Comments on: How To Get Your Music Distributed on iTunes (And Keep Most Of The Money) http://buzzsonic.com/2008/03/22/how-to-get-your-music-distributed-on-itunes-and-keep-90-of-the-money/ DiY Music Industry 2.0, Social Media, Disruptive Technology, DJ's and Remix Culture. Sat, 14 Nov 2009 04:03:52 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: drron http://buzzsonic.com/2008/03/22/how-to-get-your-music-distributed-on-itunes-and-keep-90-of-the-money/comment-page-1/#comment-20224 drron Thu, 07 May 2009 18:57:35 +0000 http://musicbizhacks.com/how-to-get-your-music-distributed-on-itunes-and-keep-90-of-the-money#comment-20224 For artists to be successful in the continually emerging new music industry, they need to create and maintain their brand on their own website, and in addition sell everywhere through distributors like Tunecore. An artist or preferably, those working for the artist, must create and build a unique brand for the artist. The recent success of the electronic music DJ Deadmou5 is not just his talent, but his unique branding which us unforgettable and easily recognized. When I saw him appear at the IDMA (International Dance Music Awards) during WMC (Winter Music Conference, March 2009, Miami), there was no doubt who he was in the crowd of almost 1,000 people. He was the guy with a giant mouse head and big ears covering his head.<br><br>I've heard artists proudly say that they are now in iTunes, the same way that in the past someone might have proudly told others that they got signed with a Label. Well, just getting into iTunes is no guarantee of any sort of results. I run <a href="http://loudfeed.com" rel="nofollow">Loud Feed</a>, which offers artists the ability to sell from your own branded web site and virally distribute widgets for your fans to promote and sell your music, tickets and merchandise on social networks and blogs. In 2007, the staff at Loud Feed were hired by Tunecore to write the software at the core of Tunecore's distribution engine, which delivers music into iTunes, Amazon MP3, Emusic, Rhapsody and many more online retailers. Today Loud Feed offers artists the ability to <b>sell from their own branded artist site or widgets and make 100%</b>. Our business model as an engineering company that offers a white label technology solution for artists, labels and distributors is to simply put a margin on bandwidth usage, while taking 0% of your music sales. That makes us more like a utility company, where you're only paying more if you're using more electricity. For artists to be successful in the continually emerging new music industry, they need to create and maintain their brand on their own website, and in addition sell everywhere through distributors like Tunecore. An artist or preferably, those working for the artist, must create and build a unique brand for the artist. The recent success of the electronic music DJ Deadmou5 is not just his talent, but his unique branding which us unforgettable and easily recognized. When I saw him appear at the IDMA (International Dance Music Awards) during WMC (Winter Music Conference, March 2009, Miami), there was no doubt who he was in the crowd of almost 1,000 people. He was the guy with a giant mouse head and big ears covering his head.

I've heard artists proudly say that they are now in iTunes, the same way that in the past someone might have proudly told others that they got signed with a Label. Well, just getting into iTunes is no guarantee of any sort of results. I run Loud Feed, which offers artists the ability to sell from your own branded web site and virally distribute widgets for your fans to promote and sell your music, tickets and merchandise on social networks and blogs. In 2007, the staff at Loud Feed were hired by Tunecore to write the software at the core of Tunecore's distribution engine, which delivers music into iTunes, Amazon MP3, Emusic, Rhapsody and many more online retailers. Today Loud Feed offers artists the ability to sell from their own branded artist site or widgets and make 100%. Our business model as an engineering company that offers a white label technology solution for artists, labels and distributors is to simply put a margin on bandwidth usage, while taking 0% of your music sales. That makes us more like a utility company, where you're only paying more if you're using more electricity.

]]> By: How To Press Up a Vinyl Single and Add Instant Kudos to Your Release - MusicBizHacks.com http://buzzsonic.com/2008/03/22/how-to-get-your-music-distributed-on-itunes-and-keep-90-of-the-money/comment-page-1/#comment-14291 How To Press Up a Vinyl Single and Add Instant Kudos to Your Release - MusicBizHacks.com Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:52:05 +0000 http://musicbizhacks.com/how-to-get-your-music-distributed-on-itunes-and-keep-90-of-the-money#comment-14291 [...] short of amazing that today, theoretically you can have your music on sale, worldwide in one of the biggest music retailers stores on the planet. Without a tour, without a manager and even without a record deal. You can be [...] [...] short of amazing that today, theoretically you can have your music on sale, worldwide in one of the biggest music retailers stores on the planet. Without a tour, without a manager and even without a record deal. You can be [...]

]]> By: Adrian Fusiarski http://buzzsonic.com/2008/03/22/how-to-get-your-music-distributed-on-itunes-and-keep-90-of-the-money/comment-page-1/#comment-14289 Adrian Fusiarski Mon, 24 Mar 2008 19:39:02 +0000 http://musicbizhacks.com/how-to-get-your-music-distributed-on-itunes-and-keep-90-of-the-money#comment-14289 Thanks for taking time out to comment Jake. I have nothing but good words to say about Tunecore right now and I never ever thought I'd say anything nice about a distributor. I've been putting stuff out independently since 1994 and I can honestly say this is the first time I've ever got any money out of a distributor! The big difference for me now of course, is that there is no inventory so its a win win situation if you're dealing with an experienced and organized team like the set-up you have there. Certainly the other thing that swung it for me was that I could choose distribution by territory (I have a deal in Europe so it was important to have the option of leaving out certain territories) and also that your team had a good background in the actual music industry (as opposed to being just another web 2.0 start-up). Jeff Price's background at Spin Art was a major plus point and also his involvement with 'the American Association of Independent Music' too. It all points to a solid background. Keep up the good work you guys - Adrian editor@musicbizhacks.com PS. What I would like to see is Tunecore's stores list expand a little to cover specialist stores like Beatport and Trackitdown.net and other key dance music outlets. Thanks for taking time out to comment Jake. I have nothing but good words to say about Tunecore right now and I never ever thought I’d say anything nice about a distributor. I’ve been putting stuff out independently since 1994 and I can honestly say this is the first time I’ve ever got any money out of a distributor!

The big difference for me now of course, is that there is no inventory so its a win win situation if you’re dealing with an experienced and organized team like the set-up you have there. Certainly the other thing that swung it for me was that I could choose distribution by territory (I have a deal in Europe so it was important to have the option of leaving out certain territories) and also that your team had a good background in the actual music industry (as opposed to being just another web 2.0 start-up). Jeff Price’s background at Spin Art was a major plus point and also his involvement with ‘the American Association of Independent Music’ too. It all points to a solid background.

Keep up the good work you guys
- Adrian
editor@musicbizhacks.com

PS. What I would like to see is Tunecore’s stores list expand a little to cover specialist stores like Beatport and Trackitdown.net and other key dance music outlets.

]]> By: cjs351 http://buzzsonic.com/2008/03/22/how-to-get-your-music-distributed-on-itunes-and-keep-90-of-the-money/comment-page-1/#comment-14290 cjs351 Mon, 24 Mar 2008 18:41:11 +0000 http://musicbizhacks.com/how-to-get-your-music-distributed-on-itunes-and-keep-90-of-the-money#comment-14290 The experience you described trying to self-distribute your material in the 90s is exactly how record labels established themselves as the “gate keepers” of the music industry for almost a century: They had the money and the connections to record your music, market and promote it, get it on the radio, and most importantly get it into stores. With any physical store, shelf space is limited, and unless you have the money and connections to back you up, most places won’t you a second look if you ask them to distribute your product (it actually sounds like you fared a lot better than most people going the independent route). The Internet changed everything – artists can now market and promote themselves for little or no money (with tools like Free FM, MySpace and other social networks), blogs have made everyone with an opinion a member of the press, and with improvements in digital recording, professional albums can now be done at home in a laptop. As for distribution, iTunes (like it or not) turned the industry on its head when it popularized a new model – a store with unlimited shelf space where people pay for the right to replicate files on demand. I work at TuneCore (so I admit my bias toward our company), and I’m happy that we are your preferred method of digital distribution. Just like a postman delivers a package, we deliver digital files to whichever online store you choose, and just like a postman, we don’t take any music from what you sell. Why should someone take money from your sales when it’s you who recorded it, marketed it, and toured behind it? Obviously, you should always look before you buy. Be wary of hidden fees (do they charge for a UPC code? Do you have to physically mail one or more copies of your CD and artwork?), and make sure that the model works for you. Keep in mind that TuneCore is non-exclusive, takes none of your rights and passes 100% of your royalties on to you. Thanks again for the mention, let me know if I can be of any help! -Jake jake@tunecore.com The experience you described trying to self-distribute your material in the 90s is exactly how record labels established themselves as the “gate keepers” of the music industry for almost a century: They had the money and the connections to record your music, market and promote it, get it on the radio, and most importantly get it into stores. With any physical store, shelf space is limited, and unless you have the money and connections to back you up, most places won’t you a second look if you ask them to distribute your product (it actually sounds like you fared a lot better than most people going the independent route).

The Internet changed everything – artists can now market and promote themselves for little or no money (with tools like Free FM, MySpace and other social networks), blogs have made everyone with an opinion a member of the press, and with improvements in digital recording, professional albums can now be done at home in a laptop. As for distribution, iTunes (like it or not) turned the industry on its head when it popularized a new model – a store with unlimited shelf space where people pay for the right to replicate files on demand.

I work at TuneCore (so I admit my bias toward our company), and I’m happy that we are your preferred method of digital distribution. Just like a postman delivers a package, we deliver digital files to whichever online store you choose, and just like a postman, we don’t take any music from what you sell. Why should someone take money from your sales when it’s you who recorded it, marketed it, and toured behind it?

Obviously, you should always look before you buy. Be wary of hidden fees (do they charge for a UPC code? Do you have to physically mail one or more copies of your CD and artwork?), and make sure that the model works for you. Keep in mind that TuneCore is non-exclusive, takes none of your rights and passes 100% of your royalties on to you.

Thanks again for the mention, let me know if I can be of any help!
-Jake
jake@tunecore.com

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