Selling Music Online

Music Marketing & Promotion Tips, Selling Music Online

You’re probably well aware of how huge digital downloading has become. Millions use this concept when wanting to get a copy of a song or album that interests them. Though this method has tremendously changed the music industry, there are many benefits associated with it for independent bands, artists, and musicians if done properly. Not only does this enable you to make money without a recording contract, but it also gives you worldwide exposure 365 days a year 24/7.

Tips For Selling Music Online

• When becoming involved with an online distributor, make sure you’re entering a non-exclusive agreement. In short, this means you’re giving them permission to distribute your product, but you will keep ALL rights to any of your work that is submitted. If you don’t understand an agreement or have any doubts, ask an entertainment lawyer.
• In order to sell a release to an online distributor, it needs a UPC assigned to it. You can obtain this by going through a CD duplication company for a fee of approximately $20-$50 (never pay more than $50). We highly recommend becoming involved with either SongCast or TuneCore. Both services charge typical (affordable) fees to distribute your product to major online retailers, and as a member, your product will be assigned a UPC free of charge.
• Sign up for a PayPal account (a personal account is free). They are an online banking system (a leader for transferring money online), and most download sites/distributors offer or only except this as a payment method.
• Promote, Promote, Promote!

SongCast Music Distribution

• SongCast is a music distributor who delivers music to iTunes US, iTunes Japan, iTunes UK/Europe, iTunes Canada, iTunes Australia/NZ, iTunes Mexico, Rhapsody, Amazon MP3, Emusic, Napster & MediaNet (MediaNet delivers music to iLike, Tesco & several other online stores, which will all be included as well).
• You don’t give up any rights to your music. You maintain the rights to your music and recordings at all times.
• You will earn an average of $6.00-$7.00 per full length album sale or anywhere from 60-70 cents per track. Artists and Labels maintain 100% of All Royalties.
• If your album does not already have a UPC Barcode, one will be generated for you at no charge.
• SongCast membership is $5.99 per month. This is not charged per album, but per account. You can have an unlimited number of albums in your account. SongCast also charges a onetime setup fee of $19.99 per album or $9.99 per single. This charge covers the time and expense of encoding your audio tracks, converting and processing your album artwork, and managing your albums with the download retailers.

TuneCore Music Distribution

• TuneCore places your music into digital retailers such as iTunes, AmazonMP3, Zune Marketplace, Rhapsody, eMusic and others for sale.
• TuneCore does not own your songs, your masters, your copyrights, or the rights to any art work, band photos or music videos you submit. You maintain all ownership and control of all your rights.
• TuneCore takes none of the money from the sale of your music. You get it all. For the iTunes U.S. store, you receive $0.70 per song sold individually and $7.00 per album.
• If you don’t have a UPC/Barcode, no problem. TuneCore will make one for you free of charge.
• TuneCore fees are as follows – Single (one song) to all stores: $9.99/year, Ringtone (one pre-cut ringtone) to all stores: $9.99/year, Album (2 or more songs) to all stores, with a distribution credit: $46.99 for the first year and only $19.98 for each year thereafter.