Case Name :      Humble Abode Music and The Mammals: Not Your Grandpa’s String Band

Authors :           Michael J. Merenda, William Naumes, Margaret J. Naumes

Source :             North American Case Research Association (NACRA)

Case ID :            NA0021

Discipline :        Entrepreneurship

Case Length :    17 pages

Solution sample availability : YES

Plagiarism : NO (100% Original work)

The three founding members of The Mammals–Tao Rodriguez-Seeger, Ruth Ungar, and Mike Merenda–were facing a major decision. In the year just ending, the string band specializing in folk rock music had played over 160 concerts, earning approximately $100,000 in gross revenues but leaving little time to write or prepare new music. Signature Sounds Records had offered the group a recording contract. They needed to decide whether to accept the record deal and leverage Signature Sounds’ financial and marketing resources or to remain independent. Would the record label want them to tone down their sometimes-controversial songs and compromise their artistic values? They also had questions as to the role of their two backup musicians, Mike’s brother and a childhood friend. Should they join The Mammals on a permanent basis? The case presents information on the music industry in general and the folk segment in particular.