39 ways to sell a lot more of your CDs, DVDs and music merchandise (V)
- 20somethingmedia
- Mar 7, 2023
- 4 min read
Updated: Jan 20, 2024
Continuing from last week’s article…
Resources for Music Sales and Distribution
22) CD Baby
Derek Sivers is one of the pioneers of the indie music world. His CD Baby website, which he started in 1998, is one of the world’s largest online shopping destinations for music from independent artists. The site generates millions of dollars in music sales a year, and the staff is renowned for customer service and the speed at which they fill orders.
Here’s the scoop: for a one-time $35 setup fee, they scan your CD cover, convert your songs into streaming sound files, and create a unique web page for you on the site. You set your selling price on CD Baby. They keep $4 per CD sold and pay you every week. CD Baby gives you every buyer’s complete contact info, so you can do follow-up promotions and add them to your mailing list. The site can also hook you up with digital distribution through iTunes, eMusic, Rhapsody and many more at no extra charge.
23) Amazon.com
Sell your CDs alongside major label releases. To be eligible for Amazon’s Advantage program, each CD you want to enrol must have a UPC code printed or stickered on the cover. You must also own the distribution rights for your CD and have an email address and web access. And you must be willing to part with 55 per cent of your retail price and pay an annual $29.95. Millions of people shop at Amazon, so it’s worth having a sales presence there.
24) The Home Grown Music Network
Founded in 1995 by Lee Crumpton of LEEWAY Productions, the Home Grown Music Network helps independent bands reach fans who are seeking fun, interesting and mind-expanding music. “We find the hottest touring bands – then turns fans on to them,” says Crumpton. “The bands we seek are those who are breaking past existing boundaries and creating their own musical genres.”
25) The Orchard
This site describes itself as “the leading digital distributor for independent record labels.” The company represents thousands of labels and artists spanning 73 countries and every music genre. The Orchard supplies to iTunes, eMusic, MSN, Rhapsody, Napster and over 150 other digital music stores throughout the world.
26) Music Design
Music Design is a company that distributes a huge selection of contemporary instrumental New Age, Celtic, Native American, world, classical, jazz, folk and children’s music. Music Design’s niche is getting its CDs into “non-traditional music outlets,” such as New Age shops, nature stores and gift shops. The company mostly carries releases from established artists and labels, but will consider independent acts that fit into one of the above genres.
27) Miles of Music
“We here at MoM specialise in independently and self-released music,” says the Miles of Music website. “Our tastes are fairly wide ranged considering we’re a bunch of old punk rockers and traditional country fans. We prefer full-length CDs, the more recently released the better, but we will consider all submissions. Other places take everything submitted or will charge you for inclusion. Not us! We take a select few in order to build an interesting and well-rounded catalogue to offer our customers.”
28) Backroads Music and the Heartbeats Catalog
Backroads Music is a comprehensive source for ambient, space, world, New Age, electronic, Celtic, Native American, guitar, piano and select vocal music. For its first ten years, the company was a major wholesaler in the alternative market. In 1991, Backroads became a “mail order only” operation. The company offers over 5000 titles and publishes the Heartbeats catalog, which is sent to 60000 subscribers. Backroads Music was acquired by the artist-friendly record label New Land Music in 2006.
Backroads also offers a toll-free ordering fulfilment service used by many record labels.
29) Creative Musicians Coalition / Music Discoveries
The Creative Musicians Coalition (CMC) is an international organisation dedicated to the advancement of new music and the success of independent artists. CMC represents independent acts and record labels worldwide. Through its sister organisation, the Music Discovery Network, CMC can sell your music and videos.
Music Discoveries is CMC’s showcase site that brings music lovers, artists, the media, and the industry closer together. The organisation’s mission is to encourage the exploration and discovery of new music generally hidden from the mainstream. While many CMC members are electronic and New Age-type artists, the coalition is open to all styles of music.
30) Amazing CDs
This site is working hard to live up to its name. Right off the bat, the home page announces, “AmazingCds.com was created to market great new music CDs from independent artists from around the world.” There is a $25 set-up fee per CD submitted. Here’s what you get: scanned cover art, artist page linked to your site, 60-second audio clips, artist profile, and contact info. The site keeps a $3 commission per CD sold. Amazing CDs also has a weekly CD Giveaway Sweepstakes – participating bands are encouraged to provide free discs for this promotion.
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