8th grade metal band signs $1.8m deal with Sony





Unlocking The Truth , a Brooklyn metal band comprised of three 8th graders, has landed a deal with Sony Music .



The trio has been on the rise since last spring, when a



Though the contract is huge, most of it is incentive laden. The band will reportedly receive a $60,000 advance, but won't see much more unless their debut album sells in excess of 250,000, an incredibly difficult feat these days.



Entertainment attorney Richard Wolfe tells the New York Post that the deal, including roughly 17% in royalties, is "slightly above" industry average.



The five-album contract was submitted to a Manhattan judge on Friday due to the age of the musicians. , a Brooklyn metal band comprised of three 8th graders, has landed a deal withThe trio has been on the rise since last spring, when a video of them performing in Times Square went viral. According to the New York Post , the band's manager said a Sony executive called him after seeing the video.Though the contract is huge, most of it is incentive laden. The band will reportedly receive a $60,000 advance, but won't see much more unless their debut album sells in excess of 250,000, an incredibly difficult feat these days.Entertainment attorney Richard Wolfe tells the New York Post that the deal, including roughly 17% in royalties, is "slightly above" industry average.The five-album contract was submitted to a Manhattan judge on Friday due to the age of the musicians.

83 comments

anonymous 7/12/2014 7:17:43 PM Black metal permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/12/2014 7:22:20 PM i have no clue how sony expects ANY band in this genre to sell 250k units on their debut permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/12/2014 7:23:36 PM stay in school kids permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/12/2014 7:49:31 PM They will literally be slaves. MLK DIDN'T DIE FOR THIS SHIT SONY! permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/12/2014 7:58:56 PM full retard permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/12/2014 8:10:47 PM Band name by 8th graders on par with career musicians. Take that betraying the martyrs. permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/12/2014 8:13:01 PM Jarad just faked being kidnapped as a publicity stunt. permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/12/2014 8:14:52 PM That kid's fro is taller than it is wide. Fact. permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/12/2014 8:18:16 PM The first comment is the best I've read in awhile. permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/12/2014 8:21:16 PM sony is clearly exploiting these kids and it's sad. they aren't going to recoup unless they pay someone else to write their songs and switch genres.



slaves to sony! mlk is turning in his grave permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/12/2014 9:50:12 PM Lmao @ they're making more from a debut album than the testament dude permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/12/2014 9:50:51 PM They're easily clearing 25k at 14. permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/12/2014 10:37:10 PM fck it, let's all buy it. permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/12/2014 10:42:03 PM I'll unlock a truth right now, black people need to stop naming their kids Malcolm. permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/12/2014 10:42:20 PM That's a chelsea grin breakdown. They didn't write that breakdown. permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/12/2014 10:52:27 PM This is pandering. permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/12/2014 11:10:49 PM Signed based on a shitty performance of not even an original but a COVER SONG?

Clearly Sony is expecting the gimmick to sell these kids. That or they're relying heavily on White Guilt.

Give them 3 years and at least one of them will be doing H with Johnny Craig. permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/12/2014 11:35:27 PM so sad, feel bad for these kids. they have no idea what theyre getting themselves into permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/13/2014 12:02:29 AM "no idea what these kids are getting into" - if they fail, they're probably going into adult life with a nice bank balance. They have nothing to lose! permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/13/2014 12:05:36 AM Kids should not be getting signed this early. Where is teaching kids that things dont just get handed to you? permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/13/2014 12:06:02 AM This stupid country permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/13/2014 12:33:47 AM "if they fail, they're probably going into adult life with a nice bank balance. They have nothing to lose!" - $60,000 advance they have left to pay back... permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/13/2014 3:04:46 AM read the headline and thought of King 810



- Danny UABB permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/13/2014 3:50:11 AM here's the real question: why is sony investing in a metal band with no vocals? i don't see any dollar signs here. permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/13/2014 4:37:00 AM Don't forget though, this is Sony.. Not some bs indie label or a victory or rise.. They'll get them in commercials, video games, movies, etc... everywhere in pop culture possible.. Shove them down kids throats.. Yea, 250k is a tough nut to crack these days, but they'll have one of the biggest machines behind them. permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/13/2014 6:30:26 AM Old Skull and Bad 4 Good are stoked. permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/13/2014 6:42:11 AM You know Danny is on this site every day, yet he still acts like he didn't read about how he was caught trying to generate some buzz with a publicity stunt. permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/13/2014 7:33:37 AM See, they actually do have vocals in their band. If you look at the picture of them in Times Square you can see clearly that Mark Wahlberg is up top and must be singing for them. Lmao permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/13/2014 7:33:58 AM The bassist name is Token. permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/13/2014 7:37:25 AM Living Colour is my favorite black metal band. permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/13/2014 7:44:50 AM what's is fun its that its a chelsea grin song and the video and never that sony would sign them for 1,8m .... permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/13/2014 8:25:54 AM I seen them before, I know they are very young, and can play, but the singing sucks! permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/13/2014 8:35:22 AM so after taxes thats $30.000 each permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/13/2014 8:51:28 AM Black Metal ist krieg permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/13/2014 9:00:32 AM reportedly* permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/13/2014 9:50:48 AM well there goes their life, five album contract with a major label is like signing your soul over. Have fun making zero money permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/13/2014 10:02:42 AM Body Count back in action. permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/13/2014 11:21:05 AM How the fck do you get a record label from playing a shittt cover of a Chelsea Grin song?? This is ridiculous. permalink | report abuse

OrgCore 7/13/2014 11:22:11 AM Good for them. permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/13/2014 11:32:24 AM Brummel was going to sign them to Victory until he found out they were black. permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/13/2014 11:37:43 AM Who the fck is King 810 and why is dude calling these kids n***er? Why dont you and you goof bandmates go beat another man half to death? But its cool, nobody will know who you are in a year anyways. permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/13/2014 1:21:14 PM "$60,000 advance they have left to pay back..."



advances are not debts, they're recouped by record sales. their 17% goes toward that balance, once it's recouped, they get their mechanical royalties. the real question is whether this is a global deal where sony takes from their PRO royalties, merch, performances, etc. permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/13/2014 1:25:52 PM The barbarisms of Bieberism. permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/13/2014 1:37:48 PM Nut Metal is back F@GS

Nut Metal is back F@GS

Nut Metal is back F@GS

Nut Metal is back F@GS- Dumb here from King 810 permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/13/2014 3:56:51 PM Lol at the defensive idiot that thinks thats really david gunn commenting. permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/13/2014 4:01:20 PM Advances and signing bonuses dont get recouped, smarty pants. Studio time, tour support, press, artwork... those are recoupable. permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/13/2014 4:05:29 PM bass player wears glove on rite hand permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/13/2014 4:33:08 PM Great, Disney and Nickelodeon now have metal. disgusting. fkn maps permalink | report abuse

backseatkiller 7/13/2014 5:05:29 PM this is metal? permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/13/2014 5:46:07 PM Lol at the defensive idiot that thinks thats really david gunn commenting.

^

haha captain obvious lmao! permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/13/2014 7:00:03 PM Go see their other videos on YouTube, and sadly they're better than a lot of known bands hahahaha.



Haters gon' hate. permalink | report abuse

genghisjohn 7/13/2014 7:31:36 PM Featuring Huey Freeman on guitar permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/13/2014 8:21:41 PM Getting then while they're young I see. Who are they appealing to because it ain't me? What could they possibly put out? The youngest metal head I'd listen to is Viteks debut drumming. R.I.P. permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/13/2014 8:25:47 PM Y.O.L.O!! Lol don't do drugs or worship Satan. permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/13/2014 8:28:37 PM Just found out who King 810 was and wish I didn't. Oof. permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/13/2014 9:24:24 PM Gunn here. fck you all. KING 810 will wreck your whole neighbourhood. FLINT IS WORSE THAN COMPTON YOU MOTHERfckERS AND THE FACT THAT YOU KEEP QUESTIONING HOW HARD WE ARE. CHECK EACH OF THE MEMEBERS RAP SHEETS YOU BITCHES permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/13/2014 9:29:33 PM lol ^ permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/13/2014 10:57:15 PM Did anyone see the episode of Hardcore Pawn where that white dude claimed to have owned that tricked out green car, and he said he lived in Flint? That dude wouldn't last one day in Flint with that car. permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/14/2014 2:31:21 AM David Gunn is the mayor of Flint. permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/14/2014 3:22:45 AM David Gunn is the mayor of homosexual. permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/14/2014 4:14:28 AM What, you gay trolls thought American Nightmare was gonna save the world? Kill yourself. permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/14/2014 6:11:17 AM They dont expect them to sell 250k on theor debut dumbass thats why the contract is so steep. fckin ignorance permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/14/2014 7:50:12 AM leonardo dicaprio likes this permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/14/2014 9:26:44 AM Some execs at Sony have some serious white guilt going on LMFAO!!!! Stupid fcking Liberals. permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/14/2014 9:34:27 AM I don't have a problem with black people however I am so sick and tired of Hip hop and black culture being shoved down our throats. It just as bad as having gay culture shoved down our throats. Once again don't have a problem just saying. permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/14/2014 10:11:32 AM "gay culture shoved down our throats"



Paging Dr Freud... permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/14/2014 1:14:48 PM "Advances and signing bonuses dont get recouped, smarty pants. Studio time, tour support, press, artwork... those are recoupable."



depends on the contract, but generally you're just wrong. that's why it's called an "advance" and not a "free pile of money." permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/14/2014 5:52:22 PM Oh great now everyone will start wearing Nike air max shoes and stupid flat bill hats at shows! Grr my throat is so sore! Grrr gay culture is hurting my everyday routine even though I am not gay and do not participate in homosexual activities! permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/14/2014 6:44:20 PM lol @ people blaming "white guilt" for everything good that happens to black people. ease off on the butthurt permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/15/2014 8:34:18 AM Uncle Reemus for the win!



zip a dee doo da, zip a dee ayy!!! permalink | report abuse

Snoopy2 7/15/2014 9:31:39 AM Affirmative action got these n11ggers their deal permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/15/2014 3:41:07 PM This band didn't even know they were serious until this shit happened. This is a fcking joke... permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/15/2014 7:03:52 PM tried to watch some of their videos and they are terrible...Dance moves are better than riffs but I bet these kids rip in 2 years and more people will be bangin their heads! permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/15/2014 10:03:53 PM You're not going to be 12 forever. When the gimmick wears off, all your left with is really bad riffs and boring breakdowns. Good luck selling those records! permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/16/2014 6:50:49 PM Blame Obama permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/17/2014 4:21:24 AM Seriously, hip-hop is filled with homosexual behavior these days. Maybe black people will start listening to metal now. God Forbid reunion tour! permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/21/2014 9:11:53 AM "Oh great now everyone will start wearing Nike air max shoes and stupid flat bill hats at shows! Grr my throat is so sore! Grrr gay culture is hurting my everyday routine even though I am not gay and do not participate in homosexual activities!"





Aka every emmure show? permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/21/2014 4:46:44 PM oh, cool!

God Forbid is back!

*headbangs while smoking a Newport* permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/21/2014 4:47:49 PM (sic) F-series bass, bro.

and i do mean "bro" literally. permalink | report abuse

anonymous 7/21/2014 4:48:58 PM Unlocking The Truth to release Skrewdriver tribute album. permalink | report abuse