Don’t be flattered if Quickstar Productions has contacted you on myspace because they love your song. You are one of many they hope to make a quick buck of off. I signed up for a project in Nov. 2009, and paid in advance for copies of CD’s I still have not received by September 2010. I will try to keep an up to date list of links here that will hopefully convince you to steer clear.

Quickstar Productions BBB rating:

http://www.bbb.org/greater-maryland/business-reviews/recording-service-sound-and-video/quickstar-productions-in-baltimore-md-90097770

My blog with full details of my experience, plus helpful comments from other artists (Check the comment section for help filing a complaint with the BBB):

http://www.havenyates.com/blog/?p=166

A helpful myspace forum with up to date comments from artists currently working with Quickstar Productions:

http://forums.myspace.com/t/3804489.aspx?fuseaction=forums.viewthread&PageIndex=1&SortOrder=0

More helpful information on Quickstar Productions, and others to steer clear of:

http://neverpaytoplay.com/MISC/&NP2Pmisc.htm

Here is what people are saying on the Myspace forum:

• QuickStar Productions- A scam?
  I don't really want to go off topic, but this guy just spammed me with another distribution contract that looks a lot like Distrophonix, only worse (if possible). I was just wondering if anybody else got it. The message was from a guy called Young Dread, and read as follows: I think you have what it takes for Video Games, Movie Soundtrack Placement and Grammy Ballot Submission...and because of my affiliation (with the publishing company I own & manage)...I can help you...if you are serious and interested. I can also help with radio campaigns, ringtone distribution and more. Let me know if you are serious about your career. If you make music for fun or a hobby...keep up the good work (but it might not be worth looking into perusing a relationship with me) If you make music for a living or want to start making a living off your music like me...let me know -young dread I acted interested, and he sent me this contract (looks way sketchy. Real publishers DON'T make you pay as he does by the end): You can select 6 out of 8 services below: -Major Digital Distribution of your single or entire CD on 300 online retailers (iTunes, Amazon, Zune, Rhapsody, Napster). This is through IODA a partner of Sony Music Entertainment. You will get paid 80% of all royalties ever business quarter.  -Global Ringtone Distribution  -One Email Blast to 100,000 Industry Contacts (including DJ's, Promoters, A&R's, Venues, Etc)  -Grammy Ballot Submission -College, Internet and FM Radio Campaign (We contact our various DJ’s and have them play your music)  -Marketing and Promotion of your music on social network sites, podcast, and blogs  -MySpace Stream Play Registration (So you can start earning per play on your myspace page)  -Advice, Mentoring, Major Network Referrals For Additional Services (Graphic Design & Merchandising)  Check out some FAQ below and when you are ready let me know. Reply back here if you are interested and please include a URL to your music page. Do not attach mp3's (craigslist will not allow your files to be delivered because of the size).  If you need help or have additional questions…let me know. I hope we can get started soon!  How Long Will It Take For My Music To Be Available For Download?  We will send your music to the retailers as soon as we have everything converted and formatted. Each retailer has their own policies to be completed before the songs are available. This time will depend per store.  What If My Band Gets Signed To a Label?  If that label does not deal with digital distribution, we will continue to distribute your music. However, if the label does, we will work with that label to transfer over the distribution rights.  How long does my distribution contract last?  The distro contract lasts for 14 months. That gives us a month to get everything in all stores, a full year of sales, and a month to pull everything out of the stores. If you wish to renew your contract at the end of 14 months you do not have to do anything. It will automatically renew for another 14 months. If you wish to cancel simply let us know and it will be done.  Do I have to pay for statements like other distributors?  No. Our statements are always free. We automatically issue them with each payment. We do not agree with making you pay to see where your sales are coming from.  What is digital distribution?  It is the distribution of music in a digital format. We make your song available for purchase in digital retail stores.  How do I get my music in video games like RockBand?  Your music has to be in the proper format for each game. If you already have this done we can make your song available for purchase on various video games. If your music is not already formatted for video games our partner company can take care of this.  Where Will My Music Be Sold?  We distribute your music into a multitude of digital retailers; iTunes, Napster, AmazonMP3, ZUNE,WalMart.com & Rhapsody are just a couple of the online retailers that will be selling your music. We service over 300 mp3 retailers worldwide.  Am I Signing The Copyrights Over To You?  No! You retain all rights to your music. The only thing you sign to us is the rights to distribute your music in digital format.  What will I need to get started?  I will need to know if you are working an entire LP, EP or single. Please send 4 high resolution jpgs, audio (mp3 320kps preferred…if not…we can fix it), bio, press releases etc (we can help with this for no additional fee if you need help). You will also need to send your $200.00 payment using paypal (only $100.00 to get started for new clients). If we approve your music...we will request these items.   Is my $200 due before we get started?  No...we only require half and you pay the other half once you see your music online & we have started working on the other services we extend with your offer. Please send payment and requested items to: Employment@TheYoungDread.com Young Dread Grammy Voting Member/A&R Consultant
• QuickStar Productions- A scam?
  [quote user="havenyates"] <blockquote>"Distrophonix can put your music on iTunes for less that anyone else!!!"[/quote] LOL, "less THAT anyone else!!!" I just noticed that. It is the actual add - I just googled it and copy and pasted. That's what happens when you're working so hard to keep your adds up on Craiglist worldwide when they keep getting flagged. :/ </blockquote>
• QuickStar Productions- A scam?
  [quote user="Distrophonix"] This will not be fixed until April of 2010 when the current webhosting expires and we can move everything into our name. [/quote] Did you mean 2011? Even so, I would transfer the domain immediately. Also, if what you say is true, please post a revised distro contract publicly available ASAP. So if Quickstar started a DBA Distrophonix, there should be a registered assumed business name license, correct? I couldn't find one in the Maryland license directory. What "Assets" did you "buy" from Quickstar? I guess I can understand the distribution directory, but other than that, they shouldn't really have any "assets." In their own words, they take payments from artists, then make really large orders from replication companies such as CD Man. So really, they are just a middle man with a really large markup. 20 artists pay $165 a piece to be featured on a compilation CD and receive 50 copies, that's $1650 dollars up front. I could go to Discmakers (a reputable company) right now and get 1000 CD's (with barcode) for $910. So, cost is actually $45.50 for 50 artist copies. That makes $165 quite a markup. And what is your business model? Quickstar went under for a reason. They were big spammer scammers that acted as a middle man to provide something relatively worthless considering the easy direct access for the DIY musician. So here's what Distrophonix does: "Distrophonix can put your music on iTunes for less that anyone else!!!" posted on every Craigslist around the world until it is rightfully flagged as an over-post, and too commercial, and they do it again. Listen, if you really are somebody who bought Distrophonix from Quickstar Productions, you just got scammed like the rest of us. You have no credentials behind the products you offer, which by itself could kill your business. Then you have the association with Quickstar - actually having partnered with Quickstar, which means you must've had some confidence in their business model. No amount of spam is going to fix that.
• QuickStar Productions- A scam?
  Thank you for pointing out our lawyers oversight. We were operating the distribution as a DBA until we had the money to buy out the distribution channels from Quickstar, that is why the contract was written that way. We now own the distribution network so we can update the contract. As for the website listing. I mentioned in the first post that we bought assets from Quickstar. One of those things was the database and web hosting. So of course it would still have Quickstar's name as a web owner. This will not be fixed until April of 2010 when the current webhosting expires and we can move everything into our name. Why do it now when we have prepaid for webhosting left over from Quickstar??? As for Callies comment. I apologize for my bad grammar ;) While the reputation of Quickstar has been seriously damaged it did make sense for us to buy their distribution network and database. By doing that we got instant connections and access to marketing opportunities that if we had developed on our own it would have taken years. The only bad point was that we now have Quickstar clients who are suddenly bringing us into their problems. Their really isn't anything we can do to fix what they did nor were we responsible. So its not fair to blame and connect us to their mistakes.
• QuickStar Productions- A scam?
  [quote user="Callie Edwards"] <blockquote><img src="http://x.myspacecdn.com/modules/forums/static/img/icon-quote.gif" alt="" /> <strong>Distrophonix:</strong><br />I am sorry that their seems to be some confusion about Distrophonix and Quickstar Productions. The two companies are completely separate. We purchased a portion of Quickstar Productions assets, office space, database, product line and distribution catalog. They sold it to us, but now honestly we wish that we did not take it because all of a sudden we have people who had worked with Quickstar who are now angry with us. That just doesn't seem fair at all. Distrophonix has nothing to do with Quickstar's problems.<br /><br />We have met with Quickstar Productions and discussed the issues we are facing because of their problems. They have assured us that they will be releasing a accounting as to what went wrong and they are selling remaining assets to get the money to make up for the losses they sustained.<br /><br />The only thing we ask is that everyone that has dealt with Quickstar Productions to please stop connecting the two of us when we are separate companies. If you have a problem with Quickstar Productions please discuss it with them, not us.<br /></blockquote><br /><br /><br />You run a company with grammar like that? No wonder it all went down the tubes.<br /><br />There is no way on earth that either side of this "company" is any sort of legitimately run business. People with business degrees would know, first of all, to thoroughly investigate all aspects of a company under consideration for investment purchase so as to avoid being held accountable for such things.<br /><br />And secondly, anything that might have managed to slip through the cracks (scandals, deliberately hidden and unfulfilled contracts, etc.) would not be dealt with in such a manner; badmouthing the bought-out business on an internet forum is exceptionally poor style, more befitting immature high school tactics.[/quote] Sic em, girl. This is a notoriously bad place for scammers to be. For myself, I've had no dealings with any of these outfits. I thought this might be a tiny little thread by a solitary person who got robbed. I truly feel shocked by the number of people who have been scammed by these people! OK so here a few handful but this is just a little forum so how many are there on the gigantic ocean of the Internet?
• QuickStar Productions- A scam?
  [quote user="Distrophonix"] I am sorry that their seems to be some confusion about Distrophonix and Quickstar Productions. The two companies are completely separate. We purchased a portion of Quickstar Productions assets, office space, database, product line and distribution catalog. They sold it to us, but now honestly we wish that we did not take it because all of a sudden we have people who had worked with Quickstar who are now angry with us. That just doesn't seem fair at all. Distrophonix has nothing to do with Quickstar's problems.<br /><br />We have met with Quickstar Productions and discussed the issues we are facing because of their problems. They have assured us that they will be releasing a accounting as to what went wrong and they are selling remaining assets to get the money to make up for the losses they sustained.<br /><br />The only thing we ask is that everyone that has dealt with Quickstar Productions to please stop connecting the two of us when we are separate companies. If you have a problem with Quickstar Productions please discuss it with them, not us.<br />[/quote] You run a company with grammar like that? No wonder it all went down the tubes. There is no way on earth that either side of this "company" is any sort of legitimately run business. People with business degrees would know, first of all, to thoroughly investigate all aspects of a company under consideration for investment purchase so as to avoid being held accountable for such things. And secondly, anything that might have managed to slip through the cracks (scandals, deliberately hidden and unfulfilled contracts, etc.) would not be dealt with in such a manner; badmouthing the bought-out business on an internet forum is exceptionally poor style, more befitting immature high school tactics.
• QuickStar Productions- A scam?
  [quote user="havenyates"]http://whois.domaintools.com/distrophonix.com [/quote] Whoops. Busted! Good work, Mr. Yates.
• QuickStar Productions- A scam?
  Please go to the Better Business Bureau and ask for a report on Distrophonix here: http://www.bbb.org/us/WWWRoot/AskForNewBBBReport.aspx?sq=111910127 The BBB wasn't happy to hear that the Distrophonix site had the BBB accredited seal. That is down now, and it's time for the next step - a report from a reputable source. In the meantime: Distrophonix is Quickstar - http://whois.domaintools.com/distrophonix.com Distrophonix is Quickstar - http://www.distrophonix.com/forms/distrophonix.html
• QuickStar Productions- A scam?
  Who owns the Distrophonix domain? http://whois.domaintools.com/distrophonix.com Who do you go into a distribution agreement with legally when you distribute through Distrophonix? http://www.distrophonix.com/forms/distrophonix.html Before they take it down or hide it, this is the Distrophonix agreement (Check out the QUICKSTAR PRODUCTIONS part in the beginning): Distrophonix Digital Distribution Agreement This agreement describes the legal relationship between you, ______________ (an individual representing yourself, or if applicable, acting as legal representative for a band, group, or other musical entity) and Distrophonix a music distributor owned and operated by Quickstar Productions LLC Quickstar Productions is a LLC consisting of Joseph Bird, Brenden Bosmans, and Bryan Bosmans with offices at 517 Cathedral Street, Suite B, Baltimore, MD 21201. Please read this document carefully. By signing on the "I AGREE" line you will be bound by this agreement. From this point on, for the sake of this agreement you shall be referred to as the RIGHTS HOLDER or RIGHTS HOLDERS. 1. DEFINITIONS OF TERMS USED IN THIS AGREEMENT. Digital Master: digital master or digital masters means copies of the RIGHTS HOLDERS content in digital form, which DISTROPHONIX may sell via permanent digital download, streams or burns, as individual tracks or as a whole album. Distributor: distributor means any third party, such as Rhapsody, Listen.com, Launch.com, Napster, MusicNow, and Apple's iTunes, that DISTROPHONIX may authorize to carry out the marketing, distribution, and sale or other use of the Digital Masters. Term: term means the period beginning as the effective date of this agreement and ending fourteen months after the effective date. The effective date is the date in which the last party signs the agreement. At that point in time the agreement shall automatically renew for fourteen month periods based on general market value. Territory: territory means the universe. Rights Holders Content: means sound recordings and musical compositions the RIGHTS HOLDER has made available to DISTROPHONIX for distribution. Any content provided to DISTROPHONIX must be owned, or controlled by the RIGHTS HOLDER or have been cleared for use and distribution by the RIGHTS HOLDER. DISTROPHONIX is not legally liable in anyway for any content that is submitted to them which is stolen or otherwise used without permission from the original rights holder. Artwork: artwork means album cover art and any other artwork relating to the RIGHTS HOLDER. DISTROPHONIX has permission to use this artwork as it sees fit to market the RIGHTS HOLDERS digital masters. Any artwork submitted to DISTROPHONIX must be cleared for use by the RIGHTS HOLDER. DISTROPHONIX is not legally liable for any content which is stolen or otherwise used without permission from the original rights holder. Material: material is content provided to DISTROPHONIX by the RIGHTS HOLDER. This includes content for conversion into digital masters, digital masters themselves, and artwork. Catalog: the catalog means the total of all of the material provided to DISTROPHONIX for distribution by the RIGHTS HOLDER. 2. AUTHORIZATION. Subject to the terms of this agreement the RIGHTS HOLDER herby appoints DISTROPHONIX as the exclusive authorized representative for the sale and other distribution of digital masters. Accordingly, RIGHTS HOLDER hereby grants an exclusive right to DISTROPHONIX, during the term, to: 2.1. Reproduce and convert RIGHTS HOLDERS content delivered by the RIGHTS HOLDER into Digital Masters. 2.2. Perform and make thirty (30) second clips of the RIGHTS HOLDERS content available by streaming ("clips") to promote the sale and distribution of applicable digital masters. 2.3. Promote, sell, distribute, and electronically fulfill and deliver Digital Masters as individual tracks or entire albums. 2.4. Display and deliver artwork for personal use in conjunction with the applicable purchased Digital Master. 2.5. Use RIGHTS HOLDERS content, artwork as reasonably necessary to fulfill DISTROPHONIX obligations as outlined by this agreement. 2.6. DISTROPHONIX can authorize or appoint any distributors of their choice (such as launch.com, Napster, Apple iTunes, etc.) to perform activities 1-5 as outlined above. 3. RIGHTS HOLDER OBLIGATIONS 3.1. The RIGHTS HOLDER shall obtain and pay for any necessary clearances and licenses in the territory of all RIGHTS HOLDERS content and artwork. The RIGHTS HOLDER is responsible for the pay of any royalties and or any other income due to artist, authors, co-authors, copyright owners, co-copyright owners, producers, or other royalty participants or publishers from the sales or other uses of digital masters. 3.2. The RIGHTS HOLDER must advertise that their music is available for stream, purchase, or download on distribution services such as Apple iTunes, Napster, Launch.com, Musicmatch, etc. They must advertise this verbally at any public performance that the RIGHTS HOLDER performs at or that the RIGHTS HOLDERS material is performed at. In addition they must advertise this fact on the RIGHTS HOLDERS website as well as any sites where it leases space such as Purevolume.com or MySpace.com. 3.3. If the RIGHTS HOLDER has Digital Masters available for purchase on Apple iTunes they must provide a link to their storefront through the RIGHTS HOLDERS website so that their fans may be able to easily purchase their material. 3.4. If there is any occasion where the RIGHTS HOLDER has reasonable beliefs that they no longer control the rights to authorize DISTROPHONIX and any other distributors to use the digital masters or artwork any longer they must inform DISTROPHONIX. At that point DISTROPHONIX will cease further distribution of the digital masters and artwork and make every reasonable effort to have the digital masters and artwork pulled from the third party distributors such as Apple iTunes, Napster, Musicmatch, etc. DISTROPHONIX, at this point, has 30 days to send the request to the retail stores for removal of product. The actual removal of product depends on the standards of each individual retail store. The RIGHTS HOLDER shall not withdraw RIGHTS HOLDERS content if such RIGHTS HOLDERS content is being made available or is intended to be made available by RIGHTS HOLDER to any other provider of digital downloads, streams, or burns. 3.5. The RIGHTS HOLDER is responsible for providing any parental advisory information in regards to a digital master to DISTROPHONIX. DISTROPHONIX shall then forward this information to any of its distributors. 3.6. The changing of a band or groups name, the removal or addition of any members, or changing the entity's name in any other way does not void this contract in anyway. DISTROPHONIX shall still have the right to distribute the digital masters. The RIGHTS HOLDER should make DISTROPHONIX aware in writing as soon as possible if a band or group has changed its name for any reason. 4. OWNERSHIP The RIGHTS HOLDER retains all copyrights to materials, digital masters, and artwork. At no time does DISTROPHONIX control the copyrights or equivalent rights of any of the provided material. The only right which DISTROPHONIX has is the exclusive right to distribute digital masters as outlined in this agreement. Under no circumstance shall DISTROPHONIX have any lesser rights than it would have as a member of the public. 5. GENERAL PROVISIONS 5.1. DISTROPHONIX and any of its distributors shall have the unrestricted right to market, promote, and advertise the digital masters available for purchase as it determines in its discretion. DISTROPHONIX and any of its distributors shall have the right to determine which sound recordings, irrespective of any particular artist, record company or label affiliation, would best further their commercial purposes, and to promote such sound recordings more than others. 5.2. DISTROPHONIX has the right to amend this agreement if current laws change concerning digital masters or it sees fit to do so otherwise. If any changes are to be made the RIGHTS HOLDER shall be informed within 30 days. The RIGHTS HOLDER at that time may either agree to the new terms or shall have the sole recourse to terminate this agreement and all other relations with DISTROPHONIX. 5.3. DISTROPHONIX may terminate this agreement only with the written permission of the RIGHTS HOLDER. A request by DISTROPHONIX to terminate this agreement must be submitted in writing to the RIGHTS HOLDER to be considered. 5.4. The RIGHTS HOLDER may terminate this agreement only with the written permission of DISTROPHONIX. A request by the RIGHTS HOLDER to terminate this agreement must be submitted in writing to DISTROPHONIX to be considered. 5.5. DISTROPHONIX has the right to shop the catalog to other labels. They may be monetarily compensated for the sale of catalog or through a "finders fee" paid by the third party label. They may not however, be allowed to sell distribution rights to RIGHTS HOLDERS material without the direct written consent of the RIGHTS HOLDER. 5.6. In no event shall either party be liable to the other party for indirect, incidental, consequential, or special damages, including loss of profits or punitive damages, even if advised of their possibility. 5.7. The RIGHTS HOLDER will indemnify and hold harmless and upon DISTROPHONIX request, defend, DISTROPHONIX and its officers and employees and its distributors and affiliates from and against any and all losses, liabilities, damages, costs or expenses (including reasonable attorneys fees and costs) arising out of claim by a third party by reason of breach of any obligations as outlined by this agreement by the RIGHTS HOLDER. 5.8. Each party represents and warrants that it has the 1. full authority to act on behalf of any and all owners of any right, title, and interest in and to the RIGHT HOLDERS content. 2. has the authority to enter into this agreement and has obtained any third party consents, licenses and permissions necessary to enter into and fully perform its obligations herein. 5.9. Each party represents and warrants that it owns or controls the necessary rights to enter into this contract without infringing on a third party. 5.10. Each party represents and warrants that it shall perform in compliance with any applicable laws, rules, and regulations of any governmental authority. 5.11. No agency or joint venture. The parties agree and acknowledge that the relationship between the parties is that of independent contractors. This agreement does not create a partnership or joint venture. 5.12. Binding on successors. This agreement shall be binding on the assigns, heirs, executors, and successors. 5.13. The titles used in this agreement are for connivance only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting the agreement. 5.14. In the rare instance that one of the digital retailers chooses not to sell the RIGHTS HOLDERS song and/or album, this does not void the contract and DISTROPHONIX is not to be held liable for other fees to get the song and/or album to the standards of the retailer. DISTROPHONIX will make every effort possible to remedy the situation. 5.15. Any dispute arising out of or in connection with this contract, including any questions regarding its existence, validity or termination shall be referred to and finally resolved by arbitration under LCIA rules, which rules are deemed to be incorporated by reference into this clause. The number of arbitrators shall be one. The seat or legal place of arbitration shall be Baltimore, MD. The language used throughout arbitration proceedings shall be English. The governing law of the contract shall be the substantive law of the State of Maryland. 5.16. Neither party shall be liable in damages or have the right to terminate this Agreement for any delay or default in performing hereunder if such delay or default is caused by conditions beyond its control including, but not limited to Acts of God, Government restrictions (including the denial or cancellation of any export or other necessary license), wars, server, software, or network failures, insurrections failure of suppliers and/or subcontractors and/or any other cause beyond the reasonable control of the party whose performance is affected. As a condition to the claim of nonliability, the party experiencing the difficulty shall give the other prompt written notice, with full details following the occurrence of the cause relied upon. Dates by which performance obligations are scheduled to be met will be extended for a period of time equal to the time lost due to any delay so caused. 6. DISTROPHONIX OBLIGATIONS TO THE RIGHTS HOLDER 6.1. DISTROPHONIX shall pay the RIGHTS HOLDER 80% of all money that it receives from the sales, streams, downloads and/or burns of the RIGHT HOLDERS digital masters. 6.2. DISTROPHONIX shall provide the RIGHTS HOLDER with a statement proving how much the RIGHTS HOLDERS digital masters have made from streams, burns, and downloads and other digital sales. 6.3. DISTROPHONIX shall pay the RIGHTS HOLDER quarterly for royalties that DISTROPHONIX receives during that quarter. Payments shall be made following the standard fiscal calendar. If RIGHTS HOLDER's sales are over $1,000 in said month, the payment shall be made at the end of the month which DISTROPHONIX receives payments from digital retail stores. 6.4. DISTROPHONIX shall only pay the RIGHTS HOLDER if the amount of the percentage of profits is greater than or equal to $10.00. If the RIGHTS HOLDER percentage of profits is less than $10.00 it shall be held over and paid at the next payment period after the amount of money owed to the RIGHTS HOLDER is greater than or equal to $10.00. 6.5. If for any reason this agreement is voided DISTROPHONIX shall pay the RIGHTS HOLDER for their percentage of the profits up until the date that the agreement is voided and DISTROPHONIX no longer has the right to distribute the RIGHTS HOLDERS digital masters. 6.6. Payment to the RIGHTS HOLDER shall be made out to RIGHTS HOLDER NAME (Name that you want to appear on the check)
• QuickStar Productions- A scam?
  [quote user="Distrophonix"] Distrophonix has nothing to do with Quickstar's problems.[/quote] You are partners. How is it there is no connection? What is the Quickstar product line? Stolen music and money and unfulfilled promises, as evidenced by the testimony of many people on this thread.
• QuickStar Productions- A scam?
  I am sorry that their seems to be some confusion about Distrophonix and Quickstar Productions. The two companies are completely separate. We purchased a portion of Quickstar Productions assets, office space, database, product line and distribution catalog. They sold it to us, but now honestly we wish that we did not take it because all of a sudden we have people who had worked with Quickstar who are now angry with us. That just doesn't seem fair at all. Distrophonix has nothing to do with Quickstar's problems. We have met with Quickstar Productions and discussed the issues we are facing because of their problems. They have assured us that they will be releasing a accounting as to what went wrong and they are selling remaining assets to get the money to make up for the losses they sustained. The only thing we ask is that everyone that has dealt with Quickstar Productions to please stop connecting the two of us when we are separate companies. If you have a problem with Quickstar Productions please discuss it with them, not us.
• QuickStar Productions- A scam?
  There's never any shortage of people trying to scam the independent songwriter/musician. Many years ago when I was in New Orleans I sent some of my stuff to the U.S. library of congress for copyright. That worked just fine but shortly after I started getting letters from a supposed record label in California that said my music was great and they wanted to sign me. All I had to do was send them some money. I didn't go for it. My rule of thumb is if someone asks for money to sign you up, it's a scam. These kinds of people have always been around. The internet has just made it easier for them. A real label that is seriously interested in signing you will not ask for money up front. A lot of the compilation CD scams take your money, make a few copies so they can say they've fulfilled their end of the deal, then do no promotion or distribution at all. The fact that this particular company is hiding their scam behind the disguise of a charity is even sicker.
• QuickStar Productions- A scam?
  [quote user="MichaelECourtney"] Also I find it interesting that even though they can't seem to deliver on the CD's they've already promised to press. They are soliciting more customers on their web site to have CD's made by them.<br /><br /><br />MONTHLY SPECIAL: 1000 Retail Ready CD’s for only $899!<br /><br />Ask me for more details<br /><br /><br /><br />[/quote] Maybe that's where they make most of there money from....selling there duplication services. These companies are a dime a dozen man, every body can press CD's! Just beware of some one who tells you that "all you have to do is "buy into" a spot on a compilation disk!" That's for sure some one who's putting out a "new disk" with "new people" on it every so often and it'll take some time to get around to getting you on the next release. Again I say, I don't know if it's an all and out scam when you get down to it, just a way to make money off some one.
• QuickStar Productions- A scam?
  I am relieved to see they are finally down to an 'F' rating where they belong, as you pointed out with the BBB link I've been sharing with as many musicians as possible. http://www.bbb.org/greater-maryland/business-reviews/recording-service-sound-and-video/quickstar-productions-in-baltimore-md-90097770 The BBB also recently caught them wrongly carrying the BBB Accredited seal still on their homepage, and on the homepage of Quickstar owned Distrophonix. The seals are now finally down, and I think that may account partly for their final drop to 'F.' This was my reply to Quickstar's response to my BBB complaint: I have heard this story [the CDman bankruptcy story on the BBB], as have many of the artists on various projects I have talked to. No matter how much communication I am able to have with Quickstar, I still can never seem to get even a rough estimate on when my project is due. All I can go on is what I hear from everyone else who started a project in 2009, which is that the CD’s don’t deliver for more than a year. I’ve lost a lot of trust in this company due to the fact that: 1. They are still promising new clients physical CD’s within 3 to 5 months. 2. they are operating a side business under the name Distrophonix (www.distrophonix.com), which, though unaccredited is posing as a BBB accredited business. [this issue is now resolved] 3. I’m not sure this side business even has an assumed name business license registered in Maryland. 4. Before this story about CDman, they pretended to know nothing of what I was referring to about Quickstar demanding some of their clients take ‘Comp cards’ instead of CD’s. 5. I cannot find one client who has ever received a royalty check or statement for a digitally distributed Quickstar Compilation. A resolution to me would be if Quickstar Productions could guarantee a time in the near future that I and the other 19 artists on my volume of ‘A Call to Healing’ could expect the physical CD’s we paid for back in November 2009. Also, is there any evidence of this $70,000 order Quickstar Productions can provide? This company has lost my trust due do dishonesty is many areas, so it would be helpful if this claim had some hard evidence. I know duplication / replication, and large volume orders like this including distribution should cost less than $1.00 per CD. The actual cost for the 50 CD’s we pay $165 to $200 or more for should cost Quickstar Productions as low as $37.50 or $0.75 a piece even on orders as low as 10,000 CD’s. Even ordering 1000 at a time, it is easy to find a CD replicator who charges as low as $0.99 per CD. On the typical Quickstar Productions project, Quickstar takes in $3300-$4500 in advance for a project that the replication company should charge them no more than $990 for. So with owner pay cut, and staff cut by %50 (another excuse they made, yet the number of staff never changed on BBB) and new projects being put together regularly via myspace spam solicitation, which are payed in advance at %450 of Quickstar cost, why is it taking so long to catch up? @MichaelECourtney: I am in total agreement with you. I'm not sure I will ever get my CD's, but I will do everything I can to make sure no one else signs up with them. My Quickstar Forum Topic: http://www.havenyates.com/blog/?page_id=211&mingleforumaction=viewtopic&t=1.0
• QuickStar Productions- A scam?
  Also I find it interesting that even though they can't seem to deliver on the CD's they've already promised to press. They are soliciting more customers on their web site to have CD's made by them. MONTHLY SPECIAL: 1000 Retail Ready CD’s for only $899! Ask me for more details

The Quickstar excuse through BBB complaint system:

Hi,
I am very sorry about the delays on the project and I understand why you are upset. I feel that I should give you some background as to what the problem is. Quickstar presses its CD’s with a factory in Canada called CD Man. We had to pay upfront for the order which was normal for our relationship. We have been using them for the past few years with no issues. We placed a large CD order with them. It seemed to be taking a while so we contacted them. We got back a response from their lawyer stating that the company was in bankruptcy and that we could make a claim.
We found out that we were one of many businesses owed money and that our chances of getting anything back were slim. So just like that we lost $70,000. We have filled for the bankruptcy proceedings but we are not guaranteed to get anything back.
Needless to say this has seriously hurt the company. We have been trying to recover. We made a lot of changes. The first thing we did is eliminate all owners pay. I personally have not been paid anything since Dec. 09. We also cut staff. We are trying to do everything we possibly can to stay afloat.
We are a LLC so legally we can close up shop at anytime. But morally we have made a commitment to our customers to get them their product. We are not going to give up. Please bear with us while we try to recover from this serious hit.
I have included the original email we received from CD Man below where we found out that they went out of business with our money:
Please note that MagpieRadio Corp. has closed its doors
and all operations in Canada and the U.S. has ceased.
The assets of all previous orders are no longer available.

The CDman.com domain & 1-800# have now been acquired by Reel Pictures San Diego
and will accept new orders only. No warranty, liability or assets have been transfered to
RP San Diego.

We do apologize for the inconvenience. We uggest that you prepare these projects for
re-printing with another vendor.

Credits and refunds may be made in writing to:

MagpieRadio Corp.
4794 west 6th ave.
Vancouver, BC, Canada,
V6T1C5

* Please note that ReelPictures has no knowledge of the previous orders and will be
unable to assist you in any missing discs.

My response through the BBB:

I have heard this story, as have many of the artists on various projects I have talked to. No matter how much communication I am able to have with Quickstar, I still can never seem to get even a rough estimate on when my project is due. All I can go on is what I hear from everyone else who started a project in 2009, which is that the CD’s don’t deliver for more than a year. I’ve lost a lot of trust in this company due to the fact that:

1. They are still promising new clients physical CD’s within 3 to 5 months.

2. they are operating a side business under the name Distrophonix (www.distrophonix.com), which, though unaccredited is posing as a BBB accredited business.

3. I’m not sure this side business even has an assumed name business license registered in Maryland.

4. Before this story about CDman, they pretended to know nothing of what I was referring to about Quickstar demanding some of their clients take ‘Comp cards’ instead of CD’s.

5. I cannot find one client who has ever received a royalty check or statement for a digitally distributed Quickstar Compilation.

A resolution to me would be if Quickstar Productions could guarantee a time in the near future that I and the other 19 artists on my volume of ‘A Call to Healing’ could expect the physical CD’s we paid for back in November 2009.

Also, is there any evidence of this $70,000 order Quickstar Productions can provide? This company has lost my trust due do dishonesty is many areas,  so it would be helpful if this claim had some hard evidence.

I know duplication / replication, and large volume orders like this including distribution should cost less than $1.00 per CD. The actual cost for the 50 CD’s we pay $165 to $200 or more for should cost Quickstar Productions as low as $37.50 or $0.75 a piece even on orders as low as 10,000 CD’s. Even ordering 1000 at a time, it is easy to find a CD replicator who charges as low as $0.99 per CD. On the typical Quickstar Productions project, Quickstar takes in $3300-$4500 in advance for a project that the replication company should charge them no more than $990 for. So with owner pay cut, and staff cut by %50 (another excuse they made, yet the number of staff never changed on BBB) and new projects being put together regularly via myspace spam solicitation, which are payed in advance at %450 of Quickstar cost, why is it taking so long to catch up?

This is what I received after my rebuttal:

Complaint ID#: 36054107
Business Name: Quickstar Productions, LLC

We have received your most recent correspondence in the above-mentioned complaint.

You have indicated that you are not satisfied with the business’ response in the matter.

The business 1.)Maintains its original response to this complaint 2.) Has not responded to your rebuttal OR 3.) Has declined to participate in BBB arbitration.

Unfortunately, your BBB cannot pursue the matter further. This complaint has been closed as unresolved.

Your BBB develops and maintains Business Reports on companies in our service area. Over 500,000 consumers used our Maryland website last year to give them confidence in their business actions. This information is available to the public and is frequently used by potential customers. The company’s level of cooperation in resolving this complaint becomes a part of their file with your BBB.