How to Sell a Band's CD Online

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When you think about selling CDs online, your first thought might be about unloading old CDs you have gathering dust on the shelf. Artists need to sell their wares too. There are a lot more places to sell a CD than Amazon and other giants—though those are necessary too.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

A CD
Internet access

Step1

Find a distribution company. This can be as good as having a record company. This is the DIY approach to selling CDs. The artists retains all legal rights and profits. Normally, a band has to pay off their advance through CD sales. Small labels may just try to break even. If you don't have distribution, become friendly with your neighborhood post office.

Step2

Get a bar code for your CD. It’s not enough to just burn a CD at home and consider it a product.

Step3

Send a batch of CDs to several of the more popular CD stores online. CD Baby is one of the most popular. For a set-up fee, you will get a web page and CD store. No UPC is required, but this is the exception.

Step4

Send CDs to Amazon and other major sites. On Amazon, a UPC code will be required. Like CD Baby you can set the price. You can also upload mp3s so people can hear a sample. All CDs must be shrink wrapped for the most popular sites.

Step5

Put a link on your band’s website so people can buy the CD directly from your site. You can include a form for credit card information—complete with encryption technology. You’ll need a credit card merchant account. Or you could link to CD Baby, Amazon, and the like.

Tips & Warnings

It’s not just enough to have CDs available, you want people to buy them. Promotions are key. Post full, downloadable mp3s online to help spread the word. The mp3 sites can link to your CD store.
Promote the band’s website, as well as the band. Use search engine marketing techniques, blog, advertise, and other methods. Website promotion is as important as band promotion.
Don’t stop with one or two sites, but don’t submit to hundreds either—it can be costly. Target the CD to stores that market music in a particular genre.
Make sure the site is stable with a good amount of traffic. New CD stores have a tendency to go under.

Comments

wilfred said

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on 4/30/2008 There are sites such as www.fixagig.co.uk where you can display your full band profile and sell your CDs with no coding knowledge needed. Doing this means that the people that already have an interest in your band and other unsigned bands will come across your profile with the option to be able to listen to some samples before buying.

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