[Fmpro] FMPRO Digest, Vol 37, Issue 1

[Sarakin, Lloyd (LAW)]

Thanks doug... Good practical advice- I appreciate you spending the time
to write that...
Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2008 10:03:21 -0600-1"

Hi Lloyd, 

The first immutable law of music distribution (from the "Secret Unspoken
Universal Music Business Guide and Handbook") clearly states:

"Nobody is ever going to stumble across and purchase your music CD (or
mp3) just out of the blue, no matter how good it is."

I'm not sure if this law was in place back in the days of vinyl, but it
has definitely been in place since the rise of the CD burner and the
home studio.  

>From this law, we can derive the fact that simply having a presence on
CDBaby will not sell your music. There are too many other people trying
to do the same thing. The ONLY way to get people to purchase your music
is to get them to hear it first, whether that comes through live
performance, submissions, placements, friends and family, fan base, or
some other mechanism. (No. People are not going to "stumble across" your
music on your CDBaby page, or your myspace page, or your Broadjam page,
or ....) You must sell your own music, because no one else is going to.
This is a very painful truth for most of us, because selling music
requires an entirely different skill set from creating music.   

Having said all of this, CDBaby is a VERY handy way to distribute your
music to those people who have already heard your music and have decided
that they like it. From my experience, the folks that run CDBaby are
extremely musician-friendly and run a first-class business. If you've
got a CD, you've automatically got digital distribution with them. If I
recall correctly, you will need a CD with a UPC code in order to go the
CDBaby route, which means a bit more investment than simply burning a
few CDs in your basement.   

Regarding CD replication, if you've been following this list lately you
probably realize that, although some see music as pure business and
others see it as pure art, it really is both. If your endeavors lean
more toward the business side of the picture, then I would strongly
recommend that you not spend your money on CD replication until you've
validated for yourself through several different respected opinions that
your music really is commercially viable. This is pure cold-hearted
business. You may be the exception, but MOST music that is put out is
NOT commercially viable (including much of my own, I'm sad to say). 

However, there are many, very good, non-business reasons for replicating
a CD. These reasons relate to art, emotion, psychology or the betterment
of the human condition. 

As you decide whether or not to replicate, just be aware of your own
different motivations. If you are self aware as to how much of your
motivation is business and how much is "pleasure", you will not later
regret whichever decision you make. 

Good Luck!!

Doug Gallob