CD Baby Digital Distribution

[MacRumors]

CDBaby.net has also posted details of their Digital Distribution program -- which promises music submissions to digitial distribution programs including Apple's iTunes Music Store, Listen.com, Emusic and more.

More details of the agreements are available on their site -- but this provides another option for independent artists to reach the Apple iTunes Music Store.

 

[ZildjianKX]

Cool, good news for indies

 

[mac15]

the more companies supporting apples music store the better.

 

[pboy]

Yes, CD Baby looks like a good alternative for indie artists (not represented by a label). They are in fact "an Apple iTunes partner", something I have not yet found out about Rain Dog (Oasis). You can't really be sure that Apple will regard Rain Dog as "an iTunes partner", can you?

 

[robbieduncan]

It looks like a good deal, but only if you manage to sell some music! It costs you $40 per CD to set up (and a $35 charge to join CDBaby if you are not already a member). In return you get 91% of what CDBaby get for the music sales (not 91% of sales!). So assuming CDBaby get 60c on each sale you get 55c (rounding up) or about $5.45 per $9.99 album. So you need to sell between 7 and 8 albums (assuming all sales are the whole album) to break even.

I would have thought that this could take some time for a small, unknown band with no promotion. I believe (sorry can't remember where I read it) that a reasonable number (greater than 30%) of the tracks on iTMS had not sold once in a month after launch. These are tracks recorded by artists signed up with major labels. Truly independent artists might well fare even worse.

I think you would have to think carefully before doing this!

 

[pboy]

Originally posted by robbieduncan
It looks like a good deal, but...

Of course! If your music doesn't already sell, no such magic will make it start selling only because it is getting digitalised. I think I read somewhere at CD Baby, many years ago, that they "will get very mad at you if your submitted CD will not sell at least four copies". Not sure abut the quantity, but you get the idea.

 

[peterjhill]

A few of my friends have used CD Baby to produce their albums. The day after the meeting with Apple, they sent email's to their clients filling them in on the details and finding out if they were interested.

They all like the service, so I would use CD Baby if I had musical talent.

 

[Jerry Spoon]

Originally posted by robbieduncan
It looks like a good deal, but only if you manage to sell some music!

Fair enough, but some bands just want the chance to get their music out there to a wider audience and the cost here is pretty small to make that happen.

 

[Freg3000]

Wait this seems too easy. I am not a singer, nor in a band, and have no musical talent. But I could pay CD Baby $40 or so to get my songs onto the iTunes Music Store. Someone please tell me where I am wrong. If this is true, we'll go from 200,000 songs to 2,000,000 overnight with all the American Idol losers submitting songs.

 

[miradu]

iTunes editorial staff is appearing to review all bands that submit CD's (as CDBABY says they can't garuntee that online music stores will accept your CD), therefore they will be the judge of whether something is "good enough" to be in the store.

 

[MrMacMan]

Cool, looks like a decent for indies.

 

[Genie]

CDBaby's deal is way better, right?

CDBaby's deal seems way better than the oasis thing, right?

9% vs 30% take.
13 page signed printed contract vs

CDBaby's 2 page online submission.

CDbaby's "you can terminate at any time".

Only $40 signup fee vs. Oasis many layered costs starting at $65...

What am I missing?

 

[P-Worm]

Wow, this will help the 'digital music revolution' really kick off. I know of quite a few of my friends that have formed bands that would love to do something like this.

P-Worm

 

[Flowbee]

Originally posted by robbieduncan
...So you need to sell between 7 and 8 albums (assuming all sales are the whole album) to break even...

...I think you would have to think carefully before doing this!

Firstly, I don't think most (or any) bands are going to sweat the $75 membership/submission fee. Secondly, any band that doesn't think they can sell 7 or 8 albums shouldn't be submitting their music to iTMS in the first place. In fact, they should just give up altogether.

Lastly, I think people are overly optimistic that Apple is going to accept music from just any kid with a 4-track in their bedroom and the $75 fee for CDBaby. I listen to a lot of people's demos and 'self-produced' albums, and the majority of them are terrible (judging production quality alone). If Apple just accepts everyone, the store would be flooded with home-made sounding tracks from your local bar band and endless Acid dance loop tracks made by 13 year old bedroom DJs. I hope Apple sets a very high standard.

 

[DGFan]

Originally posted by P-Worm
Wow, this will help the 'digital music revolution' really kick off. I know of quite a few of my friends that have formed bands that would love to do something like this.

P-Worm

The existing record companies fill three needs.

First, they are venture capital. But a band doesn't need to spend $3 million making an album for it to be good. Not really necessary.

Second, the provide distribution. They have the relationships to get albums in stores. With iTMS and other stores coming online this will cease to be a factor.

The third, and last, piece is advertising. The record companies do that today by getting a few songs on the radio. But this only helps a small number of bands. The others rely on word of mouth and possibly internet radio. iTMS will help with advertising some. Those "people who bought this also bought" lists are very handy for finding new artists I might like. Internet radio also probably has a place (but I don't know how much it has been harmed by the royalties they have to pay now). Plus, bands now often have their own websites. We'll have to wait and see how this all works out.

The digital music revolution certainly is beginning to happen.

 

[Abstract]

Maybe I'm the only one a bit confused by this. Is CDBaby taking submissions, screening them, and handing all the good indie acts to iTMS?? And if so, lets just say that an indie band sells a single track on iTMS for $1.00. This means that CDBaby will get $0.60, who then hands $0.51 to the indie band, while CDBaby gets $0.09. What does Apple get out of this??

 

[nosaj72]

>
This means that CDBaby will get $0.60, who then hands $0.51 to the indie band, while CDBaby gets $0.09. What does Apple get out of this?
>

$0.39?

 

[Flowbee]

Originally posted by nosaj72
>
This means that CDBaby will get $0.60, who then hands $0.51 to the indie band, while CDBaby gets $0.09. What does Apple get out of this?
>

$0.39?

Another good reason for paying attention in math class.