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ARK Music Factory is a record label based in Los Angeles, California. The label was founded in 2010 by Patrice Wilson, who then partnered up with producer/composer Clarence Jey.

Patrice Wilson and founding of ARK Music Factory

Patrice Wilson, founder of ARK Music Factory was born and raised in South Africa. His father was a chemical engineer and his mother a church minister. Wilson's musical beginnings were when he sang in his mother's church and helped out with youth programs at the local Christian school. Later, he attended school in Europe and trained in track and field events. But he dropped it all in pursuit of his music, touring as a backup singer with Malian-Slovak pop star Ibrahim Maiga. He also adopted the name Pato as a stage name for his various performances as a rapper.

Wilson then moved to the United States, where he studied at Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington, before moving to Los Angeles in 2007 convinced that it was the place to be for music business. In 2010 he founded ARK Music Factory in partnership with Clarence Jey, an Australian record producer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist musician. Wilson is also the CEO of the company.

Business

ARK's business centers on the recruitment/discovery of new young singers. The artists (or their parents) pay a $2,000 to $4,000 fee to ARK, and ARK then writes and produces music in collaboration with these artists, often producing music videos and promotion of the songs. The singer owns the master recording, and ARK retains publishing rights to the song and all the sales from the song.

According to the company's MySpace page, they categorize themselves as an indie record label. They state that their main objectives are 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 is predominantly based in the US, although they claim that artists they have supported have had success in different regions across the globe.

ARK's Facebook page claims to be creating a community where artists from all fields can come together to build connections and interact. Their website also claims that their dedicated team has industry professionals who have worked with Miley Cyrus, the Backstreet Boys, and Ashley Tisdale. Patrice Wilson has rebuffed claims of exploitation, claiming that the label provides 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."

The staff of ARK Musik Factory includes Patrice Wilson, producer Clarence Jey, the video directors Ian Hotchkiss and Chris Lowe. Also Barry Wayne, Pierre Kenal Louis, Alexa, Jame Chung, Misha Black, Maria Marcias, D'nelle Almanza, Cynthia Garcia and choreographer Natasha.

Artists

Young artists/songs promoted by ARK Music Factory include:

• Jolie Adamson: "Armour"
• Rebecca Black: "Friday"
• Bahameen: "Sweet Sixteen"
• C J Fam: "Ordinary Pop Star"
• Danika: "I Don't Need You Boy"
• Ariana Dvornik: "Fly Away"
• Devin Fox: "Hooked On You"
• Alana Lee Hamilton: "Butterflies"
• Hush: "Hypnotize Me"
• Sarah Maugaotega: "Take It Easy"
• Ashley Rose: "Over You"
• Britt Rutter: "Without Your Love"
• Sabrina: "My Reflection"
• Abby Victor: "Crush On You"

Other mentioned artists in a promotional video released by ARK Music Factory: Kaya, Tyler Shamy, Kenny James, Amanda Williams, Melanie Taylor, Madison Bray, Kenyauda, Lil Nay Nay, Sophia Linkletter.

Rebecca Black and "Friday"

In March 2011, ARK gained notoriety through a viral video when one of their songs, Rebecca Black's "Friday" (which also includes rapping by ARK co-founder Patrice Wilson) unexpectedly became an internet meme - some heralding it as potentially "the worst song ever". According to the British newspaper The Independent, Black trended high on Twitter, after the release. The song has been viewed more than 143 million times on YouTube.

Patrice Wilson of ARK Music Factory has put 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 Clarence Jey, the second on April 4, 2011 entitled "Say What You Wanna Say" written by Wilson and Kustom. Both songs address some of the most common grievances against the song and in the way ARK runs its business. Both these postings have received negative attraction as well.

References

1. Schwartz, Alison (18 March 2011). "Rebecca Black Cried Over All the Nasty Comments". People.com. Time Inc. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
2. ^ Hundley, Jessica (2011-03-30). "Patrice Wilson of Ark Music: 'Friday' is on his mind". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2011-03-30.
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. ARK Intro video "Welcome to ARK"
6. Lamar, Michelle (2011-03-14). "Rebecca Black 'Friday' Worst Song Ever? Rebecca Black Internet Sensation?". Famecrawler. Babble.com. Retrieved 2011-03-22.
7. "Current Twitter trends: Help Japan, Rebecca Black, Google Circles". The Independent. Independent Print Limited. 2011-03-14. Retrieved 2011-03-22.
8. "Watch: Rebecca Black's Bizarrely Bad Music Video for 'Friday'". TIME NewsFeed. Time Inc. 2011-03-14. Retrieved 2011-03-22.

External links

• ARK Music Factory

Template:ARK Music Factory

• ARK Music Factory
• American independent record labels
• Record labels established in 2010
• Entertainment companies of the United States