Hilltop Records have reached the new low. Please read this

[M.Jordan]

1680 NORTH VINE STREET, STE. 321 • HOLLYWOOD, CA 90028 • (323) 469-3366

Dear ...................
-A few weeks-ago ! watched the-TV-pregrams honoring the 10^th Anniversary of 9/11. It was an historic day. At Ground Zero, families gathered, still grieving the tragic loss of loved ones. They mourned in the shadow of a new building that will be taller than the Twin Towers - a shimmering citadel climbing back into the New York sky. One TV station interviewed a young man from the Midwest who was writing a song about it... about how America is building it bigger and better, unafraid, and moving forward. The Songwriter said that he writes songs about America, and all of his songs come from the heart.
Ever since 9/11 Americans have been hungry to hear songs about America. Whether it's Beyonce singing "God Bless America" or a young Mid-westerner writing a song about Ground Zero, radio stations are playing them. TV is programming stories about them. And at HillTop, we believe in them. We know there is a demand.
HillTop Records is proud to announce HEARTLAND, a new CD album project dedicated to songs from the heart - songs with an American voice. HEARTLAND will be recorded by the best musicians in the business. Members of our team have worked with Trisha Yearwood, George Strait, Barry Manilow, Natalie Cole, Celine Dion, Christina Aguilera, Kenny Rogers, B.B. King, Dolly Parton, Neil Diamond - the list would fill the page. Our musicians have Gold and Platinum Records, Billboard Awards, Grammy nominations. The Songs written by our Songwriters have unprecedented access to the same professional musicians that record and perform with the biggest stars in music. Upon release, HEARTLAND CDs will be sent to radio stations and stores all over the U.S., and Songwriters with a song on HEARTLAND will be paid royalties for every CD sold.
We are looking for only the best, American songs from the heart for this exceptional project. ****** is one of those special songs; it has been chosen for a screening.
Songs selected for HEARTLAND must first pass an intense screening. This screening answers many crucial questions about arrangement and style, and the most crucial... does your song "fit" with the other selected songs to form a cohesive, powerful collection from the heart. The total cost for the screening (the pre-production) for this special project is~$495. But because your material has been favorably reviewed in the past, we will reduce the cost to you to $425. You may send your full payment with your signed contract, or $65 with the contract and $60 per month for 6 months. There is NO FINANCE CHARGE on monthly payments.
Your screening will be scheduled within 5 days after I receive your signed contract and payment. I will contact you promptly with the results. If your song does not pass its screening, you will receive a full refund. If your song passes its screening, top musicians will record your song; all costs of CD production, promotion and distribution will be paid by HILLTOP.
Since 9/11 Americans want to hear songs about America - songs from the heart. We know this is true. Radio Stations are playing them. TV is programming them. At HillTop we will record, package, promote and commercially release them. If you want your song to be a part of HEARTLAND, I must hear from you right away.
All the best,

Tom Hartman, Executive Producer 73283-HRT-364

[Davedog]

WOW. No, I really mean it. Lets pay the record companies to produce and use our material. Uh-huh. I'll bet theres no say-so in the production nor the alteration should you get accepted. Also a non-peformance clause for the writer. If they were DONATING the entry fees to the victims families that might be different. But to play up a profiteering angle like that based on someone elses tragedy is bunk.

[RemyRAD]

That's truly horrific. If someone trying to profit upon someone else's loss. That's crazy. That's worse than spam. And with a statewide scam like this, it comes under federal fraud charges. Maybe I could do the same thing by telling people I will put their music on the air with my own 1 WATT FM radio station? I then couldn't be sued since it was put on the air, even if anybody/nobody in my 4 block radius could pick it up.

Don't go away... we'll be right back after this... scam...
Mx. Remy Ann David

[Thomas W. Bethel]

Reminds me of an architecture project that the local college had. It was to design a new bandstand. Each of the architects had to "contribute" one thousand dollars as an entrance fee. The winner got $5000. The college pocketed the rest of the money. Need I say more...

This record company goes to a new low but I have heard of other scams like this where young artist are asked to provide their songs and an fee for getting them on a CD that will be distributed nationally or internationally. The chances of 10 people actually getting their songs onto the CD are always very low and if there are 100 to 1000 people each paying say $500 for the "chance" to get on the CD someone is making a lot of money. What a load of BULL SH!T. The other part of the scam is usually that you sign away your rights to the songs you submit even if you do not "win" so the promoters can to sell or use the other songs for their own uses and no one can say a thing.

With more and more musicians trying to do everything themselves and finding that it is not that easy to get their stuff heard by the "right" people I am sure a lot of them may fall of these types of scams. Too bad...

[bart_R]

This makes me sick to the stomach.

[lambchop]

I guess it's time to fill in the blank.

Sickening Con Artist M__________!

[bart_R]

I guess it's time to fill in the blank.

Sickening Con Artist Mother****er!

Hows that?

[lambchop]

Yeah, that's basically where I was going with it.

[jasonthomas]

Some people are just completely heartless.

[Ryan Edward]

It's totally heartless, just like building a Muslim awareness center on Ground Zero.