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Public Enemy Hooks Up With 'Crowdfunding' Site

Hip-hop innovators will raise $250K through Dutch site Sellaband

By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 7, 2009 4:50 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Hip-hoppers Public Enemy, one of the first groups to release on mp3, is entering the brave new world of crowdfunding. The group has partnered with Dutch site SellABand to raise the $250,000 necessary to record a new album entirely through $25 donations from fans. The payout? Donors—or “believers,” in SellABand parlance—will get at least a copy of the finished product. But they could also get a cut of sales, TechCrunch reports.

The site takes a 10% cut for the service, but other agreements are murkier. It started as a way to raise a relatively modest $50,000 to bankroll the production efforts of unknowns, who could craft a revenue-sharing plan themselves. Public Enemy appears to be using a new custom plan designed to appeal to mainstream artists, who can raise as much as they want—and spend it how they want.

Flavor Flav.
Flavor Flav.   (AP Photo)
Rappers Flavor Flav, left, and Chuck D of the music group Public Enemy.
Rappers Flavor Flav, left, and Chuck D of the music group Public Enemy.   (AP Photo)
Flavor Flav, left, and Chuck D, of Public Enemy.
Flavor Flav, left, and Chuck D, of Public Enemy.   (AP Photo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 5 comments
Snarfeh
Oct 8, 2009 12:33 PM CDT
I dunno....it kinda sounds like something Madoff would do....raise as much as they want and spend it how they want? I like the first plan better...a copy of the results and a cut of sales...
riffran
Oct 8, 2009 4:33 AM CDT
I aint big on rap but sometimes they do make a cool song......... That woman in the corner - cold playin the role Leave her ass in the corner till her feet get cold Knowin for a fact - that girl is whacked If you hold your hand out - shell turn her back Better walk, dont talk - shes all pretend Cant be her friend unless you spend Wall to wall - after all Get ready to throw only money at the bitch Cause she thinks shes so- Phisticated
Fig-Neutron
Oct 8, 2009 1:49 AM CDT
$250,000 would only be 10,000 albums. Not exactly platinum.

 
social networking • Netherlands • hip-hop • rap music • Sellaband • album • recording • fundraising • Public Enemy • Chuck D • Flavor Flav • crowdfunding

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