Selling Personal Music Online (perhaps through iTunes)?

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Member Since: Sep 30, 2008

I've been doing some reading regarding how to go about selling music online. Obviously the first step would be acquiring a copyright for the finished product, a step that I'd like to learn more about in and of itself.

But also, I'm interested in what methods people have used to sell their music online? I know of CDBaby and would prefer to not deal with of mailing the physical CD's it requires. SnoCap is a good example of what I'm looking for, although I've read several horror stories about that company specifically: www.snocap.com/

iTunes Store is apparently somewhat more accessible to independent artists than I thought; part of the application allows you to put "Independent Artist or Group" rather than "Independent Music Label" or "Music Distributor." Has anyone gone through or heard of how rigorous the application process is?

Thanks for any feedback!

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I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003


Jul 24, 2009 05:10 pm

I've never dealt with this company so I can't vouch for their methods or results, but they're sponsored by Musician's Friend and claim to have outlets to iTunes, eMusic, Amazon, Rhapsody, and other online music retailers:

www.tunecore.com/musiciansfriend

Member
Since: Sep 30, 2008


Jul 24, 2009 05:16 pm

Thanks Tadpui. I'll check them out.

I've signed up with a similar company that has partnered with MySpace (which means it's actually allowed on the site). Haven't uploaded any content yet but intend to sometime soon. I'll let the forum know how it goes.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Jul 26, 2009 01:00 pm

NBrunk, there is also The 61 www.thesixtyone.com which is a site that caters more to the indy artist. It is growing in leaps and bounds as well. And they are set up to link out to all the usual suspects like facebook, twitter and the like to spread the word.

It looks like they have a very good sales set up for digital download if that is what your looking to do. Its instant and right there. You can sell one song or the entire album in one link for the song. Its really worth a look to get your music out there as T61 has global listeners and they seem to spread the word heavily about anything new that comes on.

'The Flying Dutchman'
Member
Since: Jan 11, 2006


Jul 26, 2009 01:35 pm

I've got stuff on www.downloadpunk.com, www.theground.com and www.blastmymusic.com - they're all sites where it's completely free to put your stuff on and sell it. Have never sold anything though, I'm just waiting till I got the right album recorded and then I'll try iTunes. I think that's the way to go if you really want to make some money. I've heard good things about TuneCore, also cause former Guns N Roses guitarist Izzy Stradlin has all his solo albums since 2003 exclusively on iTunes and he goes through TuneCore.

Member
Since: Sep 30, 2008


Jul 26, 2009 08:56 pm

I'll check out The 61 more thoroughly noize, thanks for mentionin' it. The voting system it boasts of seems pretty cool.

I think that iTunes would be a very exciting way to host music, if only because of how widespread it is (and thus 'official' it feels). I just think that I don't want to risk applying and being denied without something like a completed album...and that is a ways down the road.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Jul 26, 2009 10:10 pm

Yep, too many rules on iTunes making it difficult for someone selling an EP or the like. Smaller outlets like T61 and such make it a lot easier without all the extra hoops to jump through.

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