The Kiwi Country Storm

Another white hope from New Zealand is this artist here - Aly Cook, an established Kiwi indie artist with, I guess, an appreciable network in New Zealand. I talked to her about her previous experiences on SellaBand and her plans after the changes there:

50K MM: Who are you, where do you come from, ...? Please tell us something about yourself.
Aly: My name is Aly Cook I am from New Zealand... I'm an established NZ independent recording artist .. with my band DNE in 2000 and 2001 I was nominated for NZ Dance video of the year and single BE THERE's video playlisted onto MTV Europe. I was the manager for the band. In 2005 I released my first solo single I Wonder which gained significant airplay on commercial radio. I Wonder was nominated for APRA NZ Country Song of the Year 2005. In 2006 I recorded Country Storm which has enjoyed a good level of airplay in australia and on a few stations globally as well as significant plays of the music videos .. I Wonder has been used in Sitcome Love Bits and Soap Shortland Street.

50K MM: You mentioned Katie Thompson who called your attention to SellaBand. Do you think SellaBand is a good way to finance your album?
Aly: I think its a great idea .. and I'm pleased with how its working for me and what's come so far of being here..

50K MM: How do you convince people to believe in you? Do you think you have a special "Kiwi advantage", with the media attention in New Zealand generated by Maitreya and Katie Thompson?
Aly: I think its important to show that you have the skill and the knowledge to work with a budget and move your product forward and sell it once its released. What ive learned over the years .. is Youth and beauty, nievity talent is great if you want a major record deal .. if you are indie and going to stay that way then your marketing skills, contacts,know how, industry knowledge are more important.

Above all the music and the song .. which have to be great . and well produced to get airplayed.

I think the media attention with Katie was and is great but I think its global exposure .. I've toured away as well and so I've a reasonable fanbase in Europe and US also..its important to get out of NZ to play once a year if possible..

50K MM: It's still a long way, but have you thought about the time after reaching 50k yet? What are your plans then?
Aly: Absolutely .... In NZ thats a bigger budget than a major signed artist would get .. This is why I am opting under the new system to use the freedom to offer a different product. Sellaband is currently changing its format. I am currently working on a budget break down and plans for a Album length CD + DVD product. Under my new agreement ALL my believers will not only get a free copy of the CD and Bonus DVD but will be getting a share of 40% my publishing royalties administered under a pro-rata basis. The more parts the greater the share of my publishing. This will be admined directly by me to my believers via sellaband, twice a year, when my royalty cheques arrive and will include the benefit of gaining from my current releases as well which will be on the Album CD ..Additionally the believers will enjoy on a prorata share of 50% of the sales income via Sellaband's arrangement with Amazon and other digital providers. I'm still working through the logistics with Sellaband at the time of writing this but they are all good to distribute percentage of APRA Cheque 6 monthly to the believers on an investment pro rata share..
and I have found them excellent to communicate with. I'm also turning to some of my existing believers for their opinions too, after all they are my business partners in this project.

As I am including 4 tracks already produced, 2 music videos 1 documentary and 1 live perfomance. This means I can do the project inside the 20k budget. We can get good deals here on manufacture here in NZ..

Although believers will get a CD per believer .. there will be promotion free CDs for Believers who can place the CD with a radio station or with a booking agent, for review in a magazine etc etc .. If believers want to buy CDs additionally these will be available at wholesale price..

50K MM: And last question: How can we support you to speed up raising your budget?
Aly: Think of initiatives and ways to move Sellaband forward as a whole .. this week I was the first artist on Kiwi FM http://twt.fm/288866 this happens every Tuesday night at 9pm on kiwifm .. www.kiwifm.co.nz. I would like to see this sort of thing happening all over the world. I'm working on syndicated segments similar to this with the Dream Team here on Sellaband .. which is a group of like minded Sellabanders working together..

Think about it this way if you go here http://countrymusicchannel.com.au/cmc/Requests.aspx and request my song country storm .. which is in the playlist thats great for me and I appreciate it .. if you are a believer and you request it .. you just earned money for doing it ..

www.sellaband.com/projects/alycook