McLaren
Premium
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- Texas
It's an interesting entrepeneurial setup that they have going. For $2000, they will write and produce a song for your child, and make a music video to go with it. The idea is that it's a cheap way for a talented young person to get their foot in the door with a professionally-made recording package. It's not a vanity project - though some will treat it that way - but intended as a legitimate route into the recording industry. But I've heard some of the other "songs" they've produced, and the problem is that every last one is wired up with auto-tune. And not only is it really obvious when you use auto-tune, but it makes it really difficult to identify talent because it can make anyone sound good.
It's a good way to try and make money when you aren't good enough as a management/production company to actually try and make money the "hard" way.
Who said they were buying their way into the industry? One of the most direct ways to use talent to get into the recording business is to make a demo tape and to try and get producers to listen to it. This simply takes the concept of a demo tape to a new level by having it professionally done and getting someone to help you promote yourself. There are some who will pay the $2000 for the novelty of having their kid singing with a music video, and others with misguided impressions that they can actually sing, but at its heart, the idea is little more than a glorified demo tape. Having heard several of the songs these people have to produce, I'd have to say they've gone about it in entirely the wrong way, and all of them have little to no redeeming value, but if the concept itself had been applied correctly, then I think it would have been a good idea. There are plenty of good acts out there who can't break into the industry; an organisation that offered them an affordable and professional recording package to promote themselves could be just the thing they need.
A little bit of both. It appears that the idea was originally intended as a demo tape, and for all intents and purposes, it is - but some people who sign up to it will use it as a vanity project.
But it's more than just a recording. The video is probably the most expensive part to make, and the idea behind it is to not simply produce a high-quality production (ignoring the arguments that anything using auto-tune cannot be considered quality), but to get an artist into regular rotation with a music video and radio play. More exposure equals a better chance of getting noticed.
