ARK Music Factory

Ark Music Factory (formerly Ark Music Production) was a musical composition and production company based in Los Angeles, California. The company was co-founded in 2010 by Patrice Wilson,[1] who partnered with producer/composer and multi-instrumentalist Clarence Jey.

Ark Music Factory
Founded2010 (2010)
FounderPatrice Wilson, Clarence Jey
Defunct2013 (2013)
GenreTeen pop, electropop
Country of originUnited States
LocationLos Angeles, California
Official websitearkmusicfactory.com

In May 2011, Jey left Ark Music Factory to focus on his own production company Music Intersection. Later in 2011, Patrice Wilson established his own enterprise, Pato Music World.

Business

Patrice Wilson co-founded Ark Music Factory in 2010; Wilson was also the CEO of the company.[2]

Ark's business centered on the recruitment/discovery of new young singers. The artists paid a $2,000 to $4,000 fee to Ark, and Ark then wrote and produced music in collaboration with the artists, often producing music videos and promotion of the songs. The singer owned the master recording, while Ark retained the publishing rights to the songs and all the sales from the song.[1]

They stated that their main objectives were to bring aspiring acts to the musical fore: "We at Ark make it possible for an emerging artist to be discovered, defined and delivered, to advance in their chosen career and be successful." Ark was predominantly based in the US, although they claimed that artists they had supported have had success in different regions across the globe.[3]

Ark's Facebook page claimed to be creating a community where artists from all fields can come together to build connections and interact.[4] Their website also claimed that their dedicated team had industry professionals who have worked with Miley Cyrus, the Backstreet Boys, and Ashley Tisdale. Wilson also rebuffed claims of exploitation, claiming that the company provided a relatively inexpensive entry into the pop market for artists:

"I'm getting a lot of criticism saying I'm exploiting rich kids and their parents," says Wilson, "but find me another company that would do all this at a cost this low. I don't promise anyone fame. In fact, if someone approaches me with their only goal to ‘get famous,' I tell them they're not in this for the right reasons."[1]

The staff of Ark Music Factory included Patrice Wilson (also known with the name Pato[5] for his various acts) who was the founder of the company,[6] CEO[7] and Sri Lankan / Australian record producer, songwriter [8] and co-founder and producer, Clarence Jey.[6] At Ark, Jey wrote the music and Wilson wrote the lyrics.[9] Ian Hotchkiss and Chris Lowe were the video directors.[10]

Rebecca Black and Friday
Main articles: Rebecca Black and Friday (Rebecca Black song)

In March 2011, Ark gained notoriety through a viral video when one of their songs, Rebecca Black's "Friday" (which also includes raps by Wilson[1]) unexpectedly became an Internet meme. According to the British newspaper The Independent, Black trended high on Twitter, after the release.[11][12] The original video gained 167 million views until June 2011 when it was removed from YouTube due to copyright claims from Black's family.[13][14] It has been reinstated in September 2011 on Black's personal YouTube channel and has been viewed over 140 million times as of March 2020.[15]

Wilson posted two music responses about "Friday" and the controversy it created. The first was posted on March 13, 2011 entitled "Friday (Rap Remix)" written and produced by Wilson and Jey, the second on April 4, 2011 entitled "Say What You Wanna Say"[16] written by Wilson and Kustom. Both songs addressed some of the most common grievances against the song and the way Ark runs its business. Both these postings received negative attention as well.

One Week to Hit Big: Pop Star

Wilson and his Ark Music Factory team appeared in One Week to Hit It Big: Pop Star the ABC (American Broadcasting Company) show Good Morning America (GMA) one-week special feature.[17] After auditions of tens of candidates, Lexi St. George was chosen for the GMA challenge of trying to make a viral star in one week. She recorded the song "Dancing to the Rhythm" written for the show and made a music video that was broadcast on the program on June 30, 2011. The song was also used for Wowwee's Paper Jamz Pro microphones promotional ads.[18][19]

Ark Star

Ark Music Factory planned another nationwide online talent search with finalists to be chosen from online submissions, the company said in a statement.[20] The contest named "Ark Star" began on July 22, 2011 offering eligible contestants the chance to win their own custom song, music video, and artist promotion by Ark Music Factory.[21]

Changes
  • In May 2011, Clarence Jey left Ark Music Factory to focus on his own production company Music Intersection.[22] He is also a cofounder of Ark Music factory co-founded co-created MIAM Music Publishing.
  • Later in 2011, Patrice Wilson, the other cofounder established Pato Music World (PMW) / PMW Live. He signed a number of acts to his new label, some of them from ARK Music Factory signings. The company went on to release a number of new songs including an "official sequel" to Rebecca Black's infamous song "Friday". The "sequel" called "Happy" (alternatively "Happy (The Official Sequel to Friday)" or "The H.A.P.P.Y. Song"), features Antoine Dodson and Lela Brown and focuses on Saturdays, with plenty of remarks to Friday and a self-deprecating music video. Previously, Wilson had also written a song called "Tuesday" for Jon Ronson. In November 2012, PMW released "It's Thanksgiving" by Nicole Westbrook, a song written and produced by Patrice Wilson.
  • Later in 2017, two new artists signed with PMW. "Mike", a Brazilian Soundcloud rapper, and "Thats", a Brazilian ASMRer. Note: They didn't release any single or album. No more infos.

References
  1. Hundley, Jessica (2011-03-30). "Patrice Wilson of Ark Music: 'Friday' is on his mind". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2011-03-30.
  2. Unterberger, Andrew (2011-03-27). "Rebecca Black's musical guru, Patrice Wilson, speaks out". Pop Dust. Retrieved 2011-06-01.
  3. "Ark Music Production". Myspace.com. 2010-08-10. Retrieved 2011-03-22.
  4. "Ark Music Factory's Facebook Page". Retrieved 6 May 2011.
  5. "Rebecca Black Beats Hollywood". Hollywood Stars Honey. 2011-04-02. Archived from the original on 2012-03-24. Retrieved 2011-05-29.
  6. Chelin, Pamela (2011-04-01). "Exclusive: Rebecca Black Fighting Ark Music Factory Over 'Friday'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2011-05-29.
  7. Hathaway, Jay (2011-03-28). "Rebecca Black Creator and Ark Music Factory CEO Patrice Wilson Gives Bizarre Interview". Urlesque. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 2011-05-29.
  8. Yang, Jeff (2011-04-21). "Why 'Friday' just might be the future of pop". San Francisco Gate. Retrieved 2011-05-29.
  9. "Friday: Clarence Jey's Day". Sepia Mutiny. 2011-04-22. Retrieved 2011-05-29.
  10. Melin, Gabe (2011-04-01). "Who the hell did Rebecca Blacks "Friday" video?". CitySound. Retrieved 2011-05-29.
  11. "Current Twitter trends: Help Japan, Rebecca Black, Google Circles". The Independent. Independent Print Limited. 2011-03-14. Retrieved 2011-03-22.
  12. "Watch: Rebecca Black's Bizarrely Bad Music Video for 'Friday'". TIME NewsFeed. Time Inc. 2011-03-14. Retrieved 2011-03-22.
  13. "Rebecca Black - Friday - This video is no longer available(...)". YouTube. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-16.
  14. "Exclusive: Rebecca Black Fighting Ark Music Factory Over 'Friday'". Rolling Stone. 2011-04-01. Retrieved 2011-04-01.
  15. Rebecca Black - Friday, retrieved 2020-02-05
  16. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bus6a5oHqhM
  17. Morgan Zalkin and Cat McKenzie article on ABCNews website: One Week to Hit It Big - Will a Pop Star Be Made on 'Good Morning America'?
  18. Press release: Ark Music Factory's Lexi St.George Launches Wowwee's Paper Jamz Pro Jam Series Microphone
  19. Wowwee's Paper Jamz Pro microphones ad using Lexi St. George's song "Dancing to the Rhythm"
  20. International Business Times: Ark Music Factory's latest sensation Lexi makes debut in Good Morning America
  21. Ark Music Factory website: Ark Star Contest
  22. Team of Musical Intersection.
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