My advice was - don't pay them if they're not.

Now this may seem a trifle hard but I reckon it's fair. For a start NEVER ask a promotion person for their opinion. NEVER let them control A&R. If you have decided on a single, ask them if they believe they can get massive exposure. If they really believe in it they will do so for free.

And here's the deal. Suppose, clutching a figure out of the air, they normally charge £2000 a month.

You tell them; start six weeks to a month before release and get exposure.

On release day, if they have done a good job, they get £4000. And work for another month.

If, a month after release, the track is a real hit getting solid airplay, they get a further £4000 (you can afford it) and a final month (working a hit is so easy) with guaranteed £4000 at the end of that third month.

So a promotion person or company can make £12,000 over 3 months if they correctly spot a hit and break it.

That's double their normal pay.

A great deal for both sides, I reckon.

Any companies or individuals work this way?