European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 22, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Cover  Long and winding Road May Lead to Money by Anita Gosch staff writer a Merican Linda Rocco a studio and backup Singer in Germany tells the Story of a Friend who had been trying to break into the music scene in Europe. After having no Luck the Friend decided to test record companies she says. He sent out 10 demo cassettes All of them Blank and asked the record companies to write Back and let him know what they thought of the songs. A six different companies wrote Back and said a we Don t have time for your Type of music. Sorry about that the other four said a is this a joke there s no music on the  Quot six out of 10 did no to even listen to the cassettes. It sounds pretty funny does no to it but its  t such is the nature of the Nusic business. Talent and hard work might get you somewhere a some Day. But More often than not its a matter of whom you know. The struggle can be Worth it. A Singer who provides backup vocals on albums and on stage can make 300 to 1,500 Marks $181 to Lek a Day working not More than eight hours says Rocco a co writer studio musician George Liszt. Absolute beginners Start at the lower end of the scale. After that the fee depends on How Good you Are How Well known you Are and How Well known the person you re singing for is. A Singer who has been singing for top stars for 20 years can make up to 2,500 Marks about $1,500 a Day says Liszt. Singers who record their own albums receive royalties or percentages of album sales. The amount depends on the terms of the recording contract says Susanne Foecker manager of american Singer Tony Harrison and a former re Cord company employee. If an album Sells 1 million copies for instance a rough average for the Singer is Between 700,000 and 800,000 Marks $424,000 to $485,000. That a big Money. But first you have to gel there. It took Rocco five years of finding someone who knew someone else who knew yet someone else before she became Well enough known in Germany to be Able to a live comfortably from regular singing jobs. A it happened in the old Days that you could Send a demo cassette to a record company and they freaked out and put you under contract. That just does no to exist anymore a Rocco says. But what if you done to know anybody Rocco suggests you let your fingers do the walking while you do the singing. A just open up any Telephone Book look up studios. And Send them your demo  studio producers have More time and a greater willingness to listen to demos than record company people says Rocco. And they re better Able to pick out raw Talent from a demo tape that is perhaps a Little More raw than it should be says Manfred Schacht owner of performance studio in Frankfurt Germany. A if you Send 10 or 20 cassettes around then you get for sure four five or six jobs a adds Liszt. A at least you la get some  Rocco also recommends music publishing companies. A a it a their Job to sell songs Quot says Rocco. A if you come up with some Good songs and a Good voice on top of that  find you a Way to get a  above All Rocco says avoid the a amp a Guy. That s the legendary a artist and repertoire person at a record company the one who used to be loved and feared in the music business for Mak ing or breaking careers. A they have to make decisions and that a Why they change seats so often. If they make two or three wrong decisions Heads will Roll. Theirs is the first one that Rolls a says Rocco. According to Schacht record companies in Germany Are becoming More involved in the marketing aspect of the music business whereas studios and producers arc having a greater say in the initial selection process. Still Schacht does no to Rule out sending demos to record companies. A an artist who wants to break into the music business  Rule out any possibilities a he says. Manager Foecker agrees. But she suggests it helps to make a personal appointment with the a amp a Guy. Even then it will be Tough. Because of the technology in music today a there arc Many More people who want to get a career As a musician who probably done to even have the right to do it who done to have the qualifications for it a Folcker says. A these people flood the Market. They say a i have a music computer and i just made something real Nice and in a going to Send it out a so the record company people get so Many tapes that they done to even get a Chance to listen to those that Are really Good Quot getting your music heard is Only part of the problem. Harrison recommends getting a manager a a someone you can Trust in and believe  but it also has to be someone who knows the business and who is known in the business. A you can to choose just a Friend to be your manager but this is what i thought Back then a Harrison warns. A the did t know about the business himself. It sounds Good a yeah he a my Homeboy he a my  but its More serious than we think. With him not really knowing anything we both got  Melody Washington an american Singer in England was determined to avoid Money problems. When she started her singing career she landed an entertainment lawyer to work out All her business details. A you need to be properly advised a Washington says. A you can to just go on what you think is right. Its really a hard Industry. You need to do your Homework and keep your eyes  a amps Michat Abram Linda Rocco who Sang for Milli Vanilli records an album in Kahlsdorf Germany. Us Michaal abran Page 6 a sunday september 22. 1991