Welcome, Artists and Companies, to Tandem's Website
Tandem exhibiting at the Midem international music conference.
Mr. Graham Way, President, pictured here with an industry colleague.
- Information for Companies Seeking Music
- Information for Artists and Independent Labels Seeking Representation or Assistance
INFORMATION FOR COMPANIES SEEKING MUSICTandem offers distributors, licensees, record companies, specialty marketing companies, volume retailers, mail-order operations and digital licensees throughout the world many fine music albums and individual music tracks, as well as special concept DVD product. Browse complete albums and DVDs using the scroll bar to the left; access our extensive list of individual music tracks by clicking here or by clicking on the "Music Track Library" button on our home page.
Labels represented include Almus Jazz, Amo Records, Anu, Apela Group, Artisan Records, Highland Records, Indian Sounds, Knockgrafton Productions, Laughing Fox Music, Maria Manna Music, Mayker Records, Melodeon, Midsummer Recordings, Mythic Salmon, PacificLine Music, Rainforest Records, Rising Phoenix, Sound Advice, Trocom Music, Twelve Tone Fantasy, MTI, World Wide Success Records. Our current roster of music includes World, Native, Pop/Rock, Latin, Bossa Nova, Chill, New Age/Contemporary Instrumental, light Classical, Celtic, Nature Sounds With Music, Instrumental Covers of Popular Hits, Christmas, Christian, Judaic, Children's, Novelty recordings and Poetry With Music.
Our music is available for AFM soundtrack and synchronization/transcription use as well as for special projects, compilations, ring tones, in-store digital kiosks, internet pay-per-download sales and digital music subscription services, etc. Complete albums are available for licensing or, if preferred, in many cases as finished product for export to your country. Please contact us for more information.
TO BEGIN BROWSING OUR ALBUM SELECTION choose from any of the categories of music listed in the scroll bar to the left. You will then be offered an opportunity to hear a streamed segment of music from whatever albums interest you in that category. To assist in keeping track of the recordings that you decide are of interest, the "note pad" (ignore consumer prices quoted) can be used to accompany you on your journey through our site.
INFORMATION FOR ARTISTS AND INDEPENDENT LABELS
Tandem provides international record management services for select independent recording artists and labels, getting their albums and music tracks placed with "brick and mortar" (i.e., non-digital) distributors and licensees in foreign territories as well as with digital licensees, such as major and specialty online pay-for-download/digital music subscription sites. We have attended many international industry conferences/trade shows such as Popkomm in Berlin, Germany, and MIDEM in Cannes, France.
Our company also serves as a consultant to artists/independent labels needing advice or guidance. Please note that we are not a personal (artist) management company, tour management company, booking agency, PR firm or publicist and we do not represent the publishing interests of independent writers.
Please see below for more detailed information on our activities and for our submissions guidelines and policies.
Digital Placement of Albums and Song Tracks: We represent all styles of music to companies that offer music in digital configurations such as major and boutique commercial pay-per-download/music subscription online sites, companies providing digital kiosks to stores from which consumers can download songs into their mp3 player or burn songs onto a disc, ringtone/ringsong providers, companies supplying background music to businesses via digital devices, etc.
International Record/Song Track Representation: Tandem Music Group acts as a record management company for independent artists and labels who wish to see their recordings and song tracks placed throughout the world with distributors, record companies and firms that license music for special market niches. Note: this placement service with non-digital companies is limited to certain music genres (see "submission guidelines" section below).
We undertake the roles of contacting potential licensees and distributors, negotiating contracts and taking care of all the paperwork, invoicing, shipping abroad, handling money transactions, monitoring royalty statements/payments and so on. This allows the labels and artists to carry on with the important creative work of producing and performing.
For any album that we accept we require an exclusive agreement for a minimum period of time to represent it worldwide, except for the home country of the artist/label (unless the artist/label wishes us to handle that territory) and any other countries where the artist/label album is already placed). We will need to receive a demo or hear an mp3 version in order to assess your music's suitability for our company's catalogue before further discussing any details or a potential arrangement we might enter into with you (see our submissions guidelines below).
Publishing Representation: Tandem does not represent the publishing of independent writers. Please contact API Music International at submissions@apimusic.com if your interest is in obtaining a song publisher.
Please note that Tandem is not a management company, tour management company, booking agency, PR company or publicist firm.
Consultations: We provide general and case-specific advice, guidance, industry insights/information and support to artists, songwriters and independent record labels/companies for various purposes and in various circumstances, such as those involving contract concerns/negotiations, project planning/budgeting, financing, industry analysis, market evaluation, song material evaluation, domestic and foreign marketing/promotion, an artist's potential, talent development options and important career or business decisions.
Critiques: We provide critiques of artists' recorded music to help them get a reality check on their talent level, their song material or the potential for their CD. For details refer to our Current Submissions Guidelines section.
Current Submission Guidelines
Submissions that we will and will not accept:
For those seeking international representation (record management) of their recorded material to "brick and mortar" (i.e., physical product) distributors and record companies, we ARE accepting submissions in all music styles EXCEPT the following: Rap, Hip-Hop, Rock, Metal, Dance, House, Acid, Reggae, Techno/Electronic, serious Classical or Americana Folk.
For those seeking digital placement we are accepting submissions in ALL genres of music.
For those seeking a consultation or a critique of a specific recording, please refer to the relevant policy information below.
How It Works:
We listen to every recording submitted to us, whether it be a complete album or a demo. Note that we give second priority to listening to sound files from the Web, and in many cases we do not take the time to search sites to download material for review. Thus, it is advised that either a CD or emailed sound files be forwarded for our consideration. If emailing sound files, limit your submission to no more than three songs (maximum 12 mb per email).
DEMO SUBMISSION POLICY: please submit any CD and/or video demos to the address on our Contact page (note: if sending material from outside Canada please do not send by any ground or air courier--please forward only by surface mail or airmail and put the words "sample of merchandise--no commercial value" on any customs declaration, noting a total value of NO MORE than US$15.00). Be sure to include with your submission your reason(s) for submitting your material (i.e., looking for representation, digital placement, career advice etc.) and be sure to include your email address to guarantee a response. After we have received your submission we will reply by e-mail with a simple confirmation that we have listened to your demo and whether we are interested in representing you or your music. Please note that submitted material will be discarded if we do not receive a response within 60 days of our e-mail and demos are not returned under any circumstance. If we indicate to you that your and/or your music are not suitable for our company to represent, you might consider obtaining a critique or perhaps a more in-depth personal consultation.
GENERAL CONSULTATIONS & CRITIQUES
Critiques: We provide artists/songwriters a constructive, meaningful written critique (telephone option also available) of their recording, including suggestions for improvement, covering the following subject areas: quality and appropriateness of vocals (if any), quality and appropriateness of instrumentation and arrangements, the song material, the production quality, the graphics (if any), and how well the project does or does not serve its intended purpose. IMPORTANT: a recording created for one purpose may not serve you well for other purposes. For example, a demo recording created to get gigs locally may not serve well for radio play purposes, or a self-produced recording that may sell well at live performances may not gain much interest from record companies. Therefore it is necessary when submitting a demo for a critique that you inform us as to the original intended purpose(s) for which the demo was made (i.e., to get publishing representation and/or to get gigs and/or to get interest from a record company and/or to sell at gigs and/or to get radio play and/or to get interest from domestic or foreign distributors) and the budget spent on the project. A fee of US$100.00 (Cdn$100.00 for artists residing in Canada) is applicable. Note that payment is required before any critique can be provided.
Consultations: A per-hour fee (excluding long-distance telephone or fax charges) of US$100.00 (Cdn$100.00 for artists residing in Canada) is applicable. If we need to review any material (sound recordings, song material, bio, video etc.) in order to more thoroughly prepare for a consultation session, there is an initial one-time fee of $100.00 on top of any hourly session charge. In such case we will provide you a list of the appropriate items to supply us for this purpose based on what you have available. Such consultation can be in the form of written or verbal communication, in person or by phone, or a combination of both. You set the limit as to whatever amount that you are able to spend in your circumstance for the assistance that you require and we will assess beforehand whether the amount is sufficient, excessive, or unrealistically low. We will do our best to tailor our work to stay under or within your budget and no additional fees will be charged without your prior approval.
PAYMENT POLICY (where applicable): There is no charge for submitting materials for our consideration or making initial contact with us. However, if a music critiqe or our consulting service is desired we require all payments to be made in advance for any such service provided. Residents of Canada may pay by bank draft, Visa, Canadian postal money order or Canadian dollar personal or business cheque, but in the case of personal or business cheques there will be a delay of two weeks to allow for bank cheque clearance processing before we are able to proceed with providing our service. For any US resident paying in US funds, payment by bank draft, international postal money order or Visa is recommended, otherwise there will be a one-month delay to allow for the processing of any personal or business check. Any payment from outside North America must be in the form of an international bank draft or by Visa.
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