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com/articles/

Freewill - Bards Crier Music Marketing Contest Winner

by Tom Clark
December 3, 2000

"Is this for real?" That was the response I got from Tom Clark of Wisconsin progressive metal
band Freewill. For the past few months, I've been collecting music marketing tips and offering a
free $100 to subscribers to this ezine. Well the contest has at last ended and I'd like to
congratulate Tom for winning the contest. Here's what Tom has to say about music promotion:

"I am in a band Freewill

It looks like we will be changing our name, as we've refocused our sound, and have learned a
lot reading newsletters like this one. We are working on material for a CD.

As Freewill, we never had a live band, so we relied on message boards to spread the word. We
stuck to genre specific boards, and with our type of music,(progressive metal) that is the best
type of promotion. Those fans are fanatic about "their" music and have a strong desire to get
their hands on new stuff all the time. Being that the progressive scene is still mainly
'underground' so to speak, most bands of this style are relying on word of mouth and dropping
words on message boards and newsletters, and exchanging links with other bands and joining
web rings.

I have found that their are a lot of cool bands out there who are willing to exchange information
and success tips among each other. Instead of looking at everything like a competition, at times
it is more helpful to join forces and help spread the word of other bands you like. It usually
tends to be reciprocal and it builds good relations within the community of our genre itself.

In our case, our style has progressed a changed enough to warrant a name change, and we are
currently building a knowledge base and a list of contacts; anyone who may be helpful to us
once we're ready to start spreading the word. There is just a mass of information available if
you are patient enough to find the good stuff. Most importantly, I think, is to think and act as
professionally as possible at all times. Be polite and courteous, even when others aren't.
Building a good reputation never hurt.

If there is anything else I can do for you let me know. Thanks for the cool tips and interesting
read."

Sincerely,
Tom Clark
Freewil
 Music Promotion Success Story!

by Damien ReillyIrie
December 18, 2000

Hello Everybody, I recently put to work a number of Guerilla tactics I've learned over the course
of this year. I organized, promoted, and did publicity, for the band I manage, GiantFella's
release party on December 2nd. The party was a tremendous success, not to mention an
important case study for myself since is was my first time attempting these tasks.

I began in the beginning of November by putting together the press kits for the band including a
press release, bio, b&w 8x10, cd, and song lyrics. I also was busy putting together a media
contact list. I sent out 30 kits to CMJ, Village Voice, NY Press, Aquarian Weekly, Good Times
Magazine, and other publications around New York. The follow up calls weren't so bad. I left
about 15 messages and got through to the other 15. I made a few follow up to the follow up and
got Good times Magazine from Long Island to come review the show. I almost had the Aquarian
Weekly and most others said they would at least submit the cd to be reviewed.

Throughout the month I was constantly handing out flyers, stickers, and sample cd's some with
up to three songs that are not on the band's recent release which was promised for free at the
party. I also put up posters at bars at scattered locations around Manhattan that would attract a
clientele that would be interested in GiantFella's music. I sent out countless e-mail and a postal
mailing was done as well. I posted the release and show announcement on mi2n and some
online message boards. I hit the Blue's Traveler show at Roseland on 11/22 and handed out
more flyers, stickers, and cd's. I constantly was constantly in promo mode the entire month!

The party saw 200 people in a 220 capacity venue. I booked an opening band
(http://mappari.com) that brought 40 people,181 paid to get in which was a record for the venue,
the reviewer from Good Times came and was very impressed, and a friend of mine submitted
an article in the Vos Valley News.

Out of the 200 people there the band and myself knew about 40-50 people, 40 were from the
opening band and there was over 100 people no one recognized. I did speak with some that
came from the Blue's Traveler show, some people signed the mailing list, and everyone got a
copy of the new cd and a web site sticker. The place was rockin, everyone had a good time, and
everyone was happy. The opening band had a great time and wants to continue doing shows
with GiantFella which will definitely help. So a little hard work created a lot positive energy for
the band and everyone there that night..

Now I've just got to keep up and multiply everything I did by 10 and the band will be at a whole
nother level.
The following people I thank for sharing your knowledge and services: Curtis Waller, Mike
Randolph, Beth Krakower, Anne Leighton, Steve Zuckerman, Derek Sivers, Dave Hooper,
Carolyn Ballen Thank You!

Effective Post Card Mailings - Direct Mail

by Marc Gunn, Bard

January 9, 2001

We all know that off-line promotion is just as vital as on-line promotion. But what other means of
"off-line" promotion can you do other than mailing out your Flyer or Newsletter? Alot. We could
go into Media, Radio, Television and others but that is another topic in itself. Postcards are the
"new" wave of off-line promotion, or direct mailings. The costs incurred are far much less than
those of traditional direct mailings. Postcards, leave out the extra extra’s sorta speak, no
envelopes, no envelope stuffing, and the postage is half the cost of first class postage on a
standard letter, while still obtaining first class handling through the US Postal Service.

I myself, have had rather good results from my postcards mailings, and wanted to share some
tips with you on how you can successfully promote your website, CD, or event effectively with
Post Cards.

Don’t do what many postcard mailers do: They put a terrific design and/or headline on the
picture side of the card and nothing but the address on the address side, and many people
never see the eye-catching design or headline. All they see is the address side - the side that’s
facing up when the mail carrier delivers it. Because people always look at the address side of a
postcard to see whether it’s for them, they may decide to throw the card away without turning it
over. That’s why BOTH sides of a postcard should sell. The address side is where you want to
put your headline or attention getting graphic.

The disadvantage of a postcard is that space is limited. You must be able to deliver a very
concise message that elicits the desired response from the recipient: You need to gain
attention, stimulate interest, provoke desire, and make the prospect take action. That’s alot for a
little postcard to accomplish. That’s not to say it can’t be done; its just more difficult. Postcards
are a good way to build awareness and stimulate interest. You’ve really got to hit the nail on the
head.

Watch your own mail. You probably get tons of postcards in the mail from magazine publishers,
web host companies etc., urging you to subscribe or "try" our service. These postcards are
among the best being used today, study them carefully, keep them. Even other Artists Post
cards that you pick up here and there, Keep them, study them. Then sit down and ask yourself
the following: 1) what about this card do you like? 2) Colors used? 3) What’s written on the
address side? 4) What stands out more than anything on the card a graphic, text, or color. Once
you have studied the cards you now have, you will have a better idea of what you want your
cards to look like. Ask yourself, what am I trying to accomplish? Website traffic? Selling CDs, or
announce a event? Take all these into consideration, prior to finding the printer or graphic
designer to develop your post card. These are the exact questions they will ask you.

Then once your ready, get them designed and printed. Two great companies that I have found
and have used are Digitalwork.com and 1800postcards.com/ Both of these companies run
specials, so when you see the special snag it you will save money.

Living the Dream: One CD at a Time

by Marc Gunn, Bard

June 30, 2001

I read somewhere not too long ago that someone was lamenting that artists are putting out too
many albums without spending enough time promoting them. Well, I hate to say it, but my
group, the Brobdingnagian Bards, is guilty of such a crime.

You see, when I started The Bards a couple years ago, I knew that bands needed a product. So
we recorded our first album, Marked By Great Size, bought a CD burner, and started producing
the CDs ourselves to sell at gigs.

Six months later, we released our second album, Gullible's Travels. By this time, we'd only had
a few decent reviews of our first album, but we'd sold a couple hundred CDs after playing at
numerous Renaissance Festivals. Now, our second album was underway.

We recorded it, and got a whopping one review for the album. But with extensive gigging we
sold a couple hundred copies of this album.

Six months later, we completed our third album, Songs of the Muse. By this time, we starting to
wonder if we were stretching ourselves too thin. Andrew was duping all the CDs while I was
getting them printed. And his burner wasn't quite fast enough to keep up with the demand for
CDs. But it was about this time that we got started on mp3.com, and we got introduced to DAM
CDs, a much easier way to produce CDs when you have several, but can't afford to mass
produce any.

All of a sudden, the reason for our recording CD after CD made sense. We could get paid for
people listening to our music, and the more music you have the more money you made. Talk to
Ernesto Cortazar and 303infinity if you disagree.

Now, we could order CD one-offs from MP3.com, sell them at gigs for $10-15, and make a nice
profit while our music climbed the charts. But did I promote "Songs of the Muse"?
Well, we started recording for our next albums (yes, plural) at the beginning of 2001. We've
done some minor promotion of our album, and quite honestly, SOM is the best of our albums,
and now our first mass-produced CD. So yes, we should do more promotion for it, and we are.
But no, we are still not spending all of our extra income promoting this or another album why?
Why are we recording more albums.

Well first, Songs of the Muse was recorded to meet a very specific market. It's an all
instrumental album, and was designed to get us wedding gigs, which it does quite nicely.

But the other reason we don't is because we are meeting our goals...making a living.

While some are after a record deal or becoming the next pop star, we are on a journey. Yes, I'd
like to be a pop star. Sure, I wouldn't mind having a record deal. But our music is still evolving.
We have a long way to go before I feel we are ready for that record deal or super-stardom. The
first step is making a living.

That's what living the dream is all about. You have to take care of the basics first. In my case, it
involves getting out of debt, building a regular income, building a following, and one day earning
enough from the music to quit my day job so I can become a full-time musician. Does it matter
that our first few albums may never be heard? No. It doesn't. Those first albums will be
Collector's Editions once we get there. ;)

Once those goals are met, then I can work on my dreams of super-stardom. Yes, I am working
on those steps now. I'm not gonna find a publicist to promote us unless we are guaranteed a
decent return on our money. But I will continue to get our music to local publications, slowly but
surely. And one day, you're gonna read a message from me saying, "I am now living the
dream!"

The New Music Marketing Model for 21st Century

by Bard Marc Gunn

January 23, 2001

A year ago, I wrote a passionate article on the merits of charging $15 when you sell your CDs.
Some of my reasonings included: It's tough for indie musicians and you have a good music, so
don't short-change yourself; you can always discount the CD for special reasons (2-for-1
special); and, the "high" sales prices also includes your various expenses. I made a few
addendums, but that's the gist of it.

But now, if you head over to http://mp3.com/thebards and check out the Brobdingnagian Bards
page at MP3.com, you'll notice something kinda hypocritical...none of our CDs are priced at
$15! What gives??
Well first let me say, yes, I do still believe in a $15.00 sales price for many artists. Certainly, it
works best for folk artists, and singer/songwriter types. But my reason is not hypocrisy it is a
dramatic change in our marketing plan.

You see, when we started out, I knew that the only "real" income available to indie musicians
comes from CD sales and merchandising since royalties from ASCAP and BMI are a joke. So
our plan was to record every 6 months or less and put out new material. By then end of last
summer the indie process was leaving us drained, and we were thinking we overextended.
Then along comes MP3.com.

One of the things I've been raving about for the past few months is that MP3.com offers a new
marketing model by offering "royalties" for listens to your music. And if you're getting paid from
people listening to your music. Then it needs to be readily available right?

Well, we've followed the footsteps of many of the top MP3.com artists and have about 40-50
tracks available on our site and more are coming every week. In doing so, we make a solid $20
a day from our site.

Now with each listen, the songs are tracked on MP3.com on their music charts. You sell a CD,
the songs on that CD will rocket up the charts. So you want the CDs to sell, because higher
charting equals higher payback. Thus, our low price on MP3.com.

Now think for a second. If you have 40 songs on your site like the Hillbilly Hellcats, you're most
likely going to make your 15 unique listens because your songs are located all over the charts.
There are plenty of songs to choose from. Thus the new marketing model no longer relies on
CD sales of $15.00, but listens. When you realize that you open yourself up to a whole slew of,
in my opinion, simple marketing tactics that will make you more money from listens than selling
CDs from your website.

I know this all seems simplistic, but the vast reality is most artists on MP3.com are still running
their band with an older marketing model that does not yield the highest payback. So think
about that for a bit, and next week, I have a guest writer who will give you an exciting
promotional idea that could send your listens over the top. Then the week following that, I'm
going to betray my secret that has my song "Tolkien" at #35 on all MP3.com...

Stay tuned. Same bard time. Same bard channel!

Selling More CDs at Gigs

A Case Study: The Rogues

by Marc Gunn, Bard

November 23, 2001
A few weekends back, the Brobdingnagian Bards performed at the Austin Celtic Festival. We
shared the stage with some amazing bands, but at the very top of my list were The Rogues.

We first met The Rogues last year at the Texas Renaissance Festival. Since then I've been a
big fan of not only their killer bagpipes and drums, but their phenomenal ability to sell CDs. They
work magic on and off stage and sell tons of CDs.

What do they do that is so special?

Well, The Rogues are very proactive when it comes to selling. While many bands will setup a
table and say, "go to our table and buy our CDs", The Rogues take it a step further. They send
their sales ladies to their fans.

I remember at the Kansas City Renaissance Festival when they played the Pub Sing. They
began playing music. Their Sales Ladies danced to the music. Then they picked up their
baskets of CDs, grabbed a couple, held them high, while The Rogues invited the audience to,
"Go buy our CDs." Then the lasses walked through the aisles through the rest of the entire
performance.

While the rest of us were on stage watching with shocked amazement at our own untouched
sales table, The Rogues sold a dozen CDs! They repeated that performance at the Austin Celtic
Festival.

We shared a booth with The Rogues at the festival, and I asked Sharon about how they do it.
She told me it varies in different parts of the country. In Texas, this direct approach works
magic. In Florida, an older recreational audience gets angry if sales people disturb their show.
But the key is to realize that your sales team is a PART of the show!

They don't just stand up there silently holding up CDs. If they do, they disappear. We learned
that during our first show this weekend. Integrate your sales people into your show. Get them to
dance in the isles, clap their hands, sing-a-long. If they do, the audience will follow their lead.
This will help them to attract attention to the CDs, and you will sell more.

Be proactive. Don't wait for your fans to come to you, or they may never! If you go to them, you'll
sell more CDs, and make more fans in the process.

Confessions of a Master CD Sales Woman

by Sharon Wothke & Marc Gunn, Bard

January 14, 2002
A couple months ago, I wrote The Rogues to ask them directly what it is that makes them so
successful at selling CDs, and why they are one of the top 10 bands on CDstreet selling CDs.
Sharon Wothke wrote back:

"As head sales person for the band, I think that I would be the one to talk to. The Rogues are
definitely unique in what they do, and if you will indulge me, very good at what they do.

As a sales person, I know that the way the guys play their music definitely is the biggest factor
in their sales quotient. When the music, which can be described as infectious, is smoking hot,
and everyone is having a good time, the sales are usually pretty good. Most people who come
to a Renaissance Festival, where the band still does the lion's share of their gigs, do not come
expecting to buy a CD with bagpipe music on it. The Rogues have converted many people to
this form of music. So in other words, they create a unique atmosphere which is conducive to
sales.

If the guys are doing their job (making great music), it makes my job a lot easier. I just have to
be available and approachable to people and looking like a I am a part of the show for people to
feel comfortable in coming up to me. We started from the very beginning employing the use of a
roaming basket. It is very effective and other groups have successfully copied our approach.

Our sellers walk around holding up the product so people can see them. Our sellers try to blend
in with the show and not be pushy, just visible. I personally enjoy interacting with the crowd,
spoofing off of what is being said on the stage and telling jokes to make the audience laugh.
And I will talk and be nice to everyone, even if they don't buy a CD simply because I enjoy
people and I am trying to be an ambassador for the band. They may not buy today, but chances
are they will think about it and buy a CD at another time."

Straight from the Master's mouth. What does it take?

1. Great music
2. Great live performance
3. Roaming sales people with baskets of CDs
4. Sellers hold up product DURING the show
5. Sellers blend in an interact with the show

Confessions of a Master CD Sales Woman, Part 2

by Sharon Wothke & Marc Gunn, Bard

February 3, 2002

Read Part 1

Well a great performance and an interactive sales crew is just the start to seling more CDs at
gigs. The Rogues also employ other salespeople.
"Our sellers work off of a commission, with bonuses built in when an individual's sales total
reaches a certain amount. Giving a salesperson a commission motivates them to sell more
product than just giving them a flat rate. We do have minimum pay for a day's work when the
sales are not good. In that case the band usually pays $50 day, or a 10% commission of the
sales total, whichever is greater.

At the more modern venues, such as highland games and celtic festivals, we have found that
having a sales table is an extremely successful way to increase sales, especially in combination
with a roaming salesperson (when using both are appropriate). At pub gigs, we only have a
sales table. Having someone roam in a tight space like a pub would be seen as too aggressive
or invasive, which the Rogues do not encourage their salespeople to be. Friendly competition
between two or more sellers is fine as long as there is a feeling of team spirit. Our sellers help
each other out when one needs change or more stock.

The larger the crowds, the more sales people are needed. The sheer size of the crowd has a
tremendous impact on sales. When you get that many people standing or sitting that close
together and they are all excited about the music, it is like a ripple effect--once the sales start
flowing, everyone seems to jump on the buying bandwagon.

At one particular show at the Maryland Renaissance Festival, where the crowd was huge, our
three sellers were not able to maximize the full sales potential. A good indication of my not
being able to tap the sales potential that is when I am standing in one spot and have not moved
out of it the entire show. Just as soon as I finish one sell, another person comes up to buy a CD.
I call that standing in a "sweet spot"--when people come up to you already wanting to buy a CD.
My job then is to try to figure out, as
quickly as possible, what CD or CDs would best suit what they are looking for. I always try to
point out the fact that they can order more CDs through the website or mail order, or listen to the
music on MP3.com.

As a bandmember's wife, I am always trying to promote the band. I take business cards from
people who want to hire the band for potential gigs and I direct them to my husband, Randy,
who is the business manager for the band."

1. Reward sales people with commission

2. Set up sales table for venues
3. Encourage friendly sales competition
4. More people to sell for larger crowds, enjoy 'ripple effect'
5. Take business cards to gigs and hand out at every opportunity.

The Rogues use CDBaby to sell their CDs. Why? See for yourself?

Selling CDs Online: A Three-Pronged Approach

by David Nevue
March 19, 2002

Recently, a visitor to the Music Biz Academy asked me a very common question; "How can I
sell more CDs on the Internet?" Good question, though very open-ended. How you go about
marketing your music successfully depends on a great many factors. This article contains some
suggestions where to start.

I recommend musicians take a three-pronged approach to selling their music on the Internet.
The first 'prong' is what I call 'targeting with buzz.' That is, you create a buzz about your music
and get people talking about it. To do that, however, you need to promote your music where
people are already searching for new music to try out. That is, instead of trying to bring people
to you (or your web site), you go to where the people are already hanging out. Go where the
action is, so to speak. So, where's that?

The first place I recommend any musician start promoting their music is MP3.com. Though
some independent musicians feel MP3.com has 'sold out' (actually, they literally have) to the
commercial record industry, the fact is that for pure exposure it's the place to be. MP3.com is a
huge magnet for music-loving traffic. Perform a search at Google for 'music' and MP3.com the
#2 site listed. Search for 'mp3' and it's the #1 site. You just can't find a better place to put your
music right in the path of cyber-traffic. With proper
promotion, you'll have hundreds, even thousands of new people listening to your music every
day. For example, for January 2002, I was able to generate over 50,000 plays of my songs. And
that was with just basic, simple, inexpensive promotion. That exposure resulted in more CD
sales, lots of email from new fans, and more importantly, name recognition. Once you've
mastered MP3.com, you can start setting up shop at other, similar sites such as Vitaminic.com,
GarageBand.com, CDBaby.net, Ampcast.com, JavaMusic.com and others.

The second 'prong' to increasing CD sales on the net is what I call 'targeting by site.' With this
option, your objective is to create a web site that targets the people most likely to be interested
in your music. The question to ask yourself is, 'what are the people who are most likely to buy
your music already searching the Internet for?' Once you have that answer, design a web site to
target that specific audience. Then, promote your web site using tried and true web site
marketing techniques (see spider-food.net for search engine promotion tips). In this scenario,
you don't focus on promoting your music per se, you focus on promoting the web site. Then,
since your web site is attracting visitors that tend to enjoy your style of music, you advertise your
music on your specialized web site, marketing directly to those targeted visitors.

The final 'prong' is where you will create long term fans; your own 'official' artist web site. This
personal web site is the place where you will provide your fans with complete details about your
act. You'll include song lyrics, news, CD info, pictures, a discussion board, chat room, sheet
music, whatever you can think of. Your official site is the place you will drive traffic to from prong
#1 and prong #2. It's where, ultimately, long-term fans (and friends) are made and, if it's well-
designed and updated frequently, it's the place your fans will keep coming back to. Here's a tip:
if you have more than one CD, sell them in 'bulk'. Give your visitors the opportunity to buy more
for less. I currently have 5 CDs, and give my visitors the option of buying all 5 CDs for $50.
Guess what? Most of my orders from new customers are for the entire collection. So, if you
haven't yet purchased a domain name for your act, do so. I recommend using DirectNic.com,
where you can purchase a domain name for $15/year.

All three of these prongs work together in tandem. The first (targeting with buzz) not only sells
CDs, it creates buzz, name recognition, and career opportunities where none were before. My
time on MP3.com has directly resulted in song licensing opportunities, as well as a distribution
deal with a Korean record company. The second method (targeting by site) allows you to target
visitors who have a predisposition to your style of music. Maybe they didn't search the Internet
looking specifically for new music, but as a result of their search they did discover you, and with
some keen marketing strategies you can gradually, over time, turn some of these casual visitors
into fans. Finally, the third 'prong' is where you keep them coming back, your own, official web
site. There, long-term fans are made. Think of prong #1 and #2 as a funnel, that channels your
visitors to prong #3.

I'm sure you're thinking this is a lot of work. You're right, it is, and it's only the beginning. There's
a lot involved in marketing and selling your music online - much more than I can go into in this
short article. But, hopefully this will whet your appetite and inspire some creating thinking. If your
music is truly good music, and you (and others) really believe in it, there are many marketing
and career opportunities for you online. You just have to dig them up, and be very persistent
about it.

One Fan to Fire Up the Furnace

by Marc Gunn of the Brobdingnagian Bards

March 27, 2000

We live in a high-speed world. We want every thing now. Sadly, the "I want it now" attitude does
not working in the field of marketing. Marketing is all cafefully planned, that's why you must
assume the position of the bard.

Bards of old traveled the world and weaved their musical webs to whomever would listen. If
there were even one person, then the bard would cast his spell. And in the world of music you
have to build your fan base one fan at a time.

I remember my first band. I hooked up to sing with this glam rock band a decade ago. We were
about to play in the rec room of our dormitory. There were a dozen people and I was excited. It
was my first opportunity to play on stage, when the drummer declared, "If there aren't more
people, I'm not playing." I was devesated. It awoke me to something a number of bands
have...arrogance. And it started me on the bardic path.
Since then, I've made every opportunity to play to individuals. I was down in San Marcos, Texas
last year and my partner hadn't yet arrived. A couple came in looking to hear some "Irish" music.
I played "An Irish Lullaby" for them. The woman was in tears by the time I ended. Her husband?
A music writer for the local paper. Needless to say, we got a spectacular review of our first
album!

You see, every person is important. And the more the each individual adores you, the more
likely they'll tell their friends and bring them out to shows. And the sad thing is no matter how
hard your try to bring a crowd, sometimes they don't come out. So make each show the best it
can possibly be for the one or two people in the audience. They will appreciate it, buy your
album and tell all their friends.

One devoted fan is worth a hundred casual listeners. And you never know. That one listener
could be your ticket to success!

Music Promo Tips Blog

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Who Needs Flyers? How to Generate a Flood of Local Web Site Traffic for your Unsigned
Band
Seems every time I read an article about music promotion, they seem generally the same thing.
"Play in your local market with a fifty mile radius of your hometown."

That's actually pretty smart advice. If you can build a buzz in your region, that local buzz will
eventually spread outside of your market into others.

But there's a problem. It is no easy task for any unsigned band to build that buzz. Take my
hometown, Austin. Whew! I can't tell you how many bands there are here. The market is
flooded. Getting through the clutter is pain in the arse.

Guess what? I learned an untapped secret to break through the band clutter, earn you web
traffic all from your local region. And you will generate good-will in your community.

Here's the secret.

Write reviews of local businesses.

I wrote a short review of a small Irish pub just outside of Austin called the Irish Dragoon Pub.
They had no website. So I gave them one and added a few kind words.
This past St. Patrick's Day the owner of the Dragoon embarrassed me. He took the microphone
before we started playing. Not only did he talk us up to the audience, but he thanked us for the
kind review that "put the Irish Dragoon on the map".

You can do the same for ANY business wherever you're playing. And it's easy. Here's what you
do.

1. Pick a local business you want to support.

2. Write a short review about that business. Don't just say it's cool. Tell your readers what
you've bought there before to make it more personal.

3. Put that business name in the title of the webpage. For instance, "Irish Dragoon Pub in
Killeen, TX".

4. Add a small banner with your next gig listed.

5. Submit that webpage to the search engines.

That's it. More than likely, you'll come up easily as one of the top 10 sites listed.

To improve your search ranking, add additional links to that webpage on your website and
others. And don't forget to let the business know that you appreciate them. Send them a link to
that review as well.

SPECIAL NOTE: While this is a great way to bring in a bunch of random traffic. It's not targeted.
Meaning those who DO come to your site, more than likely will have little interest in your music,
UNLESS the business you write about attracts your type of fans. So do a little bit o'research and
good luck!

http://www.musicbizacademy.com/articles/biz/startbusiness.htm

Can You Afford Distribution?

By Chris Standring - A&R Online

Back to The Academy

I get many e-mails from artists and groups asking me about distribution. They say "We have a
band and we're playing locally and getting good crowds and we sell our CD at gigs. We started
our own label and need to get distribution so we can sell in all the stores. How can we do that?"
The odds are that you cannot afford to have distribution.
Let me explain why...

Most inexperienced folks believe that a distributor is the pipeline to the people. In theory it is, but
in practice it is not. A distribution company is only as good as the record companies promotional
power. Yes it is important to get your CD in the store, but it is much more important to get your
CD OUT of that store. It's as much the record companies job to do that as it is retail's. A
distributor can only try its hardest to convince a retail store to take your CD. To secure shelf
space a record company needs to present all its marketing commitments (and honor them) so
retail stays confident that it can shift units.

Let's face it, record stores are saturated with product. Why on earth would a store take a CD if it
isn't sure it will get sold. The kind of things that retail needs to see if it is to readily accept your
product is:

• Radio Play
If a single is being worked at radio (through an independent radio promoter) and getting
spins, this might be enough to convince a store in that neighborhood to take your record.
The amount of demand for the record will determine the amount of units the store takes.

• Retail Price And Positioning

Visibility in a record store is everything! If you were to buy an "end cap" (those displays
at the end of an aisle), or a month on a listening station, or rack display, this is enough to
attract the attention of a store. However, it has become increasingly competetive even
when you pay for this!

• Touring
Playing live shows can help create a demand for a CD and this of course is key.

All labels have what they call a "one sheet" - a hand out sheet with bullet points outlining their
marketing strategies and promotional commitments. This is the first step, but then those
commitments have to be met. These commitments are extremely expensive.

If a label refuses to spend promotional money on their act a number of things can result;

1) The CDs remain in the store buried amongst the thousands of others waiting to be found.
2) The CDs after a matter of weeks, get returned to the record label.
3) The record store takes less units from the same artist's next CD, often refusing to stock it
altogether.

The last point is interesting. A brand new artist can generate much more excitement in the retail
marketplace than an artist with a failed record. The label with the new artist, providing they
stump up their promotional dollars and have a good several weeks at radio before they go to
retail, can distribute a good amount of units in the marketplace. The artist with a previous record
that "bombed" however, will need to do a good deal more convincing in order to get the stores
to take more product.

So my big question is; "Can you afford distribution?". To get a record in every store via a
reputable distributor immediately puts you in competition with major labels who have gobs of
promotional money they can drop if they need to.

My advice for independent artists is to localise. By all means try to get your CD in retail stores,
but do it yourself. Strike up a relationship with the store buyer and offer your CDs on
consignment. Don't give them any risk. When you do gigs in that neighborhood make a point of
telling your audience that they can buy your CD in such and such store (even if you sell CDs at
your gigs!)

Do what you can to get some radio play in that area too. This, along with your live shows, might
create a certain amount of demand to shift enough units for each retail store to take you
seriously and want to continue to support you. From time to time record stores will do "in store
appearances" with independent artists and this will allow you to build a stronger relationship with
a store, and sell a few units. In a perfect world that store may even add your disc to a listening
station for a month to help generate some business. I have seen this happen many, many
times. They understand that it costs labels thousands of dollars to do this and that indies are
operating on a shoestring. They very often want to help if they believe in a band.

Having said this, retail pretty much wants to deal only with distributors and labels. However,
they will support a new artist if they like them. Walk into your local store and ask to speak to the
buyer. Give him your CD, be nice and see what happens.

Remember, don't just think about getting your CD IN the store, think about how you might get it
OUT!.

-----

Chris Standring is the CEO and founder of A&R Online. He is also a contemporary jazz guitarist
presently signed to Mesa/Bluemoon Records. The music is marketed at NAC and Urban AC
radio. For more info on Chris' recording career go to his personal website.

The Musician's Action Plan

by Kathy Brackley - Katcall Creative Studio, Posted July 15th 2003

Back to The Academy

Why am I here? Where am I going? How am I going to get there? These are some of the
important questions you should be asking yourself. As with anything in life it's a good idea to set
goals for yourself and have a plan of action.

One of the things I often see are musicians who are looking for a quick fix. "I've made a CD and
it's soooo good that it's going to sell itself!" ...think again. You could be the most talented
musician..the most "kick ass band"....but your CDs are not going to sell themselves. Nor are A &
R people going to show up on your doorstep if they don't know you exist.

Take the time to create an action plan, not only will it will help keep you focused - you'll know
exactly where you are going and how you are going to get there. Let's use baseball as an
example; the players do not just go out on the field and play - they have a game plan. If their
game plan doesn't work, they re-evaluate it and make adaptations. If they didn't have a game
plan, what do you think would be the result?

Before you begin, it's a good idea to know what your rights are as a musician and how to protect
your music. These factors will likely come into play while you are promoting yourself and your
music. If you are not sure, I highly recommend taking the time to do some research.

The attached Musician's Action Plan Workbook (PDF) includes:

• Action Plan Worksheet

• Follow Through Worksheet
• CD Tracker Worksheet
• Action Plan Review Worksheet
• Example Action Plan

STEP 1: DEFINING YOURSELF

The first thing you need to do is sit down and do some serious thinking. You should have a
binder or notebook where you can keep all of the information you are about to accumulate.
Before you start, print a copy of the Workbook (PDF Download). Ask yourself the questions
below and write down your answers in the workbook. When answering the questions be as
specific as possible. I've included an Example Action Plan at the end of the Workbook for your
reference, use this as a tool to help you get started. Below you will find the list of questions
which are included in the workbook along with some examples.

1. What is my idea of success? e.g. Is it just playing music and simply being happy with that,
getting a record deal, selling 100,000 copies of your Cd, being world famous, etc.

2. What are my goals? What do you hope to achieve? Keep your goals realistic and specific.
e.g. This year I want to sell 500 CDs.
3. What can I do to reach my goals? Now that you've set your goals, how can you help
yourself to reach them?

4. What is my plan of action? Now that you have clearly defined your goals and things you
can do to reach them, how will you set them into action?

5. What am I willing to sacrifice? This one will require some thought. e.g. time, your values,
your music, etc.

6. What am I *not* willing to sacrifice? e.g. your values, your music, etc.

7. What am I willing to compromise on? Look at your list of things you would not sacrifice, is
there anything that you might compromise on?

8. What resources do I have at my disposal? List all your resources; you may not realize how
many you actually have. Resources can be people, information etc.

9. Where can I find the information I need? e.g. This can be your resources, or places you
have yet to explore.

10. What am I going to need help with? What can't you do yourself that you'll need some
assistance with. This could be anything from mailing out your CDs, to promoting them, creating
a press release etc.

11. Who are the people that can help me? List as many specific people as you can.

12. How much money am I prepared to spend? How much money are you willing to spend on
the goals you've chosen.

13. How much time am I willing to invest? This can be a specific amount e.g., two hours, a
day or it can be general - whatever amount it takes to achieve your goals.

14. How and where can I make contacts? Again look at your resources and the people that
can help you. Do some research, find online discussion lists, message boards, etc. then list
them here.

15. When do I plan to reach these goals by? (date)

STEP 2: FOLLOWING THROUGH

There is no point in having an action plan if your not going to follow through. Now look at the
part of your action plan where you answer "What is my plan of action?" Now it's time to start
doing these things. Keep a notebook with the following information, add in any other information
you'd like to keep track of. (There is a Follow Through Worksheet included in the Workbook.)
1. Today's Date:

2. The Date of Contact:

3. Contact info:

a. Name:
b. Company Name:
c. Address:
d. Phone Number:
e. Email Address:

4. What was the end result of this contact? Example: Company X will take three copies of my
Cd to sell in their store.

5. Notes: i.e. What did you think of this company/contact? Did they make a comment that stood
out in your mind? What was your overall impression?

STEP 3: FOLLOWING UP
Keep tabs on who is selling a lot of your CDs and who isn't. It's a really good idea to keep a
notebook and write down: the name of the company, how many CDs they requested, how many
they have sold, the date etc. There is a CD Tracker Worksheet included in your Workbook.

Also, it never hurts to follow up after some time has passed. Approach the people who passed
on your CD. A great way to do this is if you have something new happening like a gig. i.e. "I'll be
playing at the Five and Dime on April 5th". Now that you've made a few contacts, joined a few
discussion lists etc. you will probably have new places and ideas that might work well for you.
Keep track of them, contact them if it interests you and then follow through. (step 2)

STEP 4: MEASURING YOUR SUCCESS

When you completed your action plan, you wrote the date you'd like to achieve your goals by.
When that date arrives, it's time to look over your action plan and see how you did.

Below, are some questions to refer to. Again, write down the answers and keep this together
with your action plan. After you've answered the questions you can begin to build a new action
plan or expand on the old one. Your goals may have changed through the process.

1. Did my plan of action work?

2. Did I reach my goal(s)?

3. What didn't I do that I should have?

4. What worked for me?

5. What didn't work for me?

6. What have I learned in the process?

7. What have I accomplished/gained?

8. Were my goals realistic?

9. Additional Notes:

Todays date:

CONTRACT CHECKLIST
When considering entering into a contract, agreement, or potential offer, you should always
consider all the pros, cons and find out exactly what exactly they are offering you. This includes
any website offering to sell your CDs or artwork, record labels etc.

1. What are their fees and are there any 'hidden fees'?

2. How will they promote me and my music?

3. How much time are they willing to invest in me?

4. How will this help further my career?

5. Do they help protect my rights as an artist?

6. What are their credentials/background?

7. What are their goals?

8. Do they have a good track record within the industry?

9. Who are they affiliated with?

10. What are their affiliates credentials?

11. What are the other options available to me as an artist?

12. How do they compare?

13. What are the pros and cons of all my options?

14. What are the legalities involved?

15. Do I have to sign a contract/agreement?

16. If yes, how long am I tied into the agreement/contract?

17. Is their offer non exclusive?

18. Do I understand the terms of the contract?

19. Have I researched all possible avenues?

20. Do I have enough information to make a sound decision?

21. Am I getting good value for my money?

The attached Musician's Action Plan Workbook (PDF) includes:

• Action Plan Worksheet

• Follow Through Worksheet
• CD Tracker Worksheet
• Action Plan Review Worksheet
• Example Action Plan

----

Kathy Brackley has had a passionate interest in the arts since childhood; particularly music and
writing. In addition to providing Music Publicity for Indie Musicians and Labels (Katcall Creative
Studio), her current adventures include being Editor-In-Chief of Artists Studio Magazine,
freelance writing for various publications, and advancing her studies in Public
Relations/Marketing. In her spare time she feeds her passion for music by playing flamenco
guitar.

The Overall Picture

of Music Marketing
by Bryan Farrish

Back to The Academy

There are two options for your independent music in the music business: You can either try to
be your own record label (and/or PR firm, music company, entertainment agent, etc.), or you
can partner with others who will do the work for you if you pay them. Either way, you need to
know who does what.

A Record label, PR firm, music manager, music publishing company, entertainment agency,
music distribution firm, entertainment lawyer, music magazine, and most any other entity in the
music industry are all part of a "mass media" wheel that generates airplay, publicity, gigs and
record (CD) sales. All this is part of a record deal (from a record label), or, it can be used to get
a record deal. Alternatively, you could decide just to keep as much of it in-house as possible,
thus creating your own operation. This is a realistic option if you will be in the business for five
or more years, and you are willing to work at least 30 hours a week at it.

A real record company handles four basic areas of music marketing: Radio, PR (public
relations), gigs, and music retail. The radio portion is what this entire site is about; radio is the
most complicated part of the music industry, and the most expensive part of the budget of a
major record label. If you hire an independent radio promoter, they can also help a little with PR,
gigs and retail, provided the airplay campaign is large enough.

The PR (publicity) portion of the entertainment industry is obtained by hiring a PR firm (or PR
person). A large record label has these people on staff, but will still hire out for more push. A
smaller independent record label sometimes will just try to do its own publicity, maybe by just
focusing on some local music magazines. Big mass media music magazines, however, will be
beyond what an independent music label can get.

The gig portion of your music marketing is obtained by partnering with an entertainment agency
who book gigs for you (good gigs can get you some PR too.) Small music labels will just try to
book their own gigs. Note that an entertainment agency for gigs is not the same as an
entertainment agent that an actor would have.

For the retail part of the music industry, a record company would hire a retail promoter, whereas
a small independent record label would just call stores on their own. Note that this is NOT the
same thing as music distribution, which is simply a middleman between the record company
and the music retail stores... they just take retail orders once the retail promotion person causes
the sales to happen. If you have no retail promotions person, you will have no sales, regardless
of the radio that you do.

The entertainment industry has a few other entities you will have to work with... like the music
manager (i.e., personal manager) and the entertainment lawyer. While they are not into music-
marketing or mass-media details the way a record label or radio promoter would be, they are
needed with things like music publishing and general operation once you are on the road (but
probably not before.)

As a final note, below are some miscellaneous terms that some new artists seek info on, but
which were already covered above:

Record label company

Music royalty
Music record company
Entertainment business
Artist manager
Music industry contact
Publicity agency
PR company
Entertainment marketing
Music management company
Music distribution company
Radio publicity system
Music industry information
Music industry PR company
Radio publicity campaign
The music industry
Music industry marketing company
Music industry resource
Music industry statistics
Marketing music
Music industry contract
Music industry publication
Music industry directory
Music industry management
Music industry magazine ct.

Bryan Farrish is an independent radio airplay promoter. He can be reached at 818-905-8038

or at radio-media.com
How to Promote Your Music Successfully on the Internet
by David Nevue

New: 2004 Edition!

Buy This Edition, Get the Next via Email FREE!
PDF Version Has Clickable Links!
PDF $18.95 | Hard Copy $28.95 (+ S&H)

A Message from the Author...

Good day to you. My name is David Nevue. I am the founder of the Music Biz Academy (this
web site) and author of the book, How to Promote Your Music Successfully on the Internet.

Let me come straight to the point. The Internet is an incredible promotional tool for
independent musicians. You can get radio play, grow a fan base, create a distribution channel,
manufacture and sell CDs all online. You can use the Internet to create an amazing amount of
exposure for your music. Wouldn't it be great if literally thousands of people heard your music
every day? What if you could use your web site to sell 50, 100, 200 CDs or more every month?
Guess what? It doesn't take a brain-surgeon to make it happen, but it does take a lot of hard
work – and you need to know what you're doing.

Therein lies the problem. Most musicians just have no idea where to start when it comes to
online promotion and distribution. Some get as far as putting up a web site, but stop there. They
aren't sure what the next step should be. That's where I can help.

Who am I? I'm an independent musician just like you, with one difference: In 2003, I used the
Internet to generate over $60,000 in income . Hard to believe, isn't it? But it's true. Today I'm
doing the "music business" full-time from my home in Springfield, Oregon. I now invest my time
developing my music rather than spending 40-60 hours a week working for someone else. I'm
truly an independent musician.

My intent with this book is to give you the information you need to begin promoting, selling,
and distributing your own music online. I'll provide you with proven ideas you can put to use
immediately. It doesn't take a ton of money to get started either – that's another great benefit of
living in this digital age.

Simply put, in my book, How to Promote Your Music Successfully on the Internet, I'll take you
step by step through the same marketing strategies I've used over the last nine years (since
1995) to promote my own music and run my music business on my own terms.

Click here for reviews from my readers!

Cutting Through the Hype...

First, let's cut through the hype. If you want to be successful promoting and distributing your
music online, it's going to take time and hard work. Like anything else of real value, you'll get out
of it what you put into it. But here's the cool thing: your music career will be in your hands. Once
you have the information you need, your future will not be dependent on somebody else doing
their job, it will be dependent on you doing yours. How refreshing would that be? You career
won't be at the mercy of a record label, some A&R person, or an agent who may or may not
have your best interest in mind. Providing your music is quality music and deserving of an
audience, you can find that audience online.
You need knowledge, pure and simple. In How to Promote Your Music Successfully on the
Internet I'll give you good, practical information you can put to use right away to promote and
distribute your music online. I will teach you, in a straightforward way, how to get your music out
there without wasting your time on hogwash.

Let Me Tell You What This Book is NOT...

This book is NOT full of advertisements for other services. I really hate it when you buy a book
it turns out to be a 100 page long pitch to get you to spend more money on "consulting"
services! This book is all substance, and contains no hot air!

This book is NOT sparce. Yet another pet peeve of mine is when you purchase an ebook and
the pages have 2 inch margins and LARGE type to make the book look bigger than it really is.
How to Promote Your Music Successfully on the Internet is 135 pages long, with 3/4 inch
margins and 11-12 point type. In other words, I make the most of the space on each page.

This book is NOT written by some guy who's trying to make a buck off of your hopes and
dreams. I'm a musician, just like you, and I wrote this book for a reason: to help other
independent musicians achieve the same success I have. It sounds corny, but it's true.

This book is NOT overpriced. If anything, it's underpriced. As a working musician myself, I
understand finances are tight, plus I know you have other priorities. One of my primary concerns
for my customers is to keep my book affordable. The PDF version of my book sells for a very
low $18.95, and that includes one free PDF update to the next edition when it's released! You'll
be hard pressed to find an ebook anywhere that sells for less. I challenge you to find one.

This book is NOT written by someone with lots of "theory," but no experience. I've lived this
book! Everything in it, every idea, suggestion, and strategy within its pages comes from real life
experience. The marketing strategies in my book are tried, tested, and true.

This book is NOT out of date! How to Promote Your Music Successfully on the Internet is
updated twice a year to stay current with the times! The Internet changes constantly, and writing
a book on Internet marketing requires continued vigilance! You can be assured that no other
book on marketing music on the Internet is as current, or accurate as this one.

Click here for reader reviews!

I've Been Doing This a LONG Time....

I started marketing my music on the Internet way back in 1995! Like most musicians still do
today, I put up a web page with some sound samples (*.wav files in those days) and just hoped
somebody would find me. My first year online, I sold just two CDs. I wasn't satisfied with that at
all! So I began experimenting with different marketing strategies. After some failures and a few
successes, I began to see more CD sales. I knew I was on to something when I began selling
four or five CDs a week! That gave me the idea to write this book, the first edition of which came
out in November of 1997. I've updated this book at least twice a year ever since!

Since that time, I've continued to build onto my success, and over the last nine years I've
expanded my online music business to include not only sales of my CDs, but books (like this
one), sheet music (transcriptions of my own works), information and advertising. Needless to
say, the income generated through these music-related projects has made a huge impact on my
ability to both promote my music and to create more products, like CDs, to sell to fans. My
discography now includes eight CDs! I could never have accomplished that without the
additional income generated by my web site!

Full-Time Musician Status!

In November of 2001, I finally achieved a longtime dream: I quit my day job at Symantec
Corporation (the makers of Norton Antivirus and Norton Internet Security) to work in the online
music business full-time. Now I have more time to work on my music and spend with my family.
Life has never been better or more fulfilling.

Click here for reader reviews!

Use the Internet to Advance Your Music Career...

YES, you can use the Internet to create a LOT of exposure for your music. YES, you can use
the Internet to bring in additional income to invest right back into your music business. But can
the Internet actually advance your career? The answer, in short, is also, YES!

Just Think About It...

Thousands of people could be hearing your music every single day. That's what I've been
able to achieve. My Live365.com broadcast currently generates over 70,000 listening hours per
month. That equates to over 2000 people a day hearing my music! That translates into sales!
And that's just one, single, web site. There are many more great places to promote, sell, and
distribute your music on the Internet.

Hundreds of people could be buying your CDs . Wouldn't it be nice to sell 5-10 CDs a week
from your web site? What about a 50-100 per month? Success at that level takes a lot of work,
but it is possible if you have the determination. One reader wrote me to say that after putting my
suggestions into practice they sold over 3000 CDs from their web site in 9 months! That's over
300 CDs a month!

Imagine all the contacts you'll get when your music really starts getting out there. As a direct
result of my time online I've gained distribution overseas and a publishing agreement. On a
regular basis I am contacted by independent filmmakers wanting to use my music (which they
discovered online) for their film projects. I am approached all the time about gig opportunities all
across the U.S. from people who found my music online.
Think about how great it will feel when your fans begin to use the Internet to communicate
with you, to tell you how much they love your music. Just look at the email I've received from
people at my own personal web site. It's amazing the impact your music can have on people if
they just have the opportunity to hear it! Best of all, using the Internet, you have the opportunity
to develop important relationships with fans from all over the world. These fans can become an
extension of you, and many of them will help you get the word out about your music!

Who Needs a Record Deal?

Many musicians look desperately to be signed by a major record label. Perhaps you,
yourself have aspirations of "making it big" in the music business. But let me tell you something.
You don't need a major label deal to have a successful music career. If you are seeking fame in
the music business, then yes, you need the backing of big money. But, if you're just wanting to
do music full-time and be the quintessential artist, that's something you can do all on your own,
and the Internet can help you reach that goal. I'm living proof of that.

I want to teach other musicians to use the Internet the way I have. Not only to bring in more
income, but to gain significant exposure for your music. In How to Promote Your Music
Successfully on the Internet, I will show you how to target an audience most likely to buy your
music. I will show you how to convert visitors to your web site into sales, and how to increase
your fan base. I will show you how to sell more CDs, and how and where to distribute your
music online. I will also tell you what not to waste your time and money on. Basically, I'm going
to use this book to pass on pretty much everything I know about marketing music on the
Internet. Whatever your end goal is, if it involves using the Internet to promote your music, this
book will help you do that.

If you want to create massive exposure for your music online, sell a lot more CDs and use the
Internet to both generate income and advance your music career - this book is for you. In How
to Promote Your Music Successfully on the Internet, I takes you step-by-step through the
methods I have used to find a successful music career online. Whether you are just getting
started online, or an experienced marketer, you will benefit from my experience.

And if you're not sure you can trust me, or you fear I have a hidden agenda, just read out the
many testimonials from satisfied readers! This book delivers the goods.

There is Just No Comparison....

There are two or three competing books out there about marketing music on the Internet, but
only one by an unsigned, indie musician like yourself who actually understands where you're
coming from. This is the only book you need to find success selling your music online. To
quote one of our readers, other books on this subject "dull in comparison" to this one.

"I've read (several popular Internet Music Marketing books named, but excluded here out of
respect for the authors) and more prior to this purchase. They all dull in comparison. I got more
valuable info in your book than all others combined." - Jeffrey Sanders

"A million thanks to you for your book “How to Promote Your Music Successfully on the
Internet.” In minutes, it answered questions I’d had for weeks...I figure you have saved me
months if not years of trial and error." - John Edmonds

"I am an experienced web surfer...but I never could have imagined that so much more existed
out there than what I already knew. I made so much progress after reading it in the ensuing
week that I think that the book saved me at least 6 months of toil and trouble on the web." -
Spike Spencer

"I am absolutely loving 'How to Promote Your Music Successfully on the Internet!" I've been
looking for exactly the information that you have provided me with, and would have gladly have
paid 10 times what I did for it! I haven't been able to stop reading it all night!" - Tim White

I've poured my heart and soul into this book, not only for you, but for myself. How to Promote
Your Music Successfully on the Internet is, in a very real way, a process I've used to write down
and archive everything I've ever learned.

Get a Free PDF Update!

One of the benefits of buying my book, How to Promote Your Music Successfully on the
Internet, is that it's very up to date . And when you buy the book for only $18.95 (PDF) or $28.95
(hard copy), you can count on staying up to date! Every person that buys my book via this web
site gets one free PDF update to the next edition! It will be emailed to you automatically! You
can even, if you wish, buy the current edition of my book and get lifetime PDF updates for a
one-time charge of only $38.95!

Questions?
If you have any about this book or the order process before you buy, please feel free to write
me and ask! Yes, I'm a real person, and I'm a click away.

Yes, It's Guaranteed!

If for ANY reason you are unsatisfied with the book, you may return it for a full refund! But check
this out! In its seven years of publication, after thousands of sales, I've only had two copies
returned. That's a pretty good track record!

Don't Miss Out!

For under twenty dollars, you'll have all the information you need to promote your music online
the right way. No more wasted time and energy! No more guesswork! You'll have a workable
plan laid out before you. Isn't that worth $20 bucks?
A Quick Summary...
Among many other things, my book will show you...

Where to begin when you have nothing. How to start from scratch!
How to build a web site designed to maximize CD sales
How to get your music online. The technical stuff made easy!
How to take credit card orders from your site - in just 15 minutes!
How to optimize your web site for search engines (without the hype)
How to register your web site with the search engines (without paying a dime!)
How and where to target customers most likely to buy your CDs, and drive them to your web
site
How to build a street team of fans, put them to work, and keep them energized!
How to write your press release and where to send it online to make an impact.
Proven strategies for selling music online. Great ideas just waiting to happen!
Little known marketing secrets that will easily double your CD sales!
How to turn casual visitors into buying customers
How to build and maintain an email list that will bring you business for years to come!
How to launch your own Internet radio station and use it to attract thousands of new fans!
10 things to do right now to improve your Internet sales
The absolute best places to promote, sell and distribute your music online. Very detailed.
What NOT to waste your time and money on! Learn from my mistakes!
How to use advertising to pump cash into your music career. A little success can go a long
way.
....and a HUGE directory of proven resources to help you take you to the next level.

These are just a few of the topics covered in How to Promote Your Music Successfully on the
Internet.

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Reviews by the Experts...

"Sometimes, every great once in a while, a book comes along and just takes you by surprise.
What you expect to be a mundane, albeit educational experience can make you sit up and take
notice if you're not careful. This was the case when I read "How to Promote Your Music
Successfully on the Internet" by David Nevue. Attention indie artists – if you don't know how to
promote your music on the Internet, this is the book for you. For those of you who think you
know how to promote your music on the Internet, get this book anyway – I promise you'll learn
things you did not know."
- Michele Wilson-Morris, MusicDish

"Author David Nevue has created a direct and easy to understand roadmap for marketing your
music on the world wide web. This book contains fundamentals that major artists, as well as
those on independent labels, should read and absorb....David goes to the heart of the matter:
Music Marketing Strategies That Bring Results!...It is a very well rounded catalogue of ideas,
and the serious musician will find it an excellent starting point. Nevue's practical guide will get
you thinking beyond the immediate gratification of hearing your song played a few times on
Internet radio, to the more substantial art of selling records via the Internet."
- Joe Viglione, for AllMusic.com

"The #1 thing that impresses me about this book? It's constantly being updated - and
considering the changing state of the net - where a month can often equate to a year in 'real
time', that's a good thing to know...I found the publication very easy to read. David takes you
into the world of cyberspace right from the beginning - telling you what you'll need to get started,
information on web hosting, domain names, what tools you can use to start making your own
killer site - and takes you through to the end where he talks about how to get targeted viewers
for your completed web site, how to use your offline material to promote your online presence,
etc. The Quick Reference guide at the back of the book would be worth the price of the
publication itself, all on its own. In short, I will definitely be using this as a reference myself."
- Jodi Krangle, for The Muse's Muse

"Coming across the 'musicbizacademy.com' website was one big find, but once there, finding
their excellent study on selling and promoting music on the Internet was the best discovery of
the year. As far as I know no one has such an up-to-date and accurate description of what it
takes to be a cyber marketing expert. The best money I ever spent!"
- Christopher Knab - FourFront Media and Music

"David Nevue has clearly spent a lot of time over the past eight years marketing his music on
the Internet. In How to Promote Your Music Successfully on the Internet, he shares what he has
learned. The result is the finest book on Internet marketing I have read so far....If you're
interested in promoting your music online, or you have tried to but with limited results, by all
means buy this book. You won't find any "get rich quick" schemes here. Nevue's methods
require plenty of time and effort. What you will find in abundance is useful and - better yet -
tested advice."
- Steve Moss, for Tunesmith Monthly

"Almost immediately (the first page after the Table Of Contents) we see the question 'Will You
Make Millions?' The answer following the question is refreshing in this jaded world of get-rich-
quick-schemes and scams . . . 'The Internet is not a shortcut to success, it's simply another tool,
and one that can be very effective in the hands of someone who knows how to use it.' The
author is up-front with the reality of Internet self-promotion and that is commendable. The rest of
the book is filled with very useful information, including current links to the various tools and
research that is used. I tested every single link in the book and every one was exactly what the
author said it was. This, in itself, is quite unusual and again, commendable....I will give my
personal guarantee that if you follow the plan this book lays down, you will do exactly as the title
indicates and successfully promote your music on the Internet. I heartily endorse this book as
the best manual on Internet self-promotion that I've read to date."
- Jef Peace, for Peacework Music

"It gets two big thumbs up!...If you want to put your music on the Internet and sell CDs you're
going to need great advice, application and dedication....that's where David Nevue's book 'How
to successfully promote your music on the Internet' comes in. This spiral-bound tome will set
you straight and provide you with a lot of the basic techniques needed to set up band website,
promote it and sell CDs. Sure, you have to add the sweat and the toil, but you really won't pick
up the information and advice contained in this book in an afternoon's surfing on a few websites.
There are years of experience and lessons contained within the chapters of the book. Take
notice of them. As the author says himself, making a dollar out of putting your music on the web
takes a lot of effort and dedication. And I can promise you that he's telling the truth.
- Geoff Nicholson, for Shareware Music Machine

"David Nevue has taken his years of music Internet marketing experience and put together a
fantastic resource in "How to Promote Your Music Successfully on the Internet." The book has
some brilliant tips I've missed: Newscasting, cross-selling strategies, contests and sweepstakes
(something I implemented on my band's website after reading this book, I have nearly 200 new
newsletter subscribers in one months time), referrals, collaborations, coupons, newsletters,
press releases, samplers... Man, the book is packed! David has compiled more than a "Guide to
Effective Music Promotion". He's compiled a book on innovative music marketing, the most up-
to-date resource available for promoting your band. Order it. You'll see."
- Marc Gunn, for The Bards Crier

10 Essential Tips for Making

a Living with Your Music
by Christopher Knab - Fourfront Media & Music - Posted Jan. 2004

Back to The Academy

Top 10 Lists are a favorite hobby of our society. It’s a fun way to keep up the illusion of the
simplicity of things in a complex world. So...why not a Top Ten List on the subject of Making A
Living From Your Music? The following list highlights 10 habits you should develop if you want
to make a living some day, just from your music. Remember that there are a million ways to get
to any intended destination. From my observations over the years, this list of professional habits
are shared my most successful musicians who truly have what it takes to succeed in this totally
unpredictable business of music.

1. Find ways to get ordinary people who love music, to love your music.
We live in a time when everybody and their sister can and does make their own music. That
doesn’t mean however that your music has what it takes for record labels to invest their money
and time developing, promoting, and marketing that music. Try your music out on music fans
like you solicit opinions from A&R Rep. These talent scouts of the music business are always
following tips they hear from their street connections. But remember, your music must truly
stand out in some significant, original, dynamic, and creative way. 95% of the independently
produced CDs out there contain regurgitated ideas that were ripped off from some other more
gifted musicians. Prove to the industry that ordinary music fans in your city love your music. You
can find this out by giving away sample CDs of your music on the street, (with contact
information included of course.) or putting songs on the many internet websites that allow
people to download new music. If people love something they let other people know about it.
So, you can find out quickly if your music has what it takes to please the public by bringing your
music to the people.

2. Play live often and don’t worry ( at first) about getting paid for every gig.
You can always tell the difference between a musician who is in it for the money, and a
musician who is in it for the music. The dedicated musician can’t not play music every chance
they get. Money-focused musicians whine about the fact that they can’t get club gigs that pay
anything. If you really think that you can make your living solely as a musician in the first three
to four years of your career, you are headed for a breakdown and disappointment. Think about
it...almost every legendary, gifted musician who has made a mark on our culture has been a
musician who struggled long and hard at their craft, and...never gave up. Eat determination for
breakfast! Go out there and play on the streets if you have to, play at schools, fairs, festivals, do
benefits to help other people and organizations. Offer your services to non- profits, charities,
church groups, and any other companies or organizations you can think of. Hang out at clubs,
look for jamming possibilities, or start your own jam sessions. Look around your city or town,
and you will see many places and venues where musicians can play. As you establish yourself
and more and more people show up at your shows, the paid gigs will increase. Remember...
play live, and then after you play live, play live again, that’s what musicians are supposed to do.

3. Know your instrument inside-out.

One of the curious developments of the late 1970’s was the huge increase in garage bands,
punk bands, rappers, and ‘do-it yourselfers’, who just picked up an instrument, or started to sing
with some friends, and 6 months later recorded a record and began to play live. Some great
music, and new directions in music, came out of that situation. But now, 30 odd years later, the
novelty of hearing amateurish thrashings has gotten a bit dull.

Prior to late 70’s, more often than not, the music that is our heritage was made by musicians
who, from the time they took up their instrument, worshipped at the feet of some master
bluesman, jazz player, folk legend, songwriter, or whatever. The habit of these inspired
musicians was an appetite for perfection. A need to be not just ‘good enough’, but GREAT. Why
settle for less. Whatever developing stage you are at, go beyond it, re-commit yourself to your
instrument or voice. Take lessons, or better yet, sit yourself down at your CD player and choose
a favorite guitar player’s record, and listen closely to what they are playing. then re-play it, and
re-play it again. Challenge yourself to go beyond your limitations. Who knows, maybe you will
fall into some new territory, wherein you will find yourself, your ‘sound’, and increase your
chance to stand out from all the mediocrity that is your competition. Believe it or not, record
labels love to hear innovative, accessible new sounds. Actually in their heart of hearts, that is
what they are really hoping to hear on every new demo tape, and from every new act they go
see at a live venue. You see...in the business of music, when we hear something new, original,
and accessible to people, we can then invest in you with more security, believing that if we put
our ‘label brand’ on you, with our talents of promotion and marketing coming to the front, then
we ‘have something’, and your music becomes our music, and we work together to broaden you
audience appeal. It’s kinda like a partnership ...something about ‘Art and Commerce’...they can
work together you know?!

4. Protect your investment...register your songs for proper copyright protection.

I never cease to be amazed how few artists are willing to spend $30 to register their songs with
the Copyright office. By the way, these folks are often the same folks who complain about not
getting paid to perform their unknown music. All I know is that when an inventor comes up with
some new product that they think will appeal to a certain type of customer, the first thing they do
is file for a patent on their invention. The same reaction to protecting songs should be there for
any serious songwriter. If you really intend to work hard and develop your career as a musician
who writes your own songs, don’t wait too long to take care of this simple, but essential task. If
you really believe in your unique and original music then take the time to learn the basics of
copyright protection. From the Internet to the library, there a number of easy ways to learn what
it takes to file for copyright protection. Do it now! Go to www.BMI.com or www.ASCAP.com and
follow their links on Copyright registration information.

5. Design and write your promotional materials so they stand out.

The topic of designing and writing effective promotional materials; bios, fact sheets, cover
letters, quote sheets etc. is a lengthy one to say the least. As far as some tips that can help
musicians promote their careers, and contribute to their getting any deal offers, is to make the
promo materials as compelling, and informative as possible. Take the time to inventory any
accomplishments, positive reviews, training and awards, past sales, and live appearance
highlights; and organize them into professional written bios etc. Having done that, time also
needs to be taken to research who to send the materials to, and to ask each potential recipient
what type of information they would like to have sent to them. No ‘generic’ kits should ever be
sent out to any gatekeepers in the music business.

6. Know the labels and music publishers you hope to be signed to.
If you were applying for a job with a certain company of corporation, wouldn’t you take some
time to ask questions about their stability as a business, their reputation in the industry, and the
executives background and experience? The same is true when shopping for a record deal.
Some musicians get so excited when a certain label approaches them with a recording contract,
or a publishing company offers to sign them. Being approached for a deal is a compliment and
recognition by a label or publisher that a musician’s music is attractive to them. But, to rush
ahead without taking the time to learn a few things about them is foolish indeed. How have they
done with your particular genre of music? What specific ‘points’ are they offering you? Who runs
the label or publishing company? What is their reputation in the music business? How do you
like them as people? These and other questions can be crucial in making an unemotional
decision about an arrangement that could make or break your career.

7. Have your own ‘Entertainment Law Attorney’ to represent you.

The business of getting signed to any deal in the music business has always had, has now, and
will always have, the involvement of entertainment law attorneys. No jokes will be inserted here,
because any relationship between a musician, a record label, a publisher, a merchandiser etc.
will come down to two attorneys hashing out the contract for the musician and the respective
companies. It should be pointed out here that when all is said in done with the ‘courting’
process, the musician is never present during the actual negotiations. The musicians attorney
and the music company’s attorney meet, talk over the phone, and fax their offers and counter-
offers amongst themselves. This fact serves to remind you that choosing a reputable, ethical,
well respected attorney with lots of deal making experience within the music industry is an
absolute necessity for any serious musician who wishes to fight the good fight in the legal
arena.
8. Choose a well-connected and respected personal manager.
Self-management is always a valid option in the developing stages of establishing your career
as a musician. Much can be learned by taking on the jobs of securing gigs, getting some
publicity, planning tours, dealing with personal issues that arise within the band, and
schmoozing with A&R Reps and various other label and publishing personnel. However, there
comes a time, usually when the daily tasks of doing the business of being a band takes up too
much time, and it is at this time that the services of a good manager can be very useful. I have
always felt that if any musician or band has worked hard to establish their career, and achieved
a modicum of success, they will have a better chance to ‘attract’ the services of a professional,
well-connected and respected manager.

Managers who do this job for a living can only take on clients that generate income. Making
money as a personal manager is no easy task, and many upcoming artists forget that if any
moneys are to be generated from their music, it can takes years for the flow of that income to be
reliably there. So, as a band develops self-management, or gets help from intern/student
manager-wannabees, can help pave the road for professional management.

Over the years I have heard several horror stories about ‘managers’ that approach upcoming
acts and say that for X amount of dollars, they can do such and such for the artist. No... this is
not the way legit personal managers work. Well-connected and respected personal managers
get paid a negotiated fee for their services (get it in writing) for any and all business transactions
they are responsible for (15%-25%) over a particular contract period. No musicians should ever
pay a fee to a so-called ‘manager’ who will not do any work UNLESS they are paid up front.
Flim-Flam men and women still abound in this business... be forewarned.

One of the most important jobs of a manager is to secure recording and publishing contracts for
their clients, this is why it is so essential to choose well connected and well respected
managers. The music business is a ‘relationship’ business. Who know who, and who can get to
know who, and who did what successfully for who is what this management game is all about.
Choose carefully those people who will be representing you in any business dealings.

9. Don’t take advice from anyone unless you know that they know what they are talking
about.
At the beginning of this article I stated that there are a million ways to do something, and that
these 10 tips were just my comments from years of dealing with the business itself and
musicians. Everybody has their own list of Do’s and Don’ts and the only real value they have is
that they present you with ‘opinions’ about what to do to get established as a musician.

To be quite candid, the best rules in the music business comes from the experience of building
your own career; learning from your own interactions with the gatekeepers at labels, the media,
management, and booking companies as to what is right or wrong for you. For every Do or
Don’t there is an exception to a so-called ‘rule’. As I reflect on the advice I sought out and
listened to over the years, the most valid tips came from people who walked the walk, and
talked the talk. If you feel that the source you have contacted knows what they are talking about,
and has had first hand experience doing what you want to learn about, that is the only feedback
that might stand up over time. Choose carefully.

10. Musician...Educate Thyself! If you want a record deal, learn what a record deal is, and
learn something about the business of music.
Naïve or mis-informed musicians are a menace to themselves. Enough already! Over the
decades there have been countless stories of musicians who were ripped off by their record
labels and music publishing companies. Why? Exploitation was the name of the game for a long
time. Keeping musicians in the dark was standard business practice. However, the past has
passed, and today any musicians who sign a record contract (and learns later what he or she
signed) have only themselves to blame. Even 20 years ago, it wasn’t that easy to gain access to
the inner workings of the music business. (There are more letters in the word business than in
the word music.)

Not so today. There are dozens of outstanding books available on every conceivable topic
related to the business of music. They can be found in bookstores, libraries, and through the
Internet. In addition, there are many schools that now offer 2- 4 year programs on the business
of music. Seminars, and workshops are available on a year round basis in most major American
cities. Consultants, Attorneys, and Business Organizations are all around and so it is only myth,
superstition, stubbornness, and immaturity that stand in the way of any musician making a
commitment to educating themselves about the business that exists to exploit their music.

I cannot stress how important I feel this issue is. I am here to tell musicians, one and all, that
you have been told many things about music that you did believe. “Spend money on quality
instruments and equipment”... you have done that. “Spend time and money on practicing and
rehearsing”, you have done that, for the most part (see comments above).

“Spend time and money finding the best recording studio, producer and engineer you can”...you
have done that. “Spend time and money learning all you can about the business of music”...well,
no one told you to do that did they?!

It has been said about education that we don’t know anything until someone tells us. If that is
true, the fault in ‘not telling’ musicians that they MUST spend some time and money on
educating themselves on music business issues is the fault of the businessmen and women
who kept their clients uninformed. (Ignorance IS bliss as far as the old guard of music
executives are concerned). But, KNOWLEDGE IS BLISS should be the byword for the musician
of the new millennium. Please...spend some time and money educating yourselves about the
music business, a few hours now, can protect your future forever!

-----
Christopher Knab is an independent music business consultant based in Seattle, Washington.
He is available for private consultations on promoting and marketing independent music, and
can be reached at 206-282-6116 or by email at: Chris@Knab.com

Chris Knab's new book, 'Music Is Your Business' is available NOW from the Music Biz Academy
bookstore.

Visit the FourFront Media and Music website for more information on the business of music
from Christopher Knab.

A Record Distribution Test

by Christopher Knab - Fourfront Media & Music - June 2002

Back to Music Business 101

I have something different for you this month. Instead of writing about the subject of record
distribution, and how labels, distributors, and music retailers work together, I have come up with
a True/False and Multiple Choice test for you to take.

I have ulterior motives for this approach. I am always amazed how many well intentioned, yet
supremely business naïve, musicians exist in the world. For 10 years now I have been writing
articles, columns, and books related to the business of music. I am hardly alone in this
endeavor. There are now countless websites, publications, workshops, and conferences
dedicated to helping independent musicians learn how the music business operates, yet
countless acts try to establish themselves by remaining ignorant of how the distribution and
selling of their music actually works.

So, here is a test that will give you some very important clues about the types of deals that exist
between labels, distributors and music retailers; as well as some insights into the preparation
plans for marketing music products. I hope that it inspires you to learn more about the very
business that will or will not help you sell the music you have invested so much time and money
in.

If you would like the answers to these questions, just email me at Chris@Knab.com and I will
email them back to you. By the way many of these questions can be answered in such books
as: The Musicians Business and Legal Guide, 3rd edition, published by Prentice/Hall (which I
contributed a chapter to along with my co-author Bartley F. Day) and my own book, Music Is
Your Business.

One of my best teachers in college told me once that he liked his students to feel somewhat
intimidated about the subject at hand because he found that it made them pay more attention in
class and more eager to learn. I hope this test has the same affect on you.
Cheers!

The following questions are True or False statements, or Multiple Choice questions.

1. ‘Marketing Management’ is a term that describes when and how a product will be presented
to consumers, and organizations that deal with consumers. True or False?

2. ___________ are businesses that service the record departments in national and regional
mass merchandise stores, such as Target, Sears, and others.

a. One Stops.
b. Rackjobbers
c. Indie Distributors
d. Retailers

3. _________________ means that product is placed in a music retailer where the consumer
can see it easily, as well as purchase it at a price that will entice them to purchase it.

a. Sell In
b. Price and Position
c. Point of Purchase
d. Displays

4. When an artist brings in their record to a retailer and sells it to them, but gets paid only after it
sells; this is known as:

a. distribution
b. consignment
c. discounting
d. dating

5. One Stop Distributors usually service non-music chain retailers, like mom and pop and
alternative record stores. True or False?

6. Which of the following persons is the main contact between a record label’s distribution
company and the record label?.

a. President of the Record Label

b. The Vice President of Marketing at a Label
c. The Label Liaison
d. Director of Sales at a Record Label

7. Label Marketing Reps are field representatives assigned to market all product that the label
releases, or are assigned specific types of music to market. True or False?

8. A Label Marketing Rep for a major label may contact 40 or 50 store buyers, clerks and store
managers weekly. True or False?

9. The best way to determine how many CD’s and Tapes to initially manufacture is to:

a. examine the current fanbase of support of the artist

b. take a guess
c. look for the cheapest package deal you can find
d. let your distributor decide

10. ________________ is a distributor who sells labels which primarily are not owned or
substantially controlled by the distributor. Generally they will maintain an inventory on the entire
catalog of every label they sell.

a. Branch Distributor
b. Rackjobber
c. Independent Distributor
d. One Stop Distributor
e. Chain Store

11. When estimating how many CD’s or Tapes to manufacture, what percent of the initial
pressing will generally be used for “free goods” to help promote the release?

a. 15%
b. 20%
c. 70%
d. 10%
12. An old saying about the music business is “Distributors “carry records’, record labels “sell”
records”. True or False?

13. Sell Through is the point at which a record is bought by a customer from a retailer. True or
False?

14. Sell In is the point at which a record is sold by a distributor to a retailer. True or False?

15. _______________is the term that refers to a commitment made by a retailer to purchase a
certain amount of product in exchange for a media ad of some kind that advertises a particular
recording on sale at a store for a particular price.

a. POP
b. Dating
c. Coop Advertising
d. Discounting

16. About 85 to 90% of record sales through retail accounts is done by 20 or fewer accounts.
True or False?

17. Retailers who purchase product in “Box Lots” pay the same price for those records as
retailers who buy product in lesser quantities. True or False?

18. The term ‘incentives’ means deals offered to retailers to purchase recorded products, such
as discounts. or delayed billing. True or False?

19. Labels usually introduce new artists to the public at reduced list prices. True or False?

20. An artist or band’s name should always be near the bottom 1/3rd of a CD cover. True or
False?
21. Always send out ‘promo copies’ to radio, the press, and distributors as ‘cleans’ (product that
has not had the barcode area ‘punched-out’). True or False?

22. “Dating” is the term used by a record label when working with distributors and retailers, to
help retailers with the payment of invoices due for product sold. True or False?

23. Perhaps the most important first step in preparing a marketing plan is to listen to the music
repeatedly. True or False?

24. Advances in computer software technologies have not affected the business relationship
between distributors and retailers. True or False?

25. The first exposure that a gatekeeper in the music business has for a new CD or tape is the
listening experience, or the music itself. True or False?

26. ‘Non-traditional’ music retailers (such as bookstores, and mass merchandisers) are no
longer playing a significant role in the selling of music product today. True or False?

27. Barcodes must be on any music product that intends to be sold in major record chain stores.
True or False?

28. Catalog numbers should appear on the spine of a CD/Record/Tape. True or False?

29. Independent labels usually want to affiliate with major labels so that they no longer have to
worry about selling any of their product to distributors and retailers. True or False?

30. Affiliating with a major label can maximize the likelihood of the independent label getting
paid for records sold, because the major label’s distribution companies have the strong financial
backing of their parent companies. True or False?

31. One question for an independent label to ask a major label when they are considering a
business relationship with them is: “Will the major label distribute to mom and pop stores?” True
or False?

32. The strategy of selling directly to a band’s music fans over the Internet is best left to the
major labels. True or False?

33. It doesn’t matter if an independent label’s personal style of doing business matches with the
major label’s style, because the major labels run their businesses more successfully than
independent labels. True or False?

34. A P&D deal stands for:

a. Production and Development

b. Producing and Directing
c. Pressing and Distribution
d. Preparing and Discovering

35. Before entering into any type of deal with a major label, the independent label must check
it’s contract with the artists on their label, to be sure they have the permission to do so. True or
False?

36. In most deals between independent labels and major labels , the ____________determines
how many records will be manufactured?

a. major label
b. independent label
c. distributor
d. retailer

37. In a P&D deal the major label pays for the recording costs of the independent project. True
or False?

38. P&D deals are currently the most common type of deal between indies and majors. True or
False?
39. In a P&D deal the independent label usually retains control over the content of songs, the
design, and copy of artwork, and the content of promotional and advertising material. True or
False?

40. In a P&D deal the ownership of the masters is handed over to the major labels by the
independent label. True or False?

41. In a Production deal it is to the advantage of the major label to recoup any advances on an
artist-by-artist basis. True or False?

42. A “reserve clause” is a clause stating that a portion of the records sold by a label to
distributors and stores can be held back until the label is sure that they have all been sold
before paying any royalties on them. True or False?

43. In a P&D deal the independent label should seek a clause that specifies what percentage of
manufactured records can be distributed for free. True or False?

44. “Fulfillment deals” are deals in which the major label agrees only to fulfill orders coming in
from retailers of the independent label’s releases. True or False?

45. A _____________is most likely to be the type of distributor who accounts for most sales of
hit records once sales have topped the million sales mark.

a. mom and pop retailer

b. rackjobber
c. mass merchandiser
d. chain store

46. A distributor is more likely to get involved with an independent label when the independent
label has a flow of new product going out into the marketplace. True or False?

47. In a Joint Venture deal, the major label fronts all the operating costs, and the indie and the
major then share the gross profits of the joint venture. True or False?
48. POP’s are bins full of low priced CDs placed at the end of a row of records at a record store.
True or False?

49. In a Fulfillment deal the major label presses the records and ships them to the independent
label’s usual independent distributors. True or False?

50. In a Piggyback deal an independent label without sufficient leverage to obtain a deal of their
own with a distributor “piggybacks” onto another independent label’s existing deal with a
distributor. True or False?

Guerrilla Music
Marketing Suggestions
by Christopher Knab - Fourfront Media & Music - April 2003

Back to The Academy

Make fans a birthday card!

Remember your fan's birthdays by creating a musical birthday card you create yourself. Email
them the card that is imbedded with an mp3 file of a birthday song you wrote.

Use old school psychology, (if you can afford it) send a real birthday card to each fan that has a
simple chip attached to it with a sound file that begins to play when you open the card. (the
technology is now available, such cards are now in many retail stores).

You will obviously have to have your database setup to include a place for your fans to give you
their birth dates, but after that, at the beginning of every month simply sort out who has a
birthday coming up and mail them off. Be sure to do this at least a week before the beginning of
each month.

Think of how appreciative your fans will be for having been thought of, and as your career and
goes on and gets more established, your past musical birthday cards will become valuable
collector items.

A Sticky Way To Be Remembered

Print up promotional "sticky notes" using the Post-It note method for upcoming gigs and send or
pass them out to music fans attending live shows. Have your latest shows printed up on them,
so fans can use them as reminders to attend your shows and can put them up on their home
bulletin boards or refrigerators. You can also use this idea for reminders to buy your latest CD or
merchandise you have for sale at your website or live shows.

Be The Musical Entertainment

For Your Favorite Local Record Store
Work with a local record store that carries your genre of music and ask them about participating
in a special "after hours" party and special sale where you get to be the band or artist to supply
the music for the event. Have them put your CD on sale at a special price during the party only.
Take time to sign autographs, and get the customers to sign up on your mailing/database list.
The store can add whatever added incentives they want to make the event a special sale and
you get to go along for the ride.

Talking House ®
Brings Your Music To Unique Places
A company called Talking House ® has invented a unique 'broadcasting' tool It was first used by
real estate people to transmit descriptions of a house that is for sale. It works like this; a small
radio transmitter sits inside a location (such as a local business in your area). Prospects just
tune in on their ordinary car radio, while parked out front, and hear a customized broadcast, in
this case…your music…while they are nearby.

Talking House ® can be used by restaurants, bars, taverns nightclubs, music and record stores,
independent fast food restaurants...whatever. You name it, Talking House ® can broadcast it.

For more infgormation, call 800-444-8255, fax 920-923-6222 or visit the Web site at
http://www.TalkingHouse.com.

Free Domain Name Registration Site

There is an advertiser supported web site offering free registration of domain names. You can
inquire about being an advertiser yourself and put up an ad for your CD this way. The web
address is www.register.com. Pass the word around to fellow bands/artists and fans that need
to register their domain names and they will see an ad for your music when they visit the site.

Use Your Business Card

To Promote Your Favorite Lyrics
On the front cover of a folded card, place a catchy lyric from one of your songs. Inside, or some
place other than where your traditional contact information is printed, briefly list information
about your CD and other merchandise you have for sale, and where people can buy your
releases. (internet, live shows, mail order)

On the back get creative and list other interesting facts about yourself or your music than fans
and industry people might appreciate knowing about.

IMEDIAFAX is right on target

Here is a unique way to fax your promotional messages and press releases to the media. Users
create a proprietary media list from a selection of magazines, newspapers, syndicates, and
broadcast stations. The service, called IMEDIAFAX -- Internet to Media Fax on-line custom
news distribution service, can be found at www.imediafax.com.

Here's how it works: You make your selection by clicking your mouse on the industry and
classification, key editors, states, market area, or circulation. Then enter your news release and
click to send. IMEDIAFAX news releases can contain graphics, letterheads, logos or pictures.
The cost is 25 cents per faxed page….A bonus is that there are no international phone or fax
charges.

Become a Music Marketing Matchmaker

Maintain a supply of local music related businesses business cards and distribute them to
musicians and music lovers you know. Using return address labels, create a sticker that says "
referred by (your name or band name here)"

Placed on the back of other people's business cards, the stickers reminds the person who you
are, and you get great word of mouth name recognition over time, and you've helped a local
music related business get some customers, as well as helped your music fans learn about
where to get the best local help for the their music needs.

The customer is reminded of a cool business, and your name is the first one the prospect hears.
("So and so recommended that I talk to you")

Turn Your Fans Onto Other Cool Music

On your website, (you DO have your own website don't you?) create a section where you and
your fellow musicians regularly recommend other local bands and great music that you think
your fans would enjoy.

The benefit of this is that you are not seen as strictly a selfish musician obsessed with
promoting your own music. Your fans will benefit and thank you over time for all the cool music
you have turned them onto.

On a professional level, as you recommend other bands and acts, they will get the word from
others that you have recommended their music. Can't hurt when it comes to finding other artists
to perform live with at various gigs.

Fax Reminders For Your Live Shows and Events

When you create your sign-up sheets for mailing lists be sure to include a place for people to
write in their fax machines numbers. Everyone is pretty hip to email these days but the good 'ol
fax machine is now in 70% of homes across the country.

A few days before each gig, after you have emailed your fans about an upcoming show, send
some faxes out to your fans, it is a much more direct way to remind someone of a gig coming
up.

Flower and Candy Power

When you get an important gig, or get somesubstantial radio airplay, think about saying thank
you the old fashioned way….with flowers. I can only remember a handful of times over the
decades of being in the music business when I was thanked with flowers or candy for having
done a favor to help a musician.

Believe me, sometimes the corniest ideas are the best ideas. People like getting thanked in this
business, and no one would be upset getting a bouquet of flowers or a box of delicious
candies….you will be remembered for your kindness and your consideration!

Credibility for Small Record Labels

Almost every new and small record label struggles to gain credibility and recognition. So, use a
'Suite' address, and not a P.O. Box, or an apartment number when you create your business
cards, and letterhead stationary, as well as your envelopes.

Also, list your title as Promotion Manager, Sales Director, Publicist or something of a similar
level, rather than more imposing titles like President, Chairman or CEO titles.
Put Your Fans To Work: Street Teams
Street Teams are the way to go when you don't have a lot of money or time to promote your
music. They can be recruited to write articles and reviews about your releases and live shows,
and they can be used effectively to get the word out on the street. With your supervision, let
them write up press releases, design posters, and get them put up around your city of town.
Thank them with free CDs, merchandise, and tickets to your upcoming shows. They will be
happy to help you, and feel a real sense of pride in having helped spread the word about your
muscic.

Be sure to make all submissions your property if used and gain all appropriate publishing rights.

Fishing for Leads

In addition to providing a simple sign-up sheet for your mailing list that you can have available at
all your live shows, consider buying a fishbowl. You know, those road bowls you have seen on
the counter of restaurants, where people can drop in their business cards. Do the same at your
live shows….Write up a nice sign that mentions you will do a drawing each night for a winner to
get your latest CD, if they would drop their business card into the bowl for you.

Hotel and Motel Promotions

Remembering your image, and who your fan is, research hotels and motels in the areas that
you are going to be touring and arrange with the appropriate lodgings to have free copies of
your CD put on the pillow of the guests who are staying there. This is especially important to do
when you are going to any of the many music industry conferences and seminars that are held
around the country.
This is a great idea because it costs the hotels and motels nothing, and depending on your
budget, you have just exposed your music to potentially hundreds of music lovers.

Create a Links Page On Your Website

Create a part of your website that has links on it for other interesting music related websites.
Plug it in your fan newsletter and in your promotional materials. Ask your fans to recommend
their favorite music websites, and create an exchange of ideas with your fans. Perhaps give a
free CD to the best link suggestion of the month.

Give Your CDs Away At Your Live Shows…..But…

I am a big fan of selling CDs at live shows, but for those of you just starting out, and doing your
first gigs, perhaps the way to go is to announce from the stage that you are giving away free
CDs to the first 25 people that sign-up on your mailing list. That way you get the fan's name and
contact information, and they get some free music of yours to listen to, and hopefully tell their
friends about.

Partner With Your Local Record Store

Contact a favorite local independent record store, and ask them to donate a few gift certificates.
Tell them that in exchange, at concerts you will promote their store as a supporter of local music
and even pass out circulars for the store at your live shows. On the back of the gift certificate
include your own offer for a buck or two off your CD. This works, I know…I use to own a
independent record store and I loved doing this type of local promotion with favorite acts
because it got new customers into my store, and it got the band another fan. We were both
winners.

School Promotions
Contact local high schools and colleges and donate copies of your CD to the school libraries. If
your schools have music programs, donate copies to them as well to be given away to the
students.
(Musicians worry too much about making money from every promotional opportunity they think
of. My idea is that just like those supermarkets that give-a-way free samples of crackers and
cheese and sandwiches, you have to give away your music at first so people can hear what you
sound like. After you create a fanbase, then you've got 'em hooked and they will be more willing
to buy future releases, merchandise, and tickets to your shows.)

Promote Your Music

Around Special Holidays and Events
Get a copy of Chase's Calendar of Events (buy the book by email: Bookserve@aol.com) to
discover all sorts of holidays and "awareness weeks" that apply to almost any business. The
idea is to scan the list and see how many of these events you might be able to use for a
charitable gig, a networking opportunity, or sources for paid performances and promotional
parties.

A New Spin On College

and Non Commercial Radio Promotions
On the left hand side of the dial from 88.1 FM to 91.9 FM you will find a lot of college radio
stations, and other non-commercial broadcasters. Check them out. Most of them have dozens
of specialty music shows and certainly a few of those will be playing your style and genre of
music. Instead of just begging them for airplay, approach a specialty show host and tell him or
her that you want to promote their show on your website and other promotional materials. Tell
them how much you enjoy their show, and give them a copy of your music, but without any
pressure to play it…let that happen organically. As they get more listeners and feedback on how
people heard about their show, you get some of the credit, and have begun a real relationship
with the show and the station.

Also, don't be afraid to ask if they are a listener supported station. When I was the station
manager of a college radio station in Seattle, during our pledge drives we had many artists and
bands donating a percentage of their live show performance fees to the station. Why? Because
smart musicians realize the value of supporting their local non-commercial stations.

Inside Record Labels: Organizing Things

by Christopher Knab - Fourfront Media & Music - August 2001

Back to Music Business 101

There is a lot of work involved with signing, recording, promoting, publicizing, and selling music.
The following introduction to the way major labels and independent labels setup the business of
music marketing is broken down by departments. As you will see, the larger record labels have
the luxury of having many different departments and dozens of employees to carry out the many
responsibilities involved in running a label. And, the smaller companies, that have the same
work to do, have to be quite creative and energetic to get all that work done.

Major Label Departments

What are the key departments at a record label, and what are those departments responsible
for? Let's take a look.

For starters, the CEO of a major label will generally oversee the business affairs of all the
affiliated labels under their corporate umbrella. Each major label will have its own President
who is responsible for all the label activities. For example, at Warner Brothers, there is a
president for Warner Brothers Records, a president for Reprise Records, a president of Atlantic
Records, etc.
Every department at a major label is usually run by a Senior Vice President, in charge of one
of the following:

• The Business Affairs Department takes care of label finances; bookkeeping, payroll, et
al.
• The Legal Department handles all contractual issues and other legal responsibilities.
• The A&R (Artists and Repertoire) Department locates and signs new talent. They
work with the artist in song selection, choice of producers, recording studio selection and
they communicate with the label's Business Affairs Department to make sure all the
paperwork and accounting issues involved with the actual recording of an act's record
are setup properly. In short, The A&R Department can serve as a liaison between an
artist and all the other departments at the label.
• The Art Department supervises all product design jobs, (CD, Tape, Vinyl cover art etc),
trade and consumer press advertising, retail sales posters and flats, and other needs of
the print media.
• The Marketing Department is responsible for creating the overall marketing plan for
every record the label is releasing. They are also involved in coordinating all the
promotion, publicity, and sales campaigns that the label is committed to.
• The Publicity Department arranges for any feature stories, interviews, or record
reviews in local and national newspapers, magazines, web-zines, as well as the
broadcast opportunities for such coverage on radio stations and television. They may
also co-ordinate any of these publicity opportunities with an artist's own Publicist.
• The New Media Department produces and promotes the music videos for the label's
artists that are shown on MTV, VHl, etc. This department also oversees some
promotions and marketing opportunities on the Internet that use the audio and video
technologies available from online hardware and software sites that support music..
• The Artist Development Department usually oversees the career planning of artists
signed to the label. This department coordinates a consistent marketing and promotion
presence for an artist throughout their career with the record label. The Artist
Development Department has changed over the last decade. Many labels no longer
have such a department. Others have changed the name to Product Development and
concentrate more on "breaking," or promoting artists quickly in order to try to speed up
the return on their financial investment. The pressure to return a profit to shareholders
has changed the face of the music business dramatically in recent years, so the
emphasis has been more on Product Development, and securing a hit as fast as
possible.
• The Sales Department oversees all the retail activities of the label, and concentrates on
building relationships with the key record store chains and other mass-market retailers.
The Sales staff coordinate their efforts with the major label's distribution company, as
well as communicating regularly with the Promotion and Publicity departments at the
label.
• The Label Liaison is the person who coordinates the business of the major label's
distribution company with the needs of their parent record labels. Street dates, (the date
 that a new release goes on sale at music retailers), must be approved by the label's
distribution company
• The Promotion Department's primary goal is secure radio airplay for their company's
new releases. Their ability to get songs played on the radio is central to the success of
the whole company. The Promotion department is closely connected to and constantly
communicating with other departments within the label to make sure that all strategies
being used to market and sell an artist's record are working together properly. Soliciting
videos to MTV, VH1, BET and other music oriented television networks and programs
may also be the responsibility of this department. At some labels this job is a separate
department, or part of the New Media department.

Every department at a record label plays an essential role in the success or failure of the
company. They are team members, working together toward the goal of selling their records,
cassettes and CDs as one lean, mean machine.

Inside an Independent Record Label

Independent record labels come in all sizes and shapes. The large, well-funded indie labels are
organized by departments much like the major label operations described above. The more
money a label has the more they people they can hire to handle the various responsibilities of a
label. Smaller, grass roots or garage labels organize the work of promoting, selling and
publicizing their releases by wearing as many different hats as they can. These smaller labels
have an awesome task marketing their records because there may be only two or three
employees, including the label owner, doing the A&R scouting, calling radio stations about
airplay, working with a distributor (if they even have one), checking with the music retailers, and
coordinating the publicity efforts, as well as dealing directly with their artists and bands helping
them find gigs and put tours together.

Running a record label is a very expensive and time-consuming job. One of reasons so few
independent labels succeed is related to the issues I have just outlined. It takes a lot of money,
and a lot of time to operate a legitimate record label. The more research and planning a young
label does before jumping into the world of music marketing, the higher the likelihood that they
will survive, and perhaps even prosper in a very competitive business.

Note: This is an edited version of a longer chapter from my new book 'Music Is Your Business'
available NOW from the Music Biz Academy bookstore.

How To Improve Your Press Kit

by Christopher Knab - Fourfront Media & Music - December 2001

Back to Music Business 101

Quote Sheets
Quote sheets can be a useful addition to a demo/promo/press kit. It is simply a document that
lists positive comments about you or your music, made by various professionals in the Four
Fronts. They give the gatekeepers at distributors and stores, radio, the print media and live
venues an easy to read glimpse of what other industry people have to say about you.

You should select solicited comments from some of the following professions:

- Producers or Engineers who recorded your music.

- Club and other live performance bookers
- Writers from various music, or entertainment publications
- Music and Program Directors, and DJs from radio stations
- Record store managers or clerks
- Other respected musicians

Note: You can ask loyal fans to make a comment, but only use one or two of the best quotes
from these people.

After you have selected the best quotes you could get, simply select the best 6 or 7 quotes and
type them up on a sheet of 8 1/2 x 11 paper, preferably on your own artist or band stationary,
and title it something like “ What People Are Saying” or “A Few Comments About My Music.”

Clippings or Press Clips

As your career develops, and the reviews of your records and concerts increase, be sure to
save as many of them as you can. When you have a dozen or so collected, put together a small
collection of these ‘clippings’ or ‘press clips”.

There are a couple of ways to arrange clippings:

If the reviews are small (capsule reviews) of live shows, or record reviews, then cut out and
arrange several of them on a sheet of paper in an attractive way. Larger reviews can be
reduced, copied, and pasted up with several small reviews all on one page.

If longer reviews have been written, or feature stories and cover stories start to appear, then the
whole article should be copied. 2 or 3 of these can then be put into your kits. Do not go
overboard on these clips. There is nothing more annoying than getting a demo/promo, or press
kit filled with a dozen or more clippings.

Folders and Envelopes

Whenever you have an opportunity to present something to a professional in the music
business, you should remember two things:

1) What type of information does the person receiving your information need from you to do
their job?

2) Does the folder or envelope that contains your kit reflect the professional image you want?

The first impression your music makes is a visual impression. In other words, if the package
your music arrives in looks unprofessional, you music may never be listened to.

The professional gatekeepers in the Four Fronts see hundreds of promotional packages a
month, and after years of dealing with these packages, it’s very easy to tell what artist or band
has their act together professionally, and who doesn’t.

However, different styles of music demand different images. You should become familiar with
what kind of image is appropriate for your music. For example, what might be an appropriate
image for an alternative rock band, or a rap group, might be completely inappropriate for a
country act, or a pop artist. Basically, the more mainstream your music is, the more professional
the packaging of promotional materials should be.

Don’t go overboard in your eagerness to please. A folder can be a 35cent folder, with the band
or artist’s logo used as a sticker placed on the front cover of the folder or envelope. The promo
materials included inside should be neatly written and laid out. A package that looks “too slick”
can work against you as much as can a poorly designed package.

If there is any doubt what kind of promotional materials should be put into your kits, think of the
possible ingredients that could go into the kit. Those promotional materials are like the tools you
have in your home repair toolkit. You have different tools, but you rarely use them all at once.
Same with what you put into your folders and envelopes.You have created a bio, a fact sheet, a
photo, press clippings or quote sheets, and cover letters. In addition to all those items, you may
also created a list of song lyrics, a stage plot for your live show presentations, or an equipment
list. So, do you use them all?

My tip on what to put into a promotional kit is this: Ask the recipient of your kit what they want
you to send them. It’s as simple as all that.

Note: This column is an edited version of a longer chapter on publicity issues for independent
musicians to be found in my new book, 'Music Is Your Business' available NOW from the Music
Biz Academy bookstore.
Planning Your
Radio Promotion Campaign
by Christopher Knab - Fourfront Media & Music - March 2002

Back to Music Business 101

The commercial radio industry, at this time in history, couldn’t be less friendly to the
independent musician. However, that doesn’t mean there isn’t some significant radio airplay
available to you if you know what you’re doing. Outlined below is a plan to consider if you have
the three important ingredients necessary for working your record to radio.

1) The money to fund the campaign

2) The time to spend working all the stations consistently
3) A product that is ready for national airplay

When it comes to commercial radio, the chances of getting significant national airplay for your
independent record are next to none. We live in an era when a small group of powerful media
conglomerates own and control the most important radio stations in the land. Unless you are
connected to a major label, or are independently wealthy, the costs of promoting your songs
nationally to commercial radio have spiraled out of sight.

There are, however, lots of mix shows and specialty shows on commercial stations that may
offer limited airplay, and at least will get you some awareness in the markets across the country.
There will be a lot of work involved in finding these stations yourself, city by city, and music
format by music format. I suggest you subscribe to or get a copy of the annual CMJ Directory.

If you have money to invest in radio promotion it’s possible to hire an independent promoter who
may be able to open some doors to these shows for you. Be prepared to spend several hundred
dollars a week for their services.

A more realistic approach for airplay is to consider the options available on the noncommercial
side of the FM dial. (88.1 FM to 91.9 FM) With the combination of college radio stations,
community stations, and even some of the larger National Public Radio affiliated stations, your
chances of getting your record played are much better.

Below you will find an outline based on how professional record labels plan for their radio
promotions.

You need to prepare:

• A database of commercial and non-commercial stations that you realistically think may
play your music.
 • The timeline you'll use to put the promotional material together (basically setting your
deadlines).

Be sure to remember that your plan may be distributed to employees, and any independent
promotion people you may hire. This plan will be their introduction to your or your artist, and is
the plan they will base their work on.

1) Design a detailed overview of your radio promotion plan.

• Consider all marketing and promotional ideas listed below.

• Propose what you think would work best in each of the areas to help market the record
to radio.
• Remember to keep cohesiveness between all areas: Give reasons why your music is
appropriate to each station you approach.
• Remember you will need several practical tools/materials to achieve your goals.
(Computers, hardware/software, office supplies, etc.).

Address the following specific topics in your plan:

• Background/Goals: Give a brief history of the artist, and describe the goals of your
plan.
• Image: Describe and maintain the artist's image consistently in all promo materials.
• Radio: What radio format(s) will be targeted? What markets? Which songs? Any station
promotions? (On-air concerts?) Hiring any Independent promoters?
• Publicity: Describe your plans to create a “buzz” in the print media. Any press releases
to the music industry trades? Update any bios, fact sheets, and other press materials.
• Sales: Describe Distribution and Retail plans. Any in-store play/ promotions? What other
specific sales opportunities? Mail order, live shows, Internet website? Any store
promotional tie-ins with radio stations?
• Video: Is a video cost effective? What airplay opportunities are there for the video?
• Touring: Describe the time frame for touring, and other promotional events to
coordinate while on the road. Consider specific clubs, halls, fairs, festivals, etc.
• Any club/venue promotional tie-ins with radio stations
• Advertising: Design an ad to be placed in the trades/ consumer music press, and other
media? What funds are available for purchasing ads? Describe the costs/benefits?
• Misc.: Record release party? Novelty item? Any other clever ideas? Explain clearly.

2. Design a 12 week plan for the product and promotional tools.

• Lay out what needs to be accomplished each week to get the record out.
 • Consider the: artwork, mastering, credits, sequencing, printing, pressing, booklets,
layout/design.
• Include in the timeline when to start working on the promotional tools that you will need
for your plan (photos, press releases, novelty items, display material, ads).
• Design the timeline with deadlines for each element of your project.

As you can see, a radio promotion campaign is something that is done as part of a wider
marketing plan. Always have distribution and sales plans, as well as publicity, advertising and
touring plans coordinated carefully with your airplay campaign. The worst thing that can happen
to any song on the radio is that someone hears the song, but can’t find a way to buy it.
Professional record labels always have distribution and sales connections set up before they
secure airplay. You should do the same.

25 Things to Remember About Record Distribution

by Christopher Knab - Fourfront Media & Music - December 2002

Back to The Academy

25 Things to Remember about Record Distribution:

1) Distributors will usually only work with labels that have been in business for at least 3 years
or have at least 3 previous releases that have sold several thousand copies each.

2) Distributors get records into retail stores, and record labels get customers into retail stores
through promotion and marketing tactics.

3) Make sure there is a market for your style of music. Prove it to distributors by showing them
how many records you have sold through live sales, internet sales, and any other alternative
methods.

4) Be prepared to sign a written contract with your distributor because there are no ‘handshake
deals’ anymore.

5) Distributors want ‘exclusive’ agreements with the labels they choose to work with. They
usually want to represent you exclusively.

6) You will sell your product to a distributor for close to 50% of the retail list price.

7) When searching for a distributor find out what labels they represent, and talk to some of
those labels to find out how well the distributor did getting records into retailers.

8) Investigate the distributor’s financial status. Many label have closed down in recent years,
and you cannot afford to get attached to a distributor that may not be able to pay its invoices.

9) Find out if the distributor has a sales staff , and how large it is. Then get to know the sales
reps.

10) What commitment will the distributor make to help get your records into stores?

11) Is the distributor truly a national distributor, or only a regional distributor with ambitions to be
an national distributor. Many large chain stores will only work with national distributors.

12) Expect the distributor to request that you remove any product you have on consignment in
stores so that they can be the one to service retailers.

13) Make sure that your distributor has the ability to help you setup various retail promotions
such as: coop advertising (where you must be prepared to pay the costs of media ads for select
retailers), in-store artist appearances, in-store listening station programs, and furnishing POP’s
(point of purchase posters and other graphics).

14) Be aware that as a new label you will have to offer a distributor 100% on returns of your
product.

15) You must bear all the costs of any distribution and retail promotions.

16) Be able to furnish the distributor with hundreds of ‘Distributor One Sheets’ (Attractively
designed summary sheets describing your promotion and marketing commitments. Include
barcodes, list price, picture of the album cover, and catalog numbers of your product too).

17) Distributors may ask for hundreds of free promotional copies of your release to give to the
buyers at the retail stores.

18) Make sure all promotional copies have a hole punched in the barcode, and that they are not
shrink-wrapped. This will prevent any unnecessary returns of your product.

19) Don’t expect a distributor to pay your invoices in full or on time. You will always be owed
something by the distributor because of the delay between orders sent, invoices received, time
payment schedules (50-120 days per invoice) and whether or not your product has sold
through, or returns are pending.

20) Create a relationship that is a true partnership between your label and the distributor.

21) Keep the distributor updated on any and all promotion and marketing plans and results, as
they develop.
22) Be well financed. Trying to work with distributors without a realistic budget to participate in
promotional opportunities would be a big mistake.

23) Your distributor will only be as good as your marketing plans to sell the record. Don’t expect
them to do your work for you, remember all they do is get records into the stores.

24) Read the trades, especially Billboard for weekly news on the health of the industry, and/or
the status of your distributor.

25) Work your product relentlessly on as many fronts as possible…commercial and non
commercial airplay, internet airplay and sales campaigns, on and offline publicity ideas, and
touring…eternally touring!

Sell Your Music Online, Part 1

by Christopher Knab - Fourfront Media & Music - October 2002

Back to The Academy

Don't say I never did anything for you!

This month and next month you will read about websites that help you sell your music. I spent
hours researching this data so that you can have one reference source for the dozen plus sites
that help. Over a dozen websites will be presented to you, so you can examine which sites are
best for your circumstances when it comes to getting your music to the people.

Every day, web-based music companies are developing programs to help you market and sell
your independently released CDs and music files You will have to stay on top of the many
changes and improvements these sites come up with, but this is a great starter kit for you to
examine selling opportunities on the web. What I have done is visit each of the sites listed, and
copied and pasted into this document, in their own words, what these companies have to offer
you. The information I have assembled is not a 'review' of who does what the best. The success
you have working with any of these companies is up to you, and how you work within their
various business structures.

Many of these companies offer their services for free, others ask for reasonable fees for more
elaborate music marketing plans. You will find here sites that help you sell your traditional CD,
as well as ways for you to promote and circulate your MP3 files.

All I have done is assemble into one place a summary of these site's own descriptions of what
they have to offer independent recording artists. Check 'em out, a whole world of opportunities
awaits you.

CDBaby.com: Who/What Are We?

• CD Baby is a little online record store that sells CDs by independent musicians.
• [Independent: (adj.) Not having sold one's life, career, and creative works over to a
corporation.]
• We're just a few people in a cool Portland, Oregon, CD warehouse that looks like a
playground. We listen to every CD we sell before we sell it, so we can help you find
other albums you'll like.
• We only sell CDs that come directly from the musicians. No distributors. Musicians send
us CDs. We warehouse them, sell them to you, and pay the musicians directly.
• Cool thing: in a regular record deal or distribution deal, musicians only make $1-$2 per
CD, if they ever get paid by their label. When selling through CD Baby, musicians make
$6-$12 per CD, and get paid weekly.
• In business since March 1998. We're the 2nd-largest seller of independent CDs on the
web, 2nd only to Amazon.
• Current Numbers:
• 25,116 artists sell their CD at CD Baby.
• 292,495 CDs sold online to customers.
• $1,949,539.35 paid to artists.

CD Baby Privacy Policy

• We NEVER give or sell your personal info to any other company - EVER! (No not even
your email address!)
• Only the musician whose CD you buy will know who you are.
• If you don't even want the musician to know about you, just say so at the bottom of your
order form.
• Your credit card info is never stored, and never seen by anyone. We don't store it in your
permanent customer info. The card number is erased immediately after the sale, for
extra protection. There is nothing of yours here to steal.
• Yes this means you'll have to type your card number again when you return, but we
hope you appreciate the extra safety and privacy it gives you.

Tech things

• Our servers are running 100% OpenBSD - the world's most secure operating system.
Powered by Apache, PHP, and MySQL.
• No Microsoft products were used in the creation of this website.
• Full 128-bit secure SSL connection protects all of your private information from snooping
eyes. Our secure certificate issued by Thawte - a division of Verisign.
 • We try to stay HTML 4.0 compliant. No special web browser needed. (I recommend the
Opera and Mozilla web browsers for their speed and standards.)
• CD Baby website (front end and back end) made by me - Derek Sivers. It's my favorite
hobby.

Most important of all...

• You can reach us during Pacific west-coast business hours at (503)595-3000 or email
cdbaby@cdbaby.com anytime.

Garageband.com and CD Baby

(Note: You can obviously deal directly with Cdbaby.com if you prefer…CK)

Garageband Records has partnered with CDBaby.com so you can sell your CDs to hundreds of
thousands of music lovers around the world. First you need to register or log in then we can
begin. It costs just $35 per CD to register. You can sell your CDs for any price, and you'll keep
100% of the earnings minus a $4 processing charge per CD (all prices $US). So you'll be
making clean profit after you've sold just five CDs at $10 each. You can do that easily, right?

1. Get some CDs together. Looking for a good CD mastering service? garageband.com artists
get 20% discount at Airshow Mastering on a Master Media package. Need some CDs
duplicated? garageband.com artists get a $50 discount at Oasis
Duplication when they purchase a single speed glass cutting.

2. First you need to register or log in then we can begin. We'll create a custom "Album Profile"
page for you at garageband.com and CDBaby.com. You can enter your sleeve notes, and
select the tracks on your album that are also on garageband.com. You can link to this page from
your own website, so all your visitors can buy your CDs.

3. Set a price for your CD. We recommend a maximum price of $10 (because that's the price of
most big label debut CDs) but you can set whatever price you want ($4 minimum). You get
100% of the selling price less a $4 processing charge for every sale.

For example:
CD Selling Price What you get
$10 $6
$9 $5
$8 $4
$7 $3
$6 $2
$5 $1
4. You mail at least 5 CDs to CDBaby.com's warehouse, and make a payment of $35.

5. CDBaby scans your album's cover art for display on your album profile page.

6. We promote and sell your CD at garageband.com.

7. People buy your CD.

8. CDBaby handles all credit card transactions, fulfills all orders within 24 hours, and notifies you
via email once every transaction is complete.

9. CDBaby mails checks to you. (You can decide how often they send you checks, of $20 or
more).

10. You earn millions, run away with Jennifer Lopez, develop a Godzilla-sized drug habit, lose
track of the plot, dump Lopez for an aardvark and spend the next forty years living under an
abandoned trampoline.*

First you need to register or log in then we can begin.

(*Important note: Step 10 optional).

Hostbaby.com
(spinoff of Cdbaby.com)

For $20/month you get...

Basic Features:

1. You can register and own your own domain name (www.yourname.com) for only $20 instead
of the usual $70. As long as you're out there promoting your music and your website, you
should own it! It's not just for vanity. It's for permanence. So you'll have the same web address
even 10 years from now. So - pick a domain name, and we'll register it for you for only $20! We
worked out a quantity deal. Instead of the $70 it would cost to do it yourself, it's just $20 per
year. And yes YOU own it, not us. To find one that's available, go to Network Solutions and try
'em out! But don't register it there. Just do your research there. When you find which one you
want, let us know, and we'll take care of the rest. If you already have a working website
somewhere, we'll be glad to transfer it over for you to your new home.

2. We can transfer your exisiting website easily, with no interruption.

Whether you registered your domain name yourself, or someone registered it for you, we'll be
glad to do the technical stuff to move it over to hostbaby. We can even do an instant clone of
your old site on to your new one, so that there will be no interruption at all, and you won't have
to re-upload everything. Since everyone's situation is different, just email us with your domain
name, and any other info, and let us know what you'd like to do

3. You get 200 megs of web space to do whatever you want. You're in total control of it. That's
enough for TONS of MP3 files, photos, RealAudio, even video clips. You'll have total control
over it. You can FTP upload (and download) anything you want there.

4. Endless permanent email addresses like you@yourname.com - so you'll never have to

change your email address again. You know what a drag it is to change your email address,
especially as you're out promoting your music. Liner notes on your CD, reviews in magazines....
These things are going to be around for years, so what you really need is a permanent email
address. When you own your own domain name, you keep your email address no matter where
you go. You can drop AOL, switch to cable modem, switch to sattellite, switch to gamma-ray
access in the year 2053, and your email address will STILL be you@yourname.com. (even if
you leave hostbaby.com - your name is yours!) You can give an endless amount of private
email accounts for friends, or different aspects of your business. (Example:
you@yourname.com, junklist@yourname.com, bookings@yourname.com,
guitarist@yourname.com) And you don't need our help or permission to do this. You'll be in
control of your own account to do whatever you want. These are *real* personal private POP3
Email accounts. Not web-email like Hotmail. Real email that you can check in powerful email
programs like Eudora and Outlook Express.

5. Streaming RealAudio and MP3. CGI scripts. The works. Your website can now do any fancy
stuff you ever dreamed of. If you've worked with some other web-hosting companies, you know
that whenever you want to do something cool, they either tell you, you can't do it, or they try to
charge you extra. At hostbaby you can do CGI scripts, streaming RealAudio, FrontPage
extensions, telnet, FTP server, server-side includes, forms, counters - ANYTHING.
(Ok - anything except Microsoft-only things like Access and ASP. We only use Linux servers, no
Microsoft. But we can do Microsoft FrontPage extensions.) So, in short, if you're wondering if
your new website can do ______[fill in the blank]_____ - the answer is YES.

6. A very VERY fast connection on a powerful and reliable Linux webserver. Your website will
be in this big corporate Qwest bandwidth building, right next to servers for sites like
internet.com.
We have an OC-48 connection from our servers out to the internet. That's 48 times faster than a
T3. That's 2.4 gigs a second. That's about 800 MP3 files in one second. What that really means
is your website will come up lightning-fast.Your fans will appreciate it. Your sound clips will play
without stuttering. Your site itself will be much faster than anyone's modem, no matter how
many people are connected. The webserver itself is a Linux Cobalt RaQ. It's strong, reliable,
efficient, bug-free, and almost never goes down.

7. No setup fee. First month is free so you can see if you like it. Not many details on this one.
There's no fine print or exceptions. We think you'll be VERY happy with hostbaby, so we'll get it
all set up for you, and give you the first month for free. If you like everything up to that point, you
can start paying $20 / month the next month. You do have to pay $10 to register your own
domain name, if you don't have one already. Other than that, everything else mentioned here is
free! There will be no extra charge for all the extra musician features of hostbaby.

MUSICIAN section features: THE BEST PART

8. The REAL mission of hostbaby: To give you musicians' most-needed tools, right on your own
website. As I got my own webserver for CD Baby, I started learning all the things you could do
with it. I realized that all these things that other companies ask you to do on THEIR websites,
YOU can do on your OWN website. And wouldn't you rather keep your fans on your own site,
instead of sending them away to other sites filled with banner ads and things meant to distract
them? So - I'll be constantly configuring our webservers to let you do anything you want on your
own website, and not be dependent on other companies. (So far: tour calendars, mailing list
managers, guestbooks, password-protected MP3 files. If you have ideas for more, let us know!)
EXAMPLE: Want a concert calendar? No problem! Emailing list manager? Guestbook? Hit-
counters? Password-protected MP3 files? All these things are ready-to-go on your own site.

9. Hostbaby Musician Modules. NOTE: We're opening the doors to hostbaby a few weeks
before the last of the modules are ready. So if you're interested, let's get you set up with a basic
site first, then add these special features in a few weeks. All you'll need to do is add a few cut-n-
paste lines into your HTML code to do anything below. Or we can do it for you if you get stuck.

CONCERT CALENDAR: You have a private area on your site where you enter your upcoming
concert dates. Then just stick one line in your HTML code like "show_upcoming_dates" and
voila! Your page shows your upcoming concert dates in a pretty little customizable table. And
since the website knows what day it is, it automatically moves past your past dates into a
"show_past_dates" page. (So you don't have to worry about updating all the time.)

EMAIL LIST MANAGER: Instead of sticking everyone you know into the "CC:" field of your
Outlook email program, an email list manager on your site will let you email some or all of your
contacts, using their name right in the email itself. You can send announcements that say "Dear
Bethany..." and "Dear Evan..." instead of "Dear Fans and Friends...". And you keep your
contacts safely on your own website, so you can access them from anywhere on the road.

MAILING-LIST SIGNUP: No need to sit and struggle with forms and CGI scripts to do things
with forms. We've got it all done, and ready to put on your site in any way you'd like. Fans can
fill out their info to be on your mailing list. It can get emailed to you and auto-added to your email
list (described above.)

CONCERT DIARIES: Coming soon: A true concert diary, updated on your site. Write up a few
memoirs about each show you do. Perhaps upload a few photos from the show. Fans that were
there can talk in a bulletin board about that show, or all your shows. Fans can even upload their
own photos of the show.

MEMBER-ONLY MP3 DOWNLOADS: Ever wonder who's listening to the sound clips on your
site? You can require people to quickly fill out their email address and first name before
downloading. They can't download your MP3 files (or any file you choose) until they're
authorized with a working email address.

HIT COUNTERS, GUESTBOOKS, MORE... More things like this to come soon. All on your own
site, and totally customizable.

10. And of course we'll always give you all the tools and knowledge we can, from one musician
to another, to help you promote, design, and run your site for maximum results. Can you
imagine if everyone that visited your website signed up to your mailing list, came to a show, and
bought your CD? Since hostbaby is all about helping musicians have great websites, we'll
always give you all the tools and knowledge we can. Books, articles, examples, advice, etc...

CD Street
E-Commerce enable your site to SELL your music merchandise securely within 24 to 48 hours
by joining cdstreet! Sell your music, plus all your music-related merchandise through
cdstreet.com: CDs, T-Shirts, Caps Vinyl, Cassettes, VHS Tapes, DVDs -- All Your Swag! In
addition, our basic service includes a storefront in our site with customizable web pages.

Here's the BASIC Deal:

• Your URL: www.cdstreet.com/artists/name

• Sell as Many Different Products as you wish with no additional setup fee.
• Take Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express and JCB
• Add/Remove Products and Change Prices at Will - No Cost
• You keep 80% of the sale, we keep 20%.
• Email notification of sale in realtime, same for buyers.
• We report barcoded item sales to SOUNDSCAN Each Week
• Simple online administration tools
• Offer buyers our 1-800 number for orders
• Get paid monthly for your net sales
• Manage the Entire Look and Feel of your cdstreet Artist page with a full library of
administrative tools and login options.
• Non-exclusive service agreement
We Ship Your Orders or You Can:
Its your choice. cdstreet ships every day of the week at no cost to you. Fast shipping makes
buyers happy

Enable Secure Ordering for Your Site (optional & free):

We can provide code for you to place within your own website so that you can create your own
custom cdstreet order form in your own site. Purchases initiated from your site with this code go
directly to the shopping cart and checkout. No intermediate store page outside of your site like
Amazon.

Buy-Buttons for your pages on other websites to sell your music.

These are easily added to your MP3.com pages or any other site where you wish to sell your
wares.

Upgrade to Enhanced Cart Package:

For a one-time upgrade fee of $19.95, you can co-brand the entire cart ordering process, from
"add cart" to "checkout." Your logo and identity is prominently displayed in all shopping cart and
checkout pages.

Indie Labels:
We now offer a multi-artist record label solution on cdstreet.com for a one-time setup fee of
$24.95. With this option, your label has unique cdstreet pages, and each artist has their own
pages.

Label URL: www.cdstreet.com/labels/name

Label's Artist's URL: www.cdstreet.com/artists/name

Consolidated payments, accounting and management for labels

Releases and merchandise can be sold at label pages, site and from individual artist pages.
With only cdstreet Basic service, all is displayed on label page and site without individual
identity for artists With the Multi-Artist Label Solution, you have artist pages for each artist you
manage.

MP3.com
What Does MP3.com Offer Artists and Labels?

A Non-Exclusive Agreement: Digital artists retain control of their master recordings and can
terminate the agreement at any time. We have always been deeply dedicated to the artist
community. We strive to create the best online experience for digital artists and provide
incentives to post their music on our site. Today, digital artists from all over the world come to
MP3.com to gain exposure and leverage our salesand marketing tools to generate revenue in a
variety of exciting ways.
Increased Exposure: For digital artists, exposure to a global and local audience is secured
through the natural boundless reach of the Internet. We enhance their distribution and
promotional power with artist web pages that provide the ability to post songs and control the
online image. Tools and services have been created that facilitate direct interaction with an
artist's growing fan base, allowing targeted messaging and opportunities to announce upcoming
concerts or new song releases.

With close to a million visitors accessing our site daily, MP3.com offers exceptional
opportunities for digital artists and recording labels to generate exposure and ultimately build
profits. Digital artists are promoted in Station pages, consumer newsletters, news articles,
MP3.com promotional CDs and other MP3.com-related media.

FREE Artist Web Page and Unlimited Disk Space: All artists receive their own web page at
no cost! Digital artists can add songs, band logo, album graphics, band history, song lyrics,
photo album, favorite music, links to their fan club and more. Our simple, easy-to-use interface
helps digital artists add songs and make changes in just seconds! Artist sign-up Label sign-up.

Feature Compilations in Each Genre: We select various artists to be part of our online genre
compilations. In addition, each genre section on MP3.com has featured artists who change
regularly. Check out our online store to see some of the genre compilations we currently offer.

CD Program: A fast, FREE way to make and sell CDs that puts a lot more control in the hands
of artists! Produce an MP3/CD formatted CD along with its online counterpart, the netCD, which
loads instantly into your password-protected My.MP3 account.

Payback for Playback: Payback for Playback is an exciting promotion that rewards members
of the Premium Artist Service with cash, based on song plays. In the two years of its existence,
the promotion has continued to encourage Artists to promote their music globally using a variety
of tools at their disposal.

Premium Artist Service: Digital artists already know MP3.com offers a broad range of free
tools to help effectively market themselves. Now digital artists you have the opportunity to enjoy
even more tools and services signing up for Premium Artist Service.

Track Your Success Daily: To hone these marketing and revenue-generating opportunities,
we provide daily, detailed
statistics about web page visits, number of song listens and downloads, CDs sold and more to
enable digital artists to better define, evaluate and connect with their fan base.

Artist Tools and Services: Music Greetings, advertising tools, MP3.com Messenger services,
ticketing services, event planning and merchandising services.
Music Licensing: Sign up for MP3.com's Music Licensing service, a low-touch, searchable
database system that enables MP3.com digital artists to license their music for commercial use
(films, radio, TV, web sites). This service offers music supervisors one-stop "search, sample and
license" capabilities.

Promo Auctions: Eligible artists now have another cost-effective way to market their music and
potentially earn a share of the monies available in the Payback for Playback pool made
available to them each month by MP3.com.

In much the same way that food distributors procure premium placement on store shelves,
eligible artists and labels who are seeking additional exposure on MP3.com are participating in
an online auction process to secure high-visibility positioning throughout MP3.com's web site.
The Promo Auction process can be viewed by visiting www.mp3.com/auction.

Event Calendars: Keep fans posted and drive people to shows and concerts with our free
calendar service. Digital artists can add and change their event dates to make sure audiences
stay informed of when they are be coming to town. Invite them to shows, notify them about
tours, CD release parties and any other planned event.

Advocacy for Artists on the Internet: MP3.com has taken a leading role helping artists
distribute and promote their music on the Internet. We host the annual MP3 Summit and
participate in numerous conferences and events promoting digital music.

Amazon.com's Advantage For Music Program

Why Join?

The Power of the Internet's No. 1 Music Retailer

Amazon.com is the Internet's No. 1 retailer and has customers in all 50 U.S. states and more
than 160 countries around the world. The name Amazon.com is immediately recognized for
service, reliability, and security.

Amazon.com is the No. 1 retailer on the Web according to PC Meter ratings (which measure
audience reach much like TV's Nielsen ratings). With so many people searching for music on
our site, your CD is more likely to be discovered by new fans.

Completely Free to Enroll--No Exclusive Contracts

There is absolutely no cost to join Amazon.com Advantage. The only thing you have to pay for
is shipping your CDs to us when we reorder. Plus, there are no exclusive agreements, so you
aren't limited in how or where you market and sell your music.

Get Your Own Web Page on Amazon.com--Just Like Major-Label Artists

When you join Advantage, you get your own Web page listed on Amazon.com alongside those
for major-labelartists. Your page includes track listings, cover art, customer reviews, liner notes,
and more to attract and educate potential customers who may not be familiar with your music.

When you have a Web page at Amazon.com, fans always know where they can buy your CD.
Amazon.com is one of the most recognized and trusted names on the Web. People know our
reputation for security and customer service. Just say, "Look for me on Amazon.com," and
they'll be able to find you.

Upload MP3s to Help Sell CDs

With Amazon.com's Digital Music Network, you can upload MP3 tracks of your music for posting
and free download by Amazon.com's visitors. By putting free MP3 uploads of your music in front
of millions of Amazon.com customers every day, you're giving a passionate audience of music
fans the chance to discover your sound--and to buy your CD. To enter the Digital Music
Network, click here.

Your songs can earn you money with the Amazon Honor System
The Amazon Honor System lets you collect tips from fans who listen to your free digital
downloads. It's like playing beside an open guitar case in the heart of the Amazon.com Music
store. Set up an Amazon Honor System account and start making money today.

Quick Shipping and Fulfillment

You want to catch fans when they're excited about your music. With Amazon.com Advantage,
we keep your CDs in stock at our distribution centers for fast shipping anywhere in the world,
usually within 24 hours. It's been proven that items available for immediate shipping sell more
copies than ones that can't be shipped for
several weeks.

Cover Art, Track Listings and Liner Notes

On the Internet, information sells. The more a potential customer knows about your music and
your CD, the more likely they are to make a purchase. That's why Amazon.com Advantage
gives you the ability to include track listings, cover art, and liner notes on your page--all at no
charge. We'll even scan your cover art for free! When a customer comes to your page, they can
see your CD cover, view your track listings, read the liner notes, and even read your comments
about the CD. These critical elements bring your CD to life on the Internet.

Make It Easier for Customers to Discover Your CD

You'll have two kinds of customers who purchase your CD from Amazon.com: 1) people who
already know your music and 2) people who are browsing our site for something new and cool.
The people who know your music will type your name or the title of your CD into our search
engine and find you directly. The people who don't know you need to be directed to your page.
When you join Amazon.com Advantage, we classify your CD so that it qualifies to show up on
our Indie Music browse lists. Our Indie Music Store showcases new artists and independent
labels to help fans in search of the next big thing in music. We have hundreds of Indie Music
browse lists, ranging from proto-punk to classical to Christian to bebop jazz, so there's likely one
that's perfect for your CD. Classifying your music properly gives you the chance to stand out in
your specific genre.

Online Sales and Inventory Reports

When you join Amazon.com Advantage, you get access to our secure server, which is updated
daily with full sales reports for all the titles you've enrolled in Amazon.com Advantage. It's a
wealth of information that's simply not available from other music stores.

You will be able to see:

• Unit sales last month

• Unit sales this month
• Current inventory
• Status of the last order that Amazon.com placed with you to replenish our inventory
• Amount of your next payment

This information is updated daily, so you'll always know how your titles are selling and how
much Amazon.com owes you.

Automatic Reordering
When our inventory shows that we're running out of stock on your titles, our ordering software
willautomatically send you an e-mail requesting more copies. This way we can keep your CD on
hand and available to "usually ship within 24 hours." We continually adjust the number of copies
we order from youbased on the recent sales performance of your CD.

Easy Restocking and Hassle-Free Fulfillment

Making and promoting a great CD is time-consuming, hard work. So don't hassle with tedious
details and chores such as shipping, credit card fulfillment, phone calls, and packaging costs.
Amazon.com takes care of it or you--completely free of charge. Amazon.com serves the world,
so you only have to restock one store to make sure all of your customers can get your CD.
When we start to sell out of your CD, we'll send you an e-mail requesting more. You mail the
copies to us and you're done!

Amazon.com saves you time that could be better spent on what you do best: making and
marketing yourmusic.

Quick Payment Terms

With Amazon.com Advantage, payment to you is quick and easy. At the end of each month,
Amazon.com automatically sends you a check for the copies sold during the previous month.
You don't even need to invoice us. Also, you can always check online to see how your CDs are
selling and how much we owe you.

Access to Our Marketing Resource Center

Amazon.com Advantage is a powerful marketing tool for the independent musician. And like
most things, you get out of it what you put into it. The more time and energy that you as an artist
put into self-promotion, the more successful you will be selling on Amazon.com. Advantage
members can access our Marketing Resource Center, an online information center for
independent musicians, authors, and filmmakers. Inside you'll find information on everything
from packaging your CD for shipment to offline guerrilla marketing tactics to tips and success
stories from Advantage members who have succeeded in selling their music directly.

We also give you free information and expert assistance with manufacturing your CD through
Disc Makers, our recommended audio manufacturer.

Part 2...

……………………………..

So, there you go for this month. I have done a lot of work for you, as far as giving you 'from the
horse's mouth' what these web music distribution companies have to offer. Now, the real work
begins. But remember, you must decide which of these company's best suit your online music
marketing needs. I am not recommending that use all of them. Take it slow and easy at first and
add a new Internet marketing company to your mix, as you feel comfortable doing so.

I have been saying for years now that the Internet is the future for independent musicians. All I
can do is try to get you fired up about how many opportunities there are for you to promote your
music. However, I have never felt more confident about the power of the web to kick-start a
music marketing campaign then I do now.

Please note, there are several other websites and companies that may help you get the word
out about promoting and selling your music over the Internet. www.muze.com,
www.soundbuzz.com, and www.peoplesound.com (purchased by Vitaminic) may be worth your
while as well, but I concentrated on the sites I did, because they seemed to me to be the most
successful for indie musicians. If you find them useful…great.

If you would like some first-hand feedback from a musician who knows what companies are
best at selling and promoting music online, I would suggest you go check out David Nevue's
website www.musicbizacademy.com . David has been using many of these companies with
various degrees of success, and he might be a good jumping off point for deciding which
company to try first.
Web marketing is only a part of your entire music marketing. Online activities must go hand in
hand with your offline touring, publicity, radio, and other distribution and sales activities in the
'analog' world. But I sincerely believe that many of the companies I have introduced you to can
go a long way to establishing and promoting you as a successful entrepreneurial musician in
this new millennium.

Let me know how things are going!

Sell Your Music Online, Part 2

by Christopher Knab - Fourfront Media & Music - November 2002

Back to The Academy

This month I am wrapping up my survey of sites on the web where you can sell and promote
your independent music. The way this was put together is this. I visited each site listed here,
and cut and pasted THEIR OWN descriptions of what they have to offer you. So, this is
becoming a very large directory of what is out there, and what these companies say they can do
for you. Your job is to check them out and see if one or all should be part of your online
distribution and sales plans.

Cheers!

Christopher Knab

Vitaminic.com
Vitaminic helps you discover new music groups who have chosen to put their music out on the
Internet in MP3 format and you can get in touch with them. The Vitaminic directory is compiled
in order of musical genre and it gives you some information about the band or artist together
with some links so that you can listen to their music. If you don't know about MP3 and want to
find out more, have a look at the section that explains where to start. In the Software section,
you'll find programs you can use to listen to, create, and manage music for the Internet. In the
hardware section you'll find a description of all the new equipment for playing back MP3 music.
As well as the directory on the Vitaminic site, you'll also find the charts with the tracks most
often downloaded, interviews and special reports about musical events. The News area
contains all the latest about MP3 digital music. To get all the latest news about the site, just sign
up for the Vitaminic Newsletter.

If you're a musician, Backstage is the area reserved for those who produce music and wish to
transmit it and sell it online. With Vitaminic, any band or artist can now sell their music. All you
need is a computer linked up to the Internet. If you register with Backstage, you can create your
own pages, upload your tracks and sell them over the Internet.
Backstage Services
What can I do Backstage? Here's a list of services for all those who play music. Keep an eye on
it because there'll be new ones all the time:

Registration in the directory.

Choose which category you want to be in, introduce your band, upload at least one promotional
track you want to broadcast free of charge to Vitaminic users and your band will be included in
the Vitaminic directory.

Your band's homepage.

You can create a page, putting in information about your band, including biographies, your logo,
pictures, members, anything you need to introduce yourselves and describe your music.

Promotion.
You can also include a sentence and a picture which will be shown at the top of the homepage
and on the top-level pages of the musical categories, in order to increase your band's visibility.

Broadcast and sale of music.

You can upload your band's tracks so that they can be transmitted in RealAudio. Visitors to the
site will be able to download them in MP3. For each track, you decide how you want to distribute
them: promo, protected or for sale. A promo track can be heard and downloaded free of charge
by visitors to the site; a protected track is like a promo but you need to register with the band's
fanzine if you want to download it. You can also sell the tracks: you decide the price.

Site statistics.
You can check to see how your Vitaminic page is getting on: transmissions, downloads and
sales.

Translation of your information.

Vitaminic wants you to increase your popularity abroad: just translate your information, and we'll
put it onto the fast-growing Vitaminic web sites all around Europe.

IUMA.com
Is their a relationship be between IUMA and Vitaminic?

On March 23, 2001, IUMA was purchased by Vitaminic. As a result, we were able to re-hire the
core staff, re-launch the IUMA web site, and continue doing what IUMA does best: providing the
best resource destination on the web for unsigned artists to promote their music.

Vitaminic is the leading digital music distributor in Europe, with relationships with hundreds of
labels and almost 25,000 signed and
unsigned artists. Over the next few months, we'll work to figure out the best ways for our
communities to work together. In general, IUMA artists can look forward to greater promotional
coverage over in Europe, as well as closer contact with the large number of the labels in the
Vitaminic label network. Stay tuned for more details!

The one place to post your music where actual musicians are watching out for you - not
weasels watching the numbers. You have your own URL with your band name first. And a
custom web page where you can post all your band info and MP3s, sell CDs, create message
boards, fan lists, and of course, get e-mail from your fans - all Free.

The IUMA mission is simple - for every artist with a record deal, on FM radio, or in Tower
Records - there are a thousand talented artists chasing that dream and a million new music fans
who will never get to hear their music. We're changing all that - bringing these artists and fans
together, getting the music out and giving new music fans a cool new way to discover new
music.

Using the site is easy. Go to the home page, find a genre of music you like, and start listening
to new music. You can sample it in Real Audio and then pull the MP3s when you find something
you like. You can also visit Artist's IUMA web site and interact with the artist through email and
message boards. If you've got work to do, we suggest you launch IUMA Radio and let your
favorite genre play in the background while you work.

At the heart of it all, IUMA is about letting the music speak for itself, and letting the artist speak
directly to their fans. We remain committed to the independent musician and will continue to
bring you the future of music.

For now, IUMA and Vitaminic will continue to run as separate web sites. However, as we
integrate with Vitaminic over the next several months, we expect to be able to offer IUMA artists
greater European exposure through the Vitaminic network.

Starpolish.com
Q: I am a StarPolish artist, and see all of these great artists being featured on the site. How can
I be one of those artists?

A: Currently, there are 3 ways to be featured on the site, all of them begin with making sure you
are indeed signed up as a StarPolish Artist, which is free and easy, and have properly created
your artist page (start at www.starpolish.com/account). At that point, you will have access to
these 3 outlets:

a) The Buzzing Artist section, within the Features section and also at Buzz. To be a Buzzing
Artist, you must submit a success story (that hopefully capitalizes on advice you learned from
StarPolish, but isn't limited to such instances) to mybuzz@starpolish.com. Two artists are
chosen per month for this section, and the winners and their stories will also be featured to our
A&R and Attorney Panels for consideration.

b) The Critics Corner/Discover Music section on the homepage and within the artist section. All
StarPolish artists may be reviewed at any time by any of our critics, but to better your chances
you should write them an email personally, and explain why and where you should be reviewed.
Do not list links to mp3.com or other sites, make sure your music is available on StarPolish. The
critics who wish to be emailed list their email addresses on their profile page.

c) The CD Store. To be featured here, you must be selling your CD through the StarPolish
store. If you would like to be featured, you can plead your case to info@starpolish.com and we'll
try to accommodate.

Q: I am a StarPolish artist and would like to put my songs up on my StarPolish page, but am not
technically savvy and have no idea where to start. Can you help?

A: Sure can! Take a look at our digital audio primer in our advice section: Read through that
section, and make the decision on whether you want your song to stream (be instantly
listenable, but not able to be saved on a hard drive, somewhat like radio) or DOWNLOAD
(higher quality, but able to be saved and therefore burned onto CD or traded online, etc). Then
it's just a matter of ripping (digitizing your audio) the songs off of your CD and then converting
the .wav (pc) or .aiff (mac) files to a smaller compressed format that can be tossed around on
the web. If you would like to stream, real audio is currently the format of choice, although you
can also do Quicktime and Windows Media encoding. I would suggest going to www.real.com
and looking at ways to encode your file into a real audio file. For downloading, mp3 is still the
way to go. We personally use Audio Catalyst by Xing to do our encoding here in the office, but
there are a variety of programs that will do an outstanding job

Q: I would love to have my music reviewed by the panels of industry veterans represented on
your site. How can I do that?

A: The A&R Panel members regularly scour the StarPolish community in search of new talent.
They recognize that it is a goldmine of up and coming artists, and we receive requests for
individual artists' contact info all the time coming from our A&R panel. However, because of the
number of artists in the StarPolish
community, we cannot make available the contact information of our panel members. There are
ways to guarantee yourself to be heard by the panels, like winning contests or being featured as
a Buzzing Artist (see question #1). Sign up for the StarPolish Newsletter and
stay tuned for your all of the opportunities as they are announced.
JavaMusic.com
JavaMusic provides the ultimate connection between independent musicians and their global
audience. How? Through empowerment. We empower Artists by giving them all the resources
necessary to build their audience to its full potential. And we empower Fans by leading them to
these artists and giving them all the knowledge necessary to choose "the Next Music."

What is the Next Music? Well, it is much more than the latest trend pitched by MTV, Rolling
Stone or commercial radio. It is music that fans will choose for themselves by finding, absorbing
and critiquing all the material that is available to them from around the world. Empowerment is
the key ingredient in determining the Next; it ensures that artists know how to deliver their music
to a global audience, and that such a global audience knows where and how to
look for unique and exciting new music.

JavaMusic provides a single, user-friendly destination where both deliverers of the Next Music
and discoverers of the Next Music can meet. This is where all music lovers will "Engage the
Next."

For JavaMusic to help its users create the next wave of music, it must offer a convenient, one-
stop shopping experience for both independent artists and the indie record labels that also use
JavaMusic’s services. To this end, we provide distribution, traffic and networking opportunities
that truly are global.

Some companies tout their "global" reach simply because they are based online and the
Internet is accessible everywhere. But JavaMusic thinks globally and operates globally. We
already have many Asian distribution points, and we gear campaigns toward Asian markets as
well as the European markets, where we will be distributing CDs soon. Thanks to this extended
reach, prospective buyers in these locales will never again have to worry about severe
exchange rates or international shipping charges that are greater than the actual product cost!

Artists and labels that upload music and place CDs for sale on JavaMusic will also experience a
significant boost in online traffic. The number of people who view an artist’s name and are
exposed to downloadable music and artist information greatly increases with JavaMusic’s
specialized audience focus. This focus also makes it easy for users to network with music lovers
just like themselves, whether artists are contacting similar artists to discuss swapping gigs; or
fans are trading notes and selling each other’s favorite JavaMusic discs at their Virtual Retail
Stores.

The Virtual Retail Store, or VRS, is one of the many ways JavaMusic helps users proactively
engage in the pursuit of the Next Music. This new affiliate program encourages both fans and
artists to own and operate their own personalized, online CD store. These users are already
talking up their favorite JavaMusic artists -- now for zero investment and with very little effort
they can continue to spread the word while earning an extremely generous commission in the
process.

If artists do not yet have a CD to sell, JavaMusic can present them with the most competitive
prices in top-quality CD manufacturing. For under a dollar per disc, artists can produce 1,000
albums with all the elements of a professional release: jewel case with clear tray, 3-color print
on CD, 4-panel insert, tray card and shrink wrap. If the idea is to present music to the pros while
spending as little cash as possible, there are plenty of other cost-effective options available.
One of the more popular routes our artists take is to order a short run of custom-recorded CD-
Rs; the discs feature full-color thermal printing that easily rivals the sleek look of regular screen-
printed compact discs.

Visitors of JavaMusic may also stop by the CoffeeShop for recommendations on the hottest
JavaMusic artists, or they can shop for best buys among the apparel, memorabilia and must-
read books that are available on the site. Another motivating CoffeeShop feature is the
"Featured Product" artist section that promises extra exposure for those artists our A&R staff
has reviewed and recommended.

Other services JavaMusic offers: a one-stop indie music solution provider:

• JavaFM grants yet another opportunity for artists to reach their potential audience by
streaming live music from all genres 24 hours a day.
• Our premium Espresso Service offers maximum exposure, visibility and income to
members by providing them 10 CD-Rs of their music, a 5% discount on disc replication,
free email promotion, and up to a $.04 boost in download royalties.
• We offer the best quality and prices for CD duplication and apparel and accessory
manufacturing.
• JavaMusic also provides specialized advertising assistance, as well as professional
graphic design services that make the promotional process much simpler.

Together with artists, fans and other artist-friendly individuals and corporate entities, JavaMusic
will transcend borders, boundaries, cultures and language to help redefine popular music and
"Engage the Next."

AmpCast
The AMPCAST.COM web site arose from the growing needs and changes of the musical
community. Founded in 1998, AMPCAST.COM is dedicated to introducing and exposing new
musicians and bands as well as providing a forum for the promotion of more established
musical artists.

Where We Are Today

Today, Ampcast is the place for artists to start their Internet adventures and the place for fans to
discover new music. We are very proud to service thousands of dedicated musical artists by
providing them with the tools necessary to expand their audience, distribute their digital music,
sell their CDs and make more money. We are happy to have introduced new music to millions
of fans by providing them with a community and a platform to do so.

We have outlasted the Internet bubble burst through shear determination and independence,
and are eager to continue reshaping the music industry by utilizing the internet.

What We Offer: For the Artist

You can establish an online presence through Ampcast.com that serves as a promotional tool
for your band, a distribution mechanism for your music, and a revenue generator for your
pockets.

• A one-off CD program that delivers "retail ready" CDs with NO UPFRONT COSTS.
• You can design your Ampcast web site using customized HTML.
• A simple royalty system that pays you for every download.
• You can communicate with our very responsive artist support team.
• We have a non-exclusive agreement; you keep the rights to your music.
• Your songs will be uploaded and approved through our ultra-easy, and super fast
system.

For the Fans

Search our virtual shelves of thousands of artists, CDs, song titles and videos; a way for you to
broaden your musical horizon, and discover fresh talent. CDs are sold at discount prices as
determined by the ARTIST and you typically can't find these in stores. You can be a radio
programmer by making your own playlists and having them available to the Ampcast
community. You have access to a convenient tracking and reporting system of your listening
habits so that you don't forget what you have listened to. Participate in the community by rating
music, making CD compilations, meeting other fans with similar interests and much, much
more.

AudioGalaxy
What we offer:
Audiogalaxy is a community of music fans and artists. Fans visit Audiogalaxy to read reviews
and sample new music, discover up-and-coming artists and explore new genres and styles.
Musicians can post their music, images and info, host a web page, receive feedback from
reviewers and fans and get the exposure they'vebeen craving. And the best part is…IT'S ALL
FREE!

Audiogalaxy offers 25 MB of free web space to musicians for MP3 files, band images and a web
page. All content (music, images and html) is acceptable as long asit is related to your band
(exceptions are pirated material and software). Every MP3 you upload to our site will be
available for users to download, rate and discuss. We also have daily spotlight features of
bands on Audiogalaxy that run on the front page as well as within each genre section. With over
80,000 hits per day, you canbe assured that your band will receive some newfound exposure.

What is included in each Band’s listing?

Each band’s listing is comprised of several elements. The band’s picture is a link to their web
page. Clicking on one of the subgenres listed beneath the bands name will produce a list of
more bands of that style. Clicking on the song titles will start downloading or streaming the song
to your computer. Clicking on the “comments” button allows you to read and leave comments
about the band, with the number in parentheses indicating how many comments that particular
band has generated. The Review button will take you to the Audiogalaxy review of that band.

General Info
a. How do I get my band onto your site?
Go backstage to create an account and directory on Audiogalaxy.

b. Is this legal?
Yes, if you are the sole copyright owner or have the expressed permission of the artist, you are
free to distribute your music as you please. Distributing copyrighted material without the artist’s
and/or label’s permission is illegal and all account holders who attempt to do so will be banned.

c. Am I giving up rights to my music if I post it on Audiogalaxy?

NO! We provide a forum for artists to showcase their music and gain access to a larger
audience. We do not force the artist to sign any waivers or binding documents. We will not
distribute your music in any physical form (CD, Cassette, LP, etc.), and do not profit from any
artist on the site.

d. Am I allowed to sell my CD/Tape/Demo on Audiogalaxy?

Artists are free to sell their music on their Audiogalaxy web page. Sales through means of
private distribution are perfectly acceptable. We will not distribute your music in any form,
except electronically.

e. Will the information I provide be kept confidential?

Yes. Audiogalaxy does not distribute the personal contact information you provide to anyone. It
is used strictly for internal purposes.

Being a band on Audiogalaxy

Joining Audiogalaxy is a two-step process. The first step requires a working email address and
other basic information needed to set up your account. Next, a password will be mailed to the
address you provided. With this password you will login to our system to provide more detailed
information about your music and upload your files. The Audiogalaxy sign-up process has been
streamlined to be as painless as possible. If you have any questions or comments don’t hesitate
to send an email to bands@audiogalaxy.com.
The Orchard
What is The Orchard?
The Orchard is one of a kind! We are dedicated to giving independent record labels and artists
access to the same distribution opportunities the Major Labels have enjoyed almost exclusively
for years. The Orchard makes the music of independent artists available, side by side with
Major Label albums. We are an entertainment company that has grown in just three years time
into one of worlds largest suppliers of new music. Currently we account for about twenty percent
of all product released in the United States each week. Through agreements with the nations
largest one stop distributors, we are the leading and most dominant provider of independent and
global content to all of the major on-line stores including, Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com,
Borders.com, CDNow etc..., as well as traditional retail.

How does it work?

1. The Orchard charges a 30% distribution fee. As a distributor, we sell things wholesale so that
retailers can mark them up. The 30% applies to the wholesale cost. If there is not a fixed
wholesale cost, we charge 30% of the total amount of money received by us.
2. The Orchard charges a fee of $90 to join.
3. The Orchard accounts and pays quarterly. We accumulate the money paid to us each quarter
and pay 90 days following the end of the quarter. As a distributor, we do not get paid the
moment someone purchases your product so we can't pay until we receive the money.
4. The Orchard accepts product as consignment merchandise. WE DO NOT BUY PRODUCT.

How can I get the ball rolling?

Simply send a blank email to join@theorchard.com. You will automatically receive a copy of our
application form and agreement. Print the form, fill it out, sign it and send it along with 30 copies
of your release and the appropriate payment to our New York address:

Attn: New Product- The Orchard

133 5th Avenue, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10003

What happens when you ship all of the initial shipment of CDs that accompany my
application?
Once your stock level has dipped below a certain level, you will receive a request for reorder.
This message will note the artist, the title of the release, the amount that we'd like to reorder and
a reorder number. It is important that you act promptly after receiving a reorder request and
inform us if there is any unforeseen delay in getting the reorder to us. Too lengthy a delay may
result in our distributors canceling an order. When sending this reorder shipment to us, please
ensure that the reorder number is written clearly on the outside of the box.
When we reorder it does not necessarily mean that product has sold. It simply means that we
are anticipating future demand. We do our best to manage this complicated process and it's a
difficult juggling act. On one hand we don't want to hold too much product that isn't moving. On
the other, we don't want to not fulfill orders because we didn't have enough.

Will I get confirmation that anything that I send to The Orchard has been received?
You will be sent a receipt via email of any product that we receive. It is an extremely good idea
to make a note of the tracking number of your parcel before it is sent.

What if I decide to no longer use The Orchard for distribution?

Leaving The Orchard distribution system means modifying theOrchard Agreement. The process
starts by faxing or mailing a signed letter, to the attention of Deletion Notices requesting a
deletion. Please list the artist(s) and release(s) you wish to delete, as well as a valid shipping
address for us to ship your product to (no P.O. Boxes). If The Orchard accepts the deletion
request, the Orchard will fax back a letter ending the Term of the Agreement. This letter must be
signed by both parties.

The deletion process creates costs for The Orchard that includes shipping charges and
restocking fees. In addition, a considerable amount of time is required to notify retail accounts,
manage the return of unsold product and prepare the final accounting. There is a $250 fee for
filing a deletion notice.

During the deletion process your account will be frozen for at least 180 days or until there is a
full quarter without returns. At the end of the deletion process, all product in inventory will be
returned and a final accounting of the product will be rendered.

BeSonic
What exactly does the Premium Artist Service include?
BeSonic AG introduced a new Premium Artist Service for artists on the 27th November 2001.
This is an optional service. It offers the artist additional features and opportunities to present his
or her music evenmore professionally, and promote it even more effectively than before.

The Premium Artist Service provides you with a whole range of advantages allowing you to
present your music more professionally and reach your audience more effectively online than
ever before.

Unlimited number of titles

Use the freedom to host as many songs as you like on our servers. For example, you can
present a different compilation of titles every week, offering more variety.

On the Site
No advertising banners on your homepage - You are your own master on your homepage. The
only thing plugged here is the music. The liberty to design your own homepage (different
layouts, colours, HTML) - Use your skills (or those of a friend) to make your homepage express
something really individual. Make yourself visible above the vast mass of other artists and get
yourself more noticed. Graphic emphasis (with a photograph and text) in the new
artists'catalogue - A very important place if you want to be found. Visitors flick through whole
genres here. An expressive picture and an inviting piece of text will lure lots of visitors to your
homepage.

Hi-fi streaming
Visitors can now listen to your music in full hi-fi stereo quality, and be impressed by it. This
enables them to appreciate all your acoustic precision work.

Priority activation
Premium Artists' songs are given preferential treatment. Your songs will always be available. In
preparation: Individual record sleeve design for your artists' CDs, and considerably lower prices
for each CD. In this way you can even order the most limited edition for your next concert - at a
good price.

Can I still present my music free of charge on BeSonic?

Yes. The BeSonic service is still available free of charge, subject to a limit on storage space. In
the Future, BeSonic wants to carry on offering young talents an opportunity, reducing the initial
obstacles. However, against the background of the situation described above, we can only
continue to accept those songs that – in our opinion – are suitable for publication in the context
of our music service, based on our experiences in recent years.

Does that mean "pay or leave"?

No. All tracks offered by BeSonic (still more than 80%) will still be hosted free of any charge (!)
and in the usual manner. It would be nonsense to stop good music from going anywhere. All it
means is that we are takingfirst steps to limit access for "poor music attempts" and those tracks
that got "lost on the shelf". All artists should definitely wait for a mail announcing which songs
Besonic wants to publish. But don't panic! It's not as bad as it sounds.

Mixonic
Because Mixonic is the first and only CD duplication and distribution
company with an entirely web-based ordering and distribution process, we open up all kinds of
new ways to help you in the music business. You can use our services anywhere, anytime, 24
hours a day, 7 days a week. We make it easy!

ORDER IN BULK FOR YOURSELF

You can use mixonic to order short runs of your CDs, which you can sell or distribute yourself.
We have the best prices, the best quality and the best delivery times in our class. Order just
what you need and have it shipped to your home - or we can ship it direct to your venue if you
are on the road. You'll never run out of CDs again! Just click the "duplicate CDs" tab above to
learn more.

SELL ONLINE
Tired of lugging around CDs? Instead, just direct your fans to your
Mixonic selling page so they can order your CDs online. All you have to do at your concerts is
hand out the web-address on a card. And, you can link the selling page into any other website,
including you own. We'll manufacture each CD as its ordered and ship it directly to your
customer. No up front money out-of-pocket...you'll get a check for your proceeds at the end of
every month!

Selling pages keep your CDs Fresh! You can post your latest music the moment it's ready. You
can even post a live concert for sale within minutes of a performance, and start selling CDs
immediately!

OTHER GREAT WAYS TO USE MIXONIC:

Make demos with only the cuts you need. Load up all your finished
cuts into your secure library at Mixonic and order custom CDs for each pitch you make. You'll
never have to say "just listen to tracks 5 and 12" again!

Change your content as many times as you want, even on the fly. The CDs you order are stored
in your account. When you have better tracks or new ones, just switch-out the old ones.

Make custom CDs for special promos or for each gig. With Mixonic's
on-line cd designer, you can customize your CDs to the venue where you want to sell them,
giving them "souvenir" quality that will boost sales.

Bring back the CD single - lots of them!

If you have a big catalog, use Mixonic to make all kinds of

compilations in limited runs or on selling pages for different niches in
your audience. For small labels, use mixonic to make monthly artist compilations. Do them in
limited small runs and watch them become collectables in a few months.

Our “starter kit” is an easy way to record your content and send it to us.

The kit includes:

One blank 74 minute CD-R to burn your master (printed with a full color sample label).
A postage paid return mailer. After receiving your content, we'll post it to your online library and
notify you by e-mail.

…………………………..

So, there you go. I have done a lot of work for you, as far as giving you 'from the horse's mouth'
what these web music distribution companies have to offer. Now, the real work begins. But
remember, you must decide which of these company's best suit your online music marketing
needs. I am not recommending that use all of them. Take it slow and easy at first and add a new
Internet marketing company to your mix, as you feel comfortable doing so.

I have been saying for years now that the Internet is the future for independent musicians. All I
can do is try to get you fired up about how many opportunities there are for you to promote your
music. However, I have never felt more confident about the power of the web to kick-start a
music marketing campaign then I do now.

Please note, there are several other websites and companies that may help you get the word
out about promoting and selling your music over the Internet. www.muze.com,
www.soundbuzz.com, and www.peoplesound.com (purchased by Vitaminic) may be worth your
while as well, but I concentrated on the sites I did, because they seemed to me to be the most
successful for indie musicians. If you find them useful…great.

If you would like some first-hand feedback from a musician who knows what companies are
best at selling and promoting music online, I would suggest you go check out David Nevue's
website www.musicbizacademy.com . David has been using many of these companies with
various degrees of success, and he might be a good jumping off point for deciding which
company to try first.

Web marketing is only a part of your entire music marketing. Online activities must go hand in
hand with your offline touring, publicity, radio, and other distribution and sales activities in the
'analog' world. But I sincerely believe that many of the companies I have introduced you to can
go a long way to establishing and promoting you as a successful entrepreneurial musician in
this new millennium.

Let me know how things are going!

http://www.unsignedbandspromotion.com/