The millionaire manager behind rappers Diddy and 50 Cent is offering his ear online to aspiring musicians hoping to make it big. Chris Lighty, the head of Violator Management, will launch Pleaselistentomydemo.com – a website where, for $10, wanna-be artists can upload their songs, starting Monday. Lighty, co-founder Michael Dizon and other staff will then take a listen and give feedback. See details after the jump.
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“We are in the Internet age,” Lighty, 42, said. “There are so many creative people out there. We are not reaching everybody. Just listen to the radio. It’s the same 15 artists all day everyday.”
The Bronx native said he thought of the idea three years ago after noticing music fans turning to “American Idol” and YouTube looking for fresh talent.
“We won’t Simon Cowell you out. We will give you feedback. If we like it or dislike it,” Lighty said.
Wanna-be artists must pay $10 for each song uploaded to the website. Lighty and other staff will respond to each person within a week. He said he will also pass on potential hits “to my contacts.”
The site will feature the best songs and make them available to the public. And the best of the best will go to radio station Hot 97 for a shot at the airwaves.
“This will hopefully help music as a whole,” said Ebro Darden, Hot 97 program director.
Not all city musicians were sold on the idea.
“You have no control,” said rapper Luminadi, 31, who is currently recording her first album on her own. “How can you trust them? They can take your idea and give it to someone else.”
Country singer Harold Allen, performing on the L train platform in the Union Square station, said he’s never heard any success stories from similar music-sharing site Taxi.Com.
“It’s like playing the Lotto,” Allen said. “I make better money playing down here.”
Twenty-year-old Bronx rapper LVG said it’s worth the risk.
“Paying $10 may make you a million one day,” LVG said. “You have so many artists trying to make it. It will be poppin’.”
