Dharma Pop is a visionary record label, not only for the spiritual foundation of its work, but also for the way it thrives as an independent organization in the extremely challenging ‘business’ of music. We know our mission- using music to “pop” people’s awareness- involves a lot more than sitting on a meditation cushion or strumming an acoustic guitar around the campfire. With ten albums released in 14 countries, 500 volunteers world-wide, four web sites, 50 investors, 100 shows a year, publicity, distribution, duplication, studio recordings, booking- it takes an integral eye to stay engaged. The only way we can do it, ANY of it, is through the direct support of people who believe this art is important and useful to the World.

Although we don’t have the multi-million dollar resources the major labels do, we have something better: The Mystery. We’re the bastard children of Sufis, Bodhissatvas, Saints, Yogis, Shaman, and more than a few heretics. Wait- did we mention we’re not some new age orgy, or 60’s retro-romantics, did we mention we hate boring music and we actually like videos and pop culture, and we want to live and work IN the world? We wanna be a profitable company because the more we grow, the greater voice we’ll have in the culture. What’s our message? Love has no opposite. For instance, FUNDRAISING is not the opposite of love, and we keep that in mind when we do it.

How Does It Work?

Dharma pop is funded by benefactors, gift-givers, and people who purchase shares in its projects. CDs, t-shirts, and other items are mostly financed through investors who buy into the future returns of the project. We’ve done it this way since 1999 with the release of Bright Apocalypse, and continued it with the Self Titled “shiny silver” album, and most recently with the new Stuart Davis album “Bell”, also using the approach on merchandise. Here’s how it works in ten easy steps:

1. We need a certain amount of money to buy studio time, recording supplies, pay musicians, generate artwork, duplicate CDs, mail out packages, etc. We determine what that amount is, and that’s our budget.
2. We put the shares up for sale in the number that equals our budget. Shares sell for $1,000 each.
3. Investors purchase shares in the project, minimum purchase is one share, until there are no more available, or a sales deadline passes.
4. Once the album is released, 50% of returns from sales of the CD (retail, shows, etc) goes to investors, divided among them according to their holdings, until they make a 15% profit on their principal. So, if you bought two shares, this would be $2,300 in returns on your $2,000 principal. As for the other half of returns from sales, 15% of returns goes to the producer, 10% goes to the co-producer, and 25% goes to Stuart Davis.
5. After the 15% profit has been reached, the percentages change to 25% of returns from sales going to investors until they DOUBLE their principal (at this point 50% of returns will go to the Artist, 15% to producer, 10% to co-producer) This means if you bought $2,000 in shares, then $4,000 is the limit of your return. At the time investors Double their money, the contract is concluded.
6. Payments are made to investors ANNUALLY, once every 12 months beginning with the release (street date) of the CD.
7. There are no guarantees made by Dharma Pop to investors regarding amount of return or rate of return. This is a RISK investment, and by signing a contract you assume full responsibility for any loss or profit, and are thereby stating your competence and sufficient understanding of all such financial matters. You should only invest with disposable income, for fun, and to support a cause you believe in.
8. The term of the contract is 20 years or double your money, whichever comes first. The territory of the contract is United States.
9. Information on sales, returns, and general label finances will be posted on the web and made available to investors.
10. Previous investors get first “dibs” on upcoming projects. Performance of previous projects is not an indication or promise of performance on subsequent projects. Dharma Pop reserves the right to “buy out” its investors in full at any point, with no penalty for early payment. This would be full satisfaction of investors profit potential.

As you can see, this is not a get-rich quick scheme, but it’s not throwing your money away either. Stuart Davis is 32 years old, has been touring for ten years, and God-willing has another couple decades in him on the road. What previous investors have seen so far is this:

Bright Apocalypse, release in 1999: 90% + return on principal
Self-Titled, released 2001: 65% + return on principal

So, while no one has made any profit, there’s been a steady patter. We don’t make million-sellers, but our label has seen steady growth and hopefully the albums will be around for a long time. Stuart’s 1998 album 16 Nudes, for
instance, is at about the 10,000 in sales mark, and has simply sold steadily since it was released. Again, this is not a promise of performance on our other projects. Our distribution, promotion, and overall organization has increased dramatically since 2002, with enormous increases in web site sales and activity, significant bumps in national media, and very promising prospects in distribution for 2003-2004.

Share availability in Dharma Pop is currently the following:

Bright Apocalypse: Sold Out
Self-Titled 2003:  Sold Out
Merchandise:       Sold Out
Bell:              6 Shares Remaining

If you are interested in investing, contact chris@dharmapop.com for more info, and thanks for helping!