2008 Press Release:
1. What does Severe Records LLC ® do in a nutshell?
- Produce superior quality records and implement individualized strategies to maximize an artist’s success. That’s it. First, Severe Records LLC produces competitive records. Second, Severe Records LLC employs plans to promote artists’ careers, acting as a quasi-manager. It is tragic when (1) great artists sell records that are not as good as they should be, or when (2) talented artists have an incredible product sitting on the shelf. In light of the changing landscape of the music industry, we have developed a service that is truly beneficial to all parties - artists, us, and third-party beneficiaries.
2. Does Severe Records work with every interested artist?
-No. We must be passionate about a project. Even if the prospect of success is guaranteed or capital is a non-issue, we must mutually determine whether working together would constitute a “good fit.” It is a two-way street – artists evaluate us, and we them. No one factor is determinative in leading us get involved with a particular artist. We are dedicated to building brand credibility and artistic integrity, while getting material results for our clients.
3. If an Artist is interested in working with Severe Records, what is the first step?
-The first step is for the artist to become convinced of our abilities to deliver, concluding that working with us would be economically and artistically optimal. We hope that artists will determine that they stand to benefit more, working with us as opposed to all other alternatives. We recommend that interested artists listen to the music we’ve produced in the past and read through our website as a preliminary step, evaluating the consistent quality of our work, which in the music business is the most important test. Artists may feel free to contact us any time or send us their press kits here: 44 Music Square East 314; Nashville, TN 37203; (615) 500 4411; severerecords7@yahoo.com. We are like doctors on call around the clock.
4. Who pays for the project?
-In the event that Severe Records LLC makes an offer, there are three distinct possible financers to cover cost of production and possibly promotion: 1. Severe Records LLC; 2. the artist; or 3. third-party investors. In determining which of these Severe Records LLC will ask to assume the fiscal risk, a host of economic and market factors come into play, including (1) the artist’s bargaining power, (2) likelihood of success, (3) supply and demand, (4) common sense, and (5) opportunity cost are controlling. Using a sliding scale, artists should understand that if a third-party invests in their career, they will reasonably require proportional benefits in exchange for their relative risks based on their economic expectations. Conversely, the more risk the artist incurs, the more ownership and control he will retain. Other basic financial axioms that come to bare this issue are as follows: (1) it takes money to make money; (2) the relative size of the respective parties piece of the pie does not necessarily matter, but the total size of the overall pie does (e.g. would an artist rather have half of a grape or 1/3rd of a grapefruit); (3) 100% of nothing is nothing; and (4) if your going to make music your business, you must have adequate start-up capital and a plan. Importantly, as a result of guitar center and the internet, the days of hand outs to unproven artists are basically over. The good news is that because of new technology, artists can do more on their own. The bad news is that they are expected to. The more an artist does in building his career initially, the less risk third parties have to assume, thereby causing the artist to become a more attractive investment. Yet, artists simply cannot do all that is required of them. The issues are too complex, and they will inevitably be stretched too thin, especially since time is of the essence. After all, just booking and managing a website can be a full-time job for an artist.
5. What is Severe Records LLC’s goal for its clients?
-Our goal is to help artists create a foundation so that they can survive independently, if necessary, and become attractive to distributors, publishers, agencies, managers, publicists, radio promoters, music supervisors, and the like. We seek to assist artists in legitimately winning the support of two constituencies, - fans and industry members. Both are important and neither can be arbitrarily disregarded.
6. What is Severe Records LLC’s ® internal corporate goal?
Severe Records LLC’s five-year corporate goal is to become the Sub Pop/Fueled by Ramen/Militia Group/Drive Through Records/Geffen Records in Music City. We can only do so by support of fans and the artistic community. Entertainment remains the second biggest export from the United States, and economically speaking, there is no reason why New York and LA should have a monopoly on the best genres of music, when the infrastructure to create and promote those types is better suited here.
7. How long does it take Severe Records to complete a record from start to finish?
-Two to four months on average. We don’t work by the hour. We work until the project is properly completed.
8. What if the artist is from another country or from another state - is distance a factor in being able to work with Severe Records LLC?
-No, distance has never been a factor. Our methods get around the issue effectively. In fact, we sometimes prefer working with artists that are based outside of Nashville, believing that most artists should eventually leave their hometown to record. Live in New York and LA, record here.
9. Which kinds of artists does Severe Records want to work with ideally?
Since we work very closely with our “current artists” and deal with them almost daily, we typically seek to work with artists who are (1) incredibly talented; (2) somewhat easy to work with (at least when dealing with their team); (3) unique/special, while appealing to a specific target audience; (4) driven, being relentlessly committed to the pursuit of forward progress, having an exceptionally strong work-ethic, (5) full of personality, intangibles, and faith; (6) committed to a meaningful cause, standing for something or having “something to say”(even if we don’t agree with it); (7) the right age and look; (8) aware that “time is of the essence,” since time is, in fact, compressed in the music business; (9) capable of demonstrating a track record of growth, having at least some tour history and musical credentials; (10) able to honestly discern their strengths and weaknesses; (11) knowledgeable of at least music industry basics – having at minimum read “All You Need To Know About the Music Industry”; (12) natural leaders, (10) road warriors, capable of booking their own shows; (13) excellent managers of their live show; (14) great at sales; (15) serious about their career and team oriented; (16) result focused; (17) solvent; (18) with few or no dependents or problematic significant others who are unsupportive of their music goals; (19) not managed by a parent, unless the parent is reasonably objective, has had music business experience or enjoyed major success in the business world, has a law degree or MBA; and (20) persuasive in compelling third parties to invest their time and money into their career. Not any one of these characteristics is indispensable. Yet, some combination of them are ideal from our perspective. Importantly, we like to work with artists from whom we can learn something from too. In short, we want to work with true artists who will leave something of value behind in this life time; however, we do not require that the artists write all of their own material.
9. Is luck a factor in the music business?
-Not necessarily. Degree of talent, capital, planning, and skills of team members can overcome variables such as “luck.”
10. What are some reasons an aspiring artists should want Severe Records to produce their next record?
a. In every project Severe Records undertakes, we diligently and earnestly aim to create a timeless masterpiece. Not only are the records a tangible fixed medium that the artist can be proud of for the rest of his life, but also his most important business asset, next to the artist himself. While it takes more than a good record to succeed, the odds an artist having sustainable success without one are likely nil. Whereas an artist can only be in one place at one time, the recordings can theoretically be everywhere at all the times.
b. All artists are in business, whether they know it or not, and their business is selling products such as records, merchandise, live performances, ring tones…ect. We help artists get saleable products that the public and industry will want to buy.
c. Every artist should make at least one perfect record that constitutes his best foot forward before seeking representation with major label distributors or coveted
agencies/management. It is a pity when an artist’s live show is better than his record because the recordings should constitute the one performance that is undeniably the artist’s best performance, since it is merely a controllable performance.
d. If and only if Severe Records LLC produces the artist’s record, we will strongly advocate the artist’s interest wherever reasonably appropriate. Conversely, in the event that Severe Records LLC does not produce the record, no services shall be rendered nor benefits provided.
e. Severe Records LLC is not only a beneficial team member, it can help determine which other necessary third-party team members will add value and which ones will constitute the “wrong fit” or a foreseeable liability to the artist. Such knowledge and insight alone can be invaluable to an artist’s career, serving as a major time saver and source of direction.
f. After recommending which independent promotional contractors to employ, Severe Records LLC serves as a watchdog, making sure that all third parties perform their job’s in good faith on the artist behalf.
g. Making a quality record and employing promotional strategies at a level that gets material results requires sophisticated experts. More often than not, artists who believe that they can self-produce their records and achieve desirable results are in for a lot of wasted time and money, suffering possibly irreparable opportunity costs. The notion that an artist can do everything on his own because of self-entitlement is an illusion.
h. If a record is not produced with professionals, inevitably the artist will have to redo it, having to pay for it twice with their time and money.
i. There are simply too many complex issues for an artist to go it alone. Consider, for example, registering copyrights in China. (Severe Records services do not include the practice of law).
j. Severe Records LLC’s recordings speak for themselves. By putting the emphasis on the music, everything else typically falls into place.
l. The studios and equipment that Severe Records LLC uses in making records are amongst the best in the world. Severe Records LLC uses millions of dollars worth of gear in making records, using not only its own studio, but also the premier studios in Nashville. For example, the microphones that Severe Records LLC uses cost $18,000 apiece and the console, over $500,000. There is a reason why the gear costs what it does; and it would be hard for an artist to make a high quality record on his Mbox or at his hometown local studio, unless he lives in New York, LA, or London.
m. It is clearly the case that Nashville is currently the best place in the world to record because of the relative inexpensive price to record relative to New York, L.A., and London. The gear and players are arguably better here than in those places too.
n. Of course, it is not just about the equipment used to make a great record. The individuals producing and engineering are also major factors affecting the clarity, impact, and quality of the finished product. And certainly if an artist records anywhere other than one of the three primary music cities - Nashville, New York, or L.A. – he is already disadvantaged from the start.
o. Although Chris Sevier is the producer of all the records promoted by Severe Records LLC, the Company’s primary mixing engineer, George Tutko, studied under Andy Johns (Led Zepplin, The Rolling Stones) as his main assistant, having spent 20 years in LA where he engineered projects like Duran Duran’s “Rio,’ Meloncamp’s “Hurts So Good,” and for artist’s such as Blondie, The Rolling Stones, Kiss, Rod Stewart, and numerous other icons. George is one of the only engineers who can put up with our antiques, which says even more about him than the fact he mixed “Jack and Diane.” The young producer/experienced engineer combo has proven to be amazingly effective. From our experience, there is no engineer in Nashville with more skill and integrity than Tutko.
p. “Time is of the essences” in the music business. Artists’ careers are unique in that they are greatly compressed. Severe Records gets faster results than an artist can on his own. Time is arguably the most valuable commodity.
q. Every artist must have third-party team members and zealous advocates to achieve a sustainable threshold level of success. The quality of an artist’s team members directly correlates to the degree of subsequent success.
r. Our offers are usually non-exclusive; so that our artists are not tied down.
s. In the event that an artist seeks to establish a deal with a distributor/label, it is beneficial for the artist to present a finished product since (1) it is more difficult for an artist to be shelved; (2) the risk for the distributor is reduced, making the artist more attractive; (3) even if the distributor/label elects to re-record the album, at least it will know what the finished product will sound like, further reducing its risk; and (4) most importantly, it demonstrates that the artist is serious about having a career in music and capable of being self-sufficient.
t. The primary producer for Severe Records LLC is also a songwriter, who can help make sure that the underlying compositions are as good as possible. If an artist has great recordings and inferior songs, he will likely fail. Likewise, if the songs are good but the recordings are inferior, the artist will not succeed. Importantly, we believe that producing is an extension of songwriting. We can write the perfect parts for the musicians or co-author the underlying compositions when necessary, beyond just being talented engineers, arrangers who capture sound, and zealous advocates.
u. Chris Sevier is a member of the Tennessee Bar Association, Nashville Bar Association, and the United States District Court for the Middle district of Tennessee. He plans on becoming a member of the New York and California Bars. His understanding of entertainment law related issues combined with his "in the trenches musical experiences" makes him well equipped to advocate his clients’ interests. He is, in fact, held to higher ethical standards as an attorney, under the Modern Rules of Professional Responsibility, and applies his qualitative mindset to making records.
12. Who gets creative control?
Severe Records LLC just about always grants the artist creative control. It is his career after all. However, Severe Records LLC insists on having the right to offer any suggestion (big or small) on any issue, including creative and business ones, expecting that our suggestions will be fully considered. Sometimes we constructively represent a “whisper,” sometimes a “bull horn,” but in the end, we permit the artist to make the final call - whether creative or business.
14. Is the Music Business the most fun and rewarding industry to work in the world?
-Yes, but only if you are talented and solvent, operating under a sophisticated business plans with killer products.
15. What are the biggest killers in of an Artist’s career?
-Usually these: (1) Pride; (2) too much time passing without progress; (3) lack of start up capital; (4) inferior products; (5) team members who don’t add value; (6) poor planning; (7) lack of drive, talent, vision, and values; (8) not being informed; (9) uneducated and inexperienced managers; (10) the wrong attorney.
16. What are some highlights of your past and current Artists’ successes?
Although we are arguably, in fact, to some degree “but for causation” to our artist’s subsequent success, we play only a part and may be only be one factor amongst many. Usually, an artist’s ultimate success or failure rests entirely on them, or subsequent advocates who join their team after us.
17. How do I get an internship at Severe Records? Email your resume to severerecords7@yahoo.com and let us know a little about yourself, when you'd be available to start and what you'd be interested in doing here. Before you do that you should know that internships are always unpaid and you will be responsible for finding a place to live during your internship. We are always looking for bright individuals who are motivated to work in the music industry.
Ahmet Ertegun President of Atlantic Records: "walk slowly, and maybe you'll run into a genius."
Thanks,
Chris Sevier Esq.
CEO and President of Severe Records
mail material to 44 Music Square East 314, Nashville, TN 37203
A&R: (615) 500 4411
severerecords7@yahoo.com
severerecords.com
Bruce A&R at (615) 612-8068
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