GOLDBERG, RUNDGREN RELAUNCH PATRONET
To Underwrite Artists
Danny Goldberg's Sheridan Square Entertainment has relaunched Todd Rundgren's direct-to-fan music network PatroNet, which it purchased in March.
Rundgren's subscription-based Web site allows fans to underwrite their favorite artists to produce and record new music. For an annual sponsorship fee, Rundgren provides fans with content, new recordings and works in progress on a day-to-day basis. He wants to offer this model to other artists.
"If this attitude about not paying for recorded music is going to become pervasive, then artists should take the attitude that they won't record the music for fans unless fans pay them first," Rundgren told The Hollywood Reporter.
As part of the relaunch, PatroNet.com and ArtistEnt.com will eventually be merged under the PatroNet brand and incorporate ArtistEnt's original content from a variety of artists including Sugar Ray, Kittie, Scott Weiland, Peter Wolf and Rosanna Arquette.
A PatroNet subscription costs $5 a month or $40 a year and gives consumers access to audio and video webcasts, concert videos archives, exclusive chats and other services.
