Country Music Artist and Affiliate Marketer, Billy Kay, Donates Proceeds from Single to Charity

by Shawn Collins on March 12, 2011

I often have a one-dimensional relationship with other affiliate marketers, as I know what they do in their online business, but not much beyond.

So, it’s neat and interesting to see the other side of affiliate marketers and who they are as a person. For instance, there is Billy Kay, who is also a country music artist (and a talented one, at that).

In addition to being an all around good guy and friend, he’s doing a really cool thing with his latest single, “Ready… Set… Gone!”, where all proceeds are going to the Shade Tree Shelter in Las Vegas, NV.

The mission of the Shade Tree Shelter is to provide safe shelter to homeless and abused women and children in crisis and to offer life-changing services promoting stability, dignity, and self-reliance.

Billy’s song is about women having the courage to leave an abusive relationship, so he figured The Shade Tree Shelter was a perfect fit.

Buy “Ready… Set… Gone!” on Amazon or iTunes – good music for a good cause.

Video: Ready… Set… Gone! by Billy Kay

{ 9 comments }

Billy Kay March 15, 2011 at 1:47 pm: Thanks for the kudos. The people involved in the music and video are all people I know. I mentioned and thanked them all on my blog. http://billykaymusic.com/news/

The two “Cowboys” work at a convenience store I go to. Actually, Mr. Harmon (the cowboy on the left) OWNS it – LOL – in case he reads this

The people in the bar scene are my neighbors and pool buddies. The villain owns a restaurant I go to. Dani was a friend of my friend Liz.

In the previous video, “Honestly”, Liz played the woman I got caught cheating with. The bar crowd was again some friends. The female lead, Victoria, is a cocktail waitress at Toby Kieths at Harrahs.

If you’re an affiliate, a little trivia: That bar scene was going to be filmed at Affiliate Summit West. A friend was having an engagement party with 100 affiliate friends. But at the last moment, even tho she said it was ok, I wanted her party to be about HER… not my music video. So we shot it at Stoneys, a country nightclub on the strip instead.

Am I looking for airplay? That would be cool, but I’d rather an established artist record my songs.

Monetizing? I don’t do it for money. I do it because there are songs in my head. They have to come out – whether anyone listens to them or not.

I’m more then happy that people are posting videos of themselves dancing to my songs. It tells me I “moved” a total stranger.

Besides, as you point out, the reason why The Rolling Stones still tour is because the only money a band makes nowadays is from t-shirt sales at concerts. I have a kid in school. I can’t tour.

As for the charity, Shawn’s other half (Missy) taught me the importance of giving back. By donating the proceeds, I get to impact a life – without having to run a 5 mile race!!

Best,
Billy Kay
Anonymous March 15, 2011 at 11:02 am: The videos were excellent – a lot of production values and good thinking – I liked the wedding band spinning on the desk to close the video with. Were these all people you knew, it seemed to come together so well.

I have dabbled in music some myself… the song is a classic “radio” piece – under 3 minutes, verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, chorus and out – got a memorable “hook” – are you working towards airplay yourself with it, or having somebody else cover it? In the age of Napster and downloads, how does anybody monetize – besides merchandising for the big groups going on tour?
Billy Kay March 14, 2011 at 4:01 pm: Thanks Will.

The guy driving the car is also the “villain” in all the other scenes – Joey Panebianco. It’s also his classic car! Boy did he get a lot of horn beeps and thumbs up while we were setting up the shots! FYI: It’s “original factory condition” – meaning there was no CD player that I could listen to and lyp-synch to. So I just sang the song the way I felt it, and they had to speed up and/slow down the car scenes so my lips matched the actual song – LOL

Best,
Billy Kay
Will Nelson March 14, 2011 at 8:28 am: Great video! Good lyrics too. Curious… was the “husband” also the guy driving the car? Couldn’t tell, but looked close.
Liz Marshall March 13, 2011 at 10:25 am: Hi Shawn and Billy:
This is wonderful. I am so glad to see that pets in families escaping domestic violence have also been cared for since 2007 at The Shade Tree! Per what it says on their page http://www.noahsanimalhouse.org/ “Noah’s Animal House was built at The Shade Tree Shelter in Las Vegas, so that women & children can turn to the warmth and love of their pet while staying at the shelter.” Fabulous! Thank you both for your good works.
Shawn Collins March 12, 2011 at 7:16 pm: Anything for the cover!

Keep up the great work.
Mike Smith March 12, 2011 at 6:17 pm: Love the sound, go for it!!!
Jim Kukral March 12, 2011 at 12:15 pm: You’ve got the talent Billy. I can see it happening.
Billy Kay March 12, 2011 at 12:06 pm: What some people won’t do to get on my CD cover!! LOL

I can’t wait for the next ASW and see the marquee outside The Wynn that says:

(In tiny small need-a-magnifying-glass print)

Keynote Speaker Jim Kukral

and in big humongous glow-in the dark letters

CONCERT BY BILLY KAY!

(just kidding Jim)

All My Best,
Billy Kay