[Fmpro] cd baby

[info]

Hey Robert, 

I am the last person in the world from whom you would want an opinion about marketability. I am one of those guys who likes to create music and only deals with the business/sales/marketing side of it when dragged into it kicking and screaming. The market is not my strength or passion.

Rather than saying, "most music is not commercially viable", it may have been more accurate for me to say, "the market for most music is extremely difficult to find". I believe there is a mass market and niche markets. If you are writing in any conventional style/genre, then you are competing in the mass market. Neither "good" music nor "very good" music will stand up to the competition in this market. You must be writing something that is "absolutely phenomenal" to be heard above the din (this entire discussion presumes that you are not already well-connected with the purse-string holders in the business. That's another way to sell your music.) For the niche markets, depending on the niche, "good" music may be "good enough" to be marketable, but you often have to not only find that niche, but you have to define the niche as well.

I've stopped marketing my music because I'm not outstanding enough to compete in the mainstream and I'm not a good enough marketer to have found or accurately defined my niche. Instead, I try to market what I can identify that I am really good at. Instead of marketing my ability to produce music that sounds better, by itself, than anything you've ever heard, I market my ability to produce music that fits and enhances the story line of your film or video better than anything you've ever heard. I've also established, and try to maintain, a reputation among the directors I know as a really easy guy to work with. I'm selling "me" instead of "my music", which is harder in some ways and easier in some ways (closes some markets, opens others). If you're a film director, I want to be "the guy you want to work with". 

Having said that, I did listen to your music. Without regard to marketing: I liked it! You've definitely got some musical skills. I preferred "The Poet's Waltz" and "La Reine" over the others. I think this is because I could follow the structure and development better through these two pieces. Just a personal preference - I'm a structure kind of guy. 

Regarding UPC codes: Last time I checked (it's been a while) it was over $700 to buy a UPC code outright, but many replicators will supply one of their subcodes free or at nominal cost when you replicate with them. Works just as well as having your own code. Oasis would be one example. I personally had good luck with them and liked their service.  

Doug

> From: "Robert Stanton" <zolessi at comcast.net<mailto:zolessi at comcast.net>>

> ... I have to figure out how to do the UPC code thing and get
>some 'professional' (look wise) CDs made.  If anyone knows an economical way
>of doing that or a company that doesn't have ridiculous minimums please let
>me know...

> ... would love to know what your take is on the marketability of my material since you mentioned you think
> most is not commercially viable. ...