New Tools for the Self-Distributed Band
Both CD Baby and TuneCore announced expansions of their services enabling bands increased access to national distribution without the need of even a pressing and distribution agreement. CD Baby allows bands to create packaged CDs or digital offerings. They have expanded the service to allow for digital singles to be sold in addition to the digital albums, given greater flexibility for musicians pushing singles or adding cuts between albums.
At the same time, Digital Media Wire reports that TuneCore has expanded the services it provides through Amazon.com, and will provide a new pressing and distribution service for the nominal charge of $31.00. CD Baby has a $35.00 membership fee.
The two services are slightly different, with CD Baby having a larger revenue base, but TuneCore offering more international options and advanced production services. Since iTunes and Amazon have moved to dominate sales of music, the access to these markets by both services makes either a good choice for most bands.
For example, I love the TuneCore tee-shirt service. Having the tee-shirts made along with the CD artwork is a stroke of marketing brilliance. Mixing services, banner ad campaigns and other add-ons can push the costs up, these services represent the bits and pieces of the traditional music industry. The radio service Jango goes a step further, offering paid airplays - the Internet version of payola. Other services offer to promote songs to radio stations.
These new services reflect the unbundling of the traditional music industry. Musicians have the ability to select which services they want and what price they are willing to pay. The trend will likely result in each of these discrete services being unbundled from the label - only to be offered again on a package basis for the band. The choices seem to be growing quite rapidly.
At the same time, Digital Media Wire reports that TuneCore has expanded the services it provides through Amazon.com, and will provide a new pressing and distribution service for the nominal charge of $31.00. CD Baby has a $35.00 membership fee.
The two services are slightly different, with CD Baby having a larger revenue base, but TuneCore offering more international options and advanced production services. Since iTunes and Amazon have moved to dominate sales of music, the access to these markets by both services makes either a good choice for most bands.
For example, I love the TuneCore tee-shirt service. Having the tee-shirts made along with the CD artwork is a stroke of marketing brilliance. Mixing services, banner ad campaigns and other add-ons can push the costs up, these services represent the bits and pieces of the traditional music industry. The radio service Jango goes a step further, offering paid airplays - the Internet version of payola. Other services offer to promote songs to radio stations.
These new services reflect the unbundling of the traditional music industry. Musicians have the ability to select which services they want and what price they are willing to pay. The trend will likely result in each of these discrete services being unbundled from the label - only to be offered again on a package basis for the band. The choices seem to be growing quite rapidly.
