EXPOSE': Inside "Alternative Meda" How a Talk Network Silences Truth

I was recently approached by Talk Network to bring my show to their start-up station. I was excited about some of the names they claimed to have on board and about the things they promised. They promised me that I could make hundreds, if not thousands of dollars to supplement my efforts. When they sent me the contract I realized they were asking me to sell my soul in exchange for a pittance.

The contract states that I would have to agree to say whatever they told me to say and I had no choice in the matter. They wanted me to agree that my logos, artwork, show name, and content belonged to them. My shows were exclusive to their network so I was forbidden from growing my show by having other websites or AM and FM stations pick up my content.

What bothered me the most is they wanted me to agree to deceive the audience by telling people the show was live when it was really pre-recorded. All of the shows are pre-recorded for that matter. They also wanted me to “casually plug” their store and products at least three times per hour while “fitting it into the content”.

In exchange for my soul and for giving up all control over my identity, content, and voice, they promised to give me 12% of the store sales. After reading the contract I realized that it was not the sales from the entire store but rather they would set up a store for me that I was responsible for driving traffic to, then I could get 12% ‘of the profits”. They are in charge of telling me how many sales my store had and how much the profit margin is on any given product. So this was nothing more than a low commission affiliate program that I could get with any store / website.

The contract was for one year and auto-renews unless I 1. Notify them by phone 2. Notify them by E-Mail and 3. Notify them in writing. It was required that I notify them through ALL THREE MEANS, not just one.

If they told me to say anything that I do not agree with, if I didn’t plug their products enough, or if I did not provide my show within 72 Hours of show time, they would sue me in their jurisdiction which is clear across the country. So not only would I have to go to court, fight, and win, but I would have to physically fly across the country to do so.

Why would any talk network threaten to sue their hosts? Why would any of that be necessary? It is unfortunate that this is how alternative media works. I would never join a talk network that made me sign a contract. I am not here to be controlled. I am here to speak truth to anyone who wants to listen.

COMPLETE CONTRACT TEXT:

TalkNetwork.com
Artist Agreement
NAME OF TALENT ________________________________________
Dated as of ______________
1. Appointment. I hereby appoint and engage you as on-air talent for TalkNetwork.com
(Webseed, LLC) in an exclusive agreement for the term of and subject to the terms and
conditions of this agreement.

2. Term.
 

A. The term of this agreement shall be for a period of one (1) year commencing as of the
date hereof (the “Initial Period”).
B. In addition, you shall have three (3) separate and consecutive options each to extend
this agreement for an additional one (1) year period (individually referred to as “First
Option Period, Second Option Period and Third Option Period”; collectively the “Option
Periods”). The Initial Period and Option Periods are hereinafter collectively referred to as
the “Term.” Unless you notify TalkNetwork.com in writing and by email and telephone
to the contrary prior to the expiration of the Term, each Option Period will be
automatically exercised by you.

3. Talent Services and TalkNetwork.com Services. During the Term hereof, you agree to
perform for the Network the following services: Conduct a pre-recorded Interview-style
Podcast/Radio show. The show’s must be pre-recorded with the audio (and sometimes
Video) files sent to TalkNetwork.com producers and management no later than 72 hours
before each scheduled 1-3 hour weekly show stream broadcast. You will be asked to
passively plug “on-air” during each show’s recording, a minimum of (3) E-Commerce
plugs per broadcast hour. In addition, you will be required to Voiceover multiple station-
ID’s, show bumpers, Network bumpers, and advertising commercial spots that will be
written and provided to you by TalkNetwork.com

4. Talent Compensation.

A. In compensation for your services under this agreement, TalkNetwork.com agrees to
pay to you, as herein provided, a sum equal to twelve percent (12%) of net sales of
E-Commerce profits derived from your show activities and web promotion for
TalkNetwork.com. An exclusive subdomain for e-commerce promotions will be created
for you, such as ABC.TalkNetwork.com. This is the subdomain that you promote, and
ALL sale activity through that subdomain earns you the 12% mentioned above. Your
monies will be Paypal’d to you on or about the 1st Day of every month. Performance
analytics will also be provided upon request. If you have a co-host you are required to
split all revenue your show generates with the appropriate parties if agreed to by all
parties. TalkNetwork.com will not be responsible for payment to all show paid or
volunteer artist participants.

- You must provide appropriate tax identification to TalkNetwork for tax reporting
purposes. You must also provide a PayPal address to receive funds, or a physical address
to receive a mailed check. Please provide that information here:
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
B. In the event of any dispute under or relating to the terms of this agreement or the
performance, breach, validity, construction, interpretation, execution or legality thereof,
the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover any and all reasonable attorneys’ fees and
other costs incurred in the enforcement of the terms of this agreement, or for the breach
thereof. This agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the state of
Texas, and any action to enforce or interpret the terms hereof shall be brought exclusively
in the courts of Bastrop County in Austin, Texas.

5. Conflicts of Interest. TalkNetwork.com understand that you are involved in many
aspects of the internet, radio, podcast, Youtube, literary and entertainment business, and
that in some instances some of those activities may appear to compete or conflict with the
goals and practices of TalkNetwork.com and the Network’s interests. We have agreed,
however, that any conduct or activity by you or any individual on your behalf will not
constitute a breach of this agreement or any fiduciary or other duty or obligation created
or existing under this agreement as long as you are honest and try your best to openly
discuss and negotiate a fair compromise.

6. Termination: TalkNetwork.com reserves the right to suspend, cancel or terminate this
agreement at any time.

7. Relationship of the Parties. This agreement shall not be construed to create a
partnership between us. It is specifically understood that you are acting hereunder as an
independent contractor and you may not appoint or engage any and all other persons,
firms or corporations throughout the world in your discretion to perform any and all of
the services which you have agreed to perform hereunder without written and verbal
consent from TalkNetwork.com. Your services hereunder are exclusive and you shall at
all times be free to perform the same or similar services for others as a show “Guest” but
not as a show “host” unless authorized by TalkNetwork.com verbally and in writing as
long as such do not materially conflict with your obligations hereunder. The artist is
encouraged to promote and plug TalkNetwork.com at-large and it’s other shows when
making guest appearances on other media, shows or personal promotion.

8. Perpetual Rights and Ownership: All audio and/or Video recordings and show content
in addition to artwork, logos, show merchandise and overall branding content will be
solely owned by TalkNetwork.com and may not be re-distributed or shared online or
offline without the written permission from TalkNetwork.com management and
ownership throughout the agreed upon terms and thereafter.

9. Exclusive Content: You agree that the episodes you create for TalkNetwork.com are
exclusive to TalkNetwork and not broadcast or distributed in any other broadcast
network. It is perfectly acceptable, of course, for you to distribute such content to your
own fan base via FB, Youtube, website or email. The exclusivity refers to not
simultaneously using the same episodes for more than one broadcaster / podcast network
/ terrestrial broadcast.

Artist Name
_____________________________________________________________
Artist Signature
_____________________________________________________________
Date:_________________________________________________________
TalkNetwork.com Representative-Producer-Management-Ownership
Signature: _____________________________________________________
Date: __________________________________________________________