Nelson based international country star Aly Cook does country, Nashville style. She recorded her first album in Nashville.

Building a network the way she has is one path to independent success so we thought a few leading questions may reveal a little more.

1. What is your goal with Sellaband? What made you think at first it would work for you?

I’m heading for a goal of US$20,000. I saw New Zealand Artist Katie Thompson on the news having used Sellaband to raise a US$50,000 recording budget and went and saw the fan funding platform for the first time. I thought this solved a lot of bigger issues with in the industry as a model [it] put ownership back in the hands of fans. i.e. you buy the music [and] you own part of the project. I had a good global fanbase that I’ve built up, so that set me off to a good start.

2. Has the idea of a budget to record your album changed your artistic view of how to proceed? How did the reduction of the goal from 50k to 20k affect your ideas?

I was pleased to see reduction become available, as when I joined you had to go for 50k and that seemed a long way off .. as 20k in my case is to finish an album. I already have 4 tracks and had recorded one on a NZOA new artist grant for the rest of it .. I have begged borrowed etc., [starting with] 0 in my budget. So I can make this budget of US$20,000 go a long way!

3. How much time do you recommend one devotes to building a network as opposed to getting your sellaband total up day by day? That long? Really?

Well it goes hand in hand really and networking is the number one thing for getting action in business, that’s any business really. I guess I focus on networking and the sellaband total growing, has fallen into place. It is not only the money but out of the 134 believer/investors so far with a total of over 10,890 between them. I have now a new communications company [that] has developed a website of my dreams, several writers – some have ended up in printed magazine in the UK .. as well as Ezines, I’ve co-written a new song with a believer and have a studio project with another ..

4. Is your website important? Does it act as a focal point for your social networks? Which social networks work best for a tech savvy musician like you, Aly?

I don’t know about the tech savvy lol .. I’ve got great help thanks to Philippe at my new communications company PHMC GPE LLC with offices in Newark USA, Marseille France, Brussels and the UK – they are the ones who have built my amazing new site at AlyCook.com. [The] bar at the bottom of my page integrates all of the social networking sites under one roof bar.. so it is easy to share and visit any social networking whilst on my page.

The Sellaband site is also wrapped in the site also.

I like Facebook the most as it allows you to connect with all kinds of people in all walks of life. Myspace I find is more full of lots of musicians.. and its great but in a different way ..

and Twitter is Tweets with are just short messages .. and easily integrated with Facebook ..

5. Do you see a world where musicians work is enhanced by the demand for new work with these new models of music distribution? Not so much a competition between brands or even media. But the audience participating at a whole new level?

Yes and it’s great. The old models of the music business are in shreds mainly because of the file sharing and peoples’ general behaviours. This model/platform give ownership to fans and friends over the music. When someone buys a part in an artist on Sellaband they don’t just get a CD they get a share in that CD income .. There are differents deals .. Recently US Rappers Public Enemy decided to use the model to raise 250k for their new album. Parts are $25.00 each and 33% of the income of the album is split between the investor/believers.

I have a goal of 20k and offer 40% of publishing and 50% of sales

6. Any tips for new bands?

Just get a database of fans, friend supporters together and grow it .. connect with your audience live and online..

Never let a person pass by with out getting their email address and never let an opportunity pass you by .. You create your own luck if you work hard enough.

7. How about old bands. Could Sellaband redefine “The Comeback?”

Absolutely .. infact that would be easy as long as they are free of their contracts from previous labels .. or, that label could use the sellaband platform.

Thank you for telling AucklandMusic readers about your experience with Sellaband, Aly.

Links:
Aly Cook
Aly’s Sellaband