost you anything, and best of all, you’ll revel in the satisfaction of having done it all yourself. It’s not rocket science. I do it all the time – leaving for tour next week, actually.
    Or, you know, you could send $200 to some big-shot “star producer” and have them give you the same half-assed “advice” they gave the hundreds of suckers before you.

  20. I think Jason has the right idea. If you truly believe in your music and yourself, the only opinion you should seek is that of your fans. Why pay someone $7500.00 to tell you your song stinks when you fans will tell you for free.
    Maybe Blazetrack should team up with Jango Radio??$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ell the dream$$$$cam$$$$$$$$$$$$$

  21. I think this is an excellent idea considering the fact that you pay $1000’s of dollars to attend conferences and seminars on “how to make it”. This is just a shot in the arm to get a response directly from the person of your choice. It’s no different from you paying an attorney or physician to “give you advice” based on their level of understanding and profession. What’s even more interesting about this is the pros on Blazetrak are not “charging for advice”. They are charging for you to audition for an opportunity. Look at it this way. When you applied to go to college, you paid an application fee. The only thing you received was a letter of acceptance or rejection. Imagine if you could apply for college through the Blazetrak system and get a video response directly from the Director of Admissions explaining why you were excepted or rejected? This is what you are paying for. You are paying for the “professional” to spend time responding to you. Besides, I would easily pay Donald Trump to review my business plan and consider my idea for an investment, especially if I received a video response DIRECTLY from Donald himself. You are fooling yourself if you think otherwise.

  22. Wrong. Our people all have been vetted and make a living in the business. They are professors at music schools, longtime agents, radio promoters and Program directors, publicists and producers, etc. Just because you haven’t heard of someone doesn’t mean that they aren’t successful…that makes no sense at all.
    You’ll see in March…we have producers that have platinum album credits, founders of major companies (Derek Sivers?), and deans of music schools. Not in their PJs at all, dude.
    Go ahead and pay your money and good luck. We will continue to try and help people help themselves for free.

  23. Rodney Jerkins is on this site! He is a MUSIC GENIUS and one of the most successful producers in our era. Now if you dont consider him someone who could help your career then u are CRAZY. And it only costs $150 to get his undivided attention! Please, I paid a $420 flight to get to LA and stayed for a week (another $1700 in hotel…add food…add gas and im well over $2500) to audition for a ton of different things, and not one of them had someone of this caliber reviewing me. I got a bunch of “Thank you for your time, we will contact you if we are interested”. No feedback, no response, no work on this or that or anything. This happens everyday single day. I could have stayed home and save thousands of dollars and got the same opportunity. Im all over this site!

  24. Wow…I so rarely agree w Old Radio Guy….but he’s right.
    Seriously, you people who would “Pay for access to…Insert trite, uninformed, stereotypical music biz mystic here”…Are you fucking kidding me?
    That’s the whole reason the industry is crashing down around us… trading in merit, quality & talent in return for paid access….ah, whatever, go ahead and keep that shit up…it’ll weed out the bullshit quicker.
    I think if you buy into that it’s cause deep inside you know you don’t have any real chance, cause your art sucks.

  25. What makes you think that the response you get, given that the executive will likely listen to your stuff for 15 minutes (if even), will be any deeper than a bird bath? You honestly think your $200 bucks is going to get quality time with Big Boi?
    There IS NO magic answer, no shortcut to your big break, it’s an illusion. The opinion of your fans is the only thing that matters, and if you don’t have any, then you shouldn’t be pissing money away asking some producer what he thinks of your stuff, because you probably aren’t ready. You don’t have fans = you’re not ready.
    The internet provides an endless amount of FREE opportunities to solicit feedback dynamically – you could put up a mix or song in progress and ask fans which version they like better.
    Conferences and seminars on “how to make it’ are a fool’s game, but at least you can meet people, network and learn a lot (if you’re a newb). Blazetrak essentially buys you the opinion of someone who, although highly experienced, is also likely highly distracted. And the only way of getting their attention is by spending real $$ with them, like thousands, something most developing artists cannot afford.

  26. I totally agree with Tim R. Just because someone is successfull doesn’t mean they have any idea how YOU can become successful also.

  27. Hey Hey, it’s Old RECORD Guy, not Radio Guy. I did a lot of things working for record companies for 20+ years, but radio was not one of them. There are no coke spoons, strip bar receipts or Members-Only satin jackets in my closet.

  28. Rodney Jerkins is a guy who makes a certain kind of record, or more accurately, takes songs and artists, dilutes much of their originality, and makes them sound like a Rodney Jerkins record, which gives them a much better chance of getting on mainstream radio.
    He isn’t going to produce your record for $200 bucks, that’s for sure.
    And if you happen to be an artist that thinks that modern pop music largely sucks, that the formula of autotune & guest MC’s. wide angle videos shot at rented mansions with rented Bentleys and rented jigglies and rented bling is played out, then you should probably shouldn’t be paying Rodney Jenkins to listen to your music.

  29. Im not asking Rodney Jerkins to produce my record for $200. I am paying for the access to him to hear me sing and hopefully be interested enough to work with me moving forward. Like i said in my post, what is the difference in me flying across the country for $500 to audition for a bunch of things? I can target specifically who i want to audition for now. I can send my best work (no need to worry about having an off day). He clearly says what he is looking for and what he wants to work with. If i feel i fit that criteria, why wouldnt I see what happens. He is offering opportunity here. And based on your last comment, your name OLD RECORD GUY fits you well, because are still living in the old music days. wake up and try something new.

  30. Misty – to reiterate, there’s NOTHING NEW about this idea, it’s been done since the 1950’s.
    Want to do something new? Build a global fan base yourself via the web, give them your music for FREE, encourage them to share it, and then when you do chance upon Mr. Jenkins, you can tell him how your 30,000 fans all over this world think this version of your single is the one they love – instead of forking over thousands of dollars to rich record executives who are NOT interested in you, all the while asking “do you think I’ve got what it takes?”
    I mean, haven’t you seen that movie 1,000 times??????????? I certainly have.

  31. Save your money.
    Pay for a critique of what? Song structure? How to change you original composition into a formula-based Pop song?? Besides, there are many free resources on the Internet that can help you – just search and you’ll find them.
    Save your money.
    Nirvana’s fans dictated their success, not someone critiquing their music (although THAT would’ve been entertaining). Not exactly known as melody makers were they? Think about that.
    Save your money.
    Listen to Old Record Guy.
    Oh, one more thing …. save your money!!

  32. Thousands of dollars? It cost $150…there are even some on there as low as $30 dollars. And how do you know he is not interested me? You have these outlandish generalizations about things. Someone gave him a chance, someone gave everybody a chance. That is the whole point. He is looking for a ONE girl to complete his group. How can YOU say that he isnt interested when he says specifically what he wants and needs to fill? Did you even visit the website???? It makes complete sense. Rather then hold an audition to find this girl that limits his reach to that city at that time at that place, this now gives me a chance that i wouldnt have….and it costs me $150. Not thousands….$150. I work to make money to spend to help my career. U are very closed minded

  33. I dont think any of you people even visited the website, because none of you really no what you are talking about. First of all, you are not paying for CRITIQUES? They are offerting opportunities…publishing deals, production deals, record contracts, studio time, demos, jobs, internships, etc. You are paying for their time, just like you pay anyone else for their time. These people are considered the best at what they do and are sucessful…If want the best in other industries u pay….doctors, lawyers, accountants, etc. You pay for their time….How about you actually visit the website and see what it really does. Great idea Blazetrak. Kudos!

  34. First of all, you are not paying for CRITIQUES? They are offerting opportunities…publishing deals, production deals, record contracts, studio time, demos, jobs, internships, etc.
    The reason there is some skepticism is that the music industry has long offered access to industry people for a fee. And generally the artists/bands who pay it don’t land the deals. Those tend to go artists/bands who come to the attention of the deal makers through a network of trusted sources: local media, venue operators, radio, etc.
    It’s been the assumption within the industry that artists/bands who have to pay to be seen aren’t getting talked about by the right networks. That’s why there are comments on Hypebot telling you to make your own opportunities via good music, online promotion, and getting people to live shows. If you are doing enough things right, people will come looking for you because that’s who they want to work with.

  35. “Would you pay to have a successful musician, producer, songwriter or choreographer review your portfolio or answer a question about the music industry?”
    I gave my opinion in answering the question posed – and stand by it.
    Happy New Year everyone.
    Cheers,
    Steve

  36. I’m a little iffy about the site myself. As an inspiring Hip-Hop artist, I’m just gonna stick to the old ways of getting myself seen and heard so I can live my dream.
    I do upload my music to various websites to build a fan base and possibly catch the eyes an ears of an industry professional, but I don’t have to pay to do it.
    So yeah, I just plan on doing live shows and getting my music out by my own means in order to achieve success in due time.

  37. As much as I like some of Rodney jerkins work I gotta say he is a well known scammer. Hes definately not new to this,he had a demo submission fee at darkchild.com back when he was producing and everybody was crazy about darkchild sound.
    Did anybody got signed? Dude has million dollars is involved in million dollar projects and still wants to take 100 bucks from upcoming producers…this is the same people that praise Jesus all the time.Talking about double morals.
    If Sony dont sell anymore records they should think that maybe they are signing bulshit artists,or just close down the office and realize that in this day and age nobody really needs major labels anymore.
    Instead of that they have found a new way,get the omney form the independent artist. All u need is a laptop to be an indepenent artist,so with a 100 buck submission you pay probably 10 to blazetrack developers 50 buscks to sony music and 40 to ur favourite producer.So hell know they dont need to sell records.You are the one keeping this industry rolling…You and the very few artists aka bieber beyonce that still sell records or downloads,an thats where most of their money goes,promo of stablishe superstars.
    They want you to do all the job buil a 100.000 fan base and then call and say hey Sony,Ive been sweating investing promoting this album,and now that its giving profit I want YOU to get the money LOL.
    Stupid idea,isnt it?do you really think that if I have a 100.000 fan base I need Sony at all?
    In other words,did Jason derulo had 100.000 fans before getting signed? No,every act you see at majoers come out of nowhere.They know sombody or sok somebodys dik.
    So cmon.Nobody will give u a record deal for submitting on blazetrack,and if you build a decent fan base an then contact sony I would say you were not really the samrtest guy on class.
    The moemnt you joined them your fan base will become theirs you wont have creative control an all the money willl go to pay these very same a&r people hit factory mixers,lawyers,touring bus…while being independent you mix it yourself,travel by urself without having to pay hotel to 30 STAFF people. Don get it wrong your album sales will pay that not Sony. Ask toni braxton
    So people you better stay away from the industry.Money is in song placements an performing.I realize that years ago an I ve been learning piano.
    all this wannabe celeb pop iol x factor thing has ruined any chance for real musicians to make it.it has become a mass marketwith everyboy trying to make profit.I recorded my first demo back in 2003.And Im out.Im not gonan spend my life trying for people to like me in internet,or a so called industry profesional giving me validation only to sign an abusive 360 deal.I rather play ina 5 star hotel for 2000 bucks a month.thats the very same amount r.jerkins gets in submissions at blazetrack LOL

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