Now no one can say that I don’t have wide range of posts on this blog, but the topic of music is something close to my heart, so I thought I would take the time out to write a post for fellow artists/bands with a little advice.
First of all lets start with CDBaby, now I have used CDBaby for three of our releases and have found them very easy to deal with, there is an initial one off cost of $35 per album and then $20 for a barcode for your release, so that’s $55 (£37), but then you post off five physical copies of your CDs to them for to catalogue which will cost you postage, but, CDBaby has now started a Digital Only service so now you only have to send one master to them.
Your music should get listed with several Digital Distribution sites including iTunes, Rhapsody, eMusic and more. CDBaby will take 9% of your earnings from your music, so you get 91% of your earnings from sales, which is really good.
Now on to TuneCore, now the difference here is that you upload all your work to the website and no CDs are needed to send to them. With Tunecore you pay and annual fee for your releases a single is $9.99 and an album is $19.98, also you have to pay $.99 per track and $.99 per store that you album is listed in.
So as an example if you release a 10 track album to all the stores it will cost you:
- $12.87 for all 13 stores
- $9.90 for all 10 tracks
- $19.98 for the annual fee
- Total of $42.75 (£29.04)
- You Keep 100% profit!
As you can see it’s still cheaper than CDBaby, but, remember that you have to pay an annual fee, where as once your release has gone with CDBaby there are no more costs for you to pay.
So which to go for, hmm, I would personally say that if you are planning or wishing to sell a load of downloads than I would say TuneCore, but if you are looking in to the long term for your music and like your fans to also have the choice of buying a physical CD then I would go with CDBaby.
As I mentioned earlier we have used both for our music and have found that both are worthy of each other, we use CDBaby for our major album releases and use TuneCore for our smaller single and EP releases which we only release for a short period of time. But at the end of the day it’s your decision to make and I hope that this little bit of info has helped in some way or another
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Tags: CDBaby, Digital Distribution, iTunes, TuneCore
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Thanks for the mention, Karen.
In the age-old comparisons between digital distributors, I always talk about the philosophy: why have someone take a 9% stake in your music forever, without cap, without supervision or termination–it’s like working for them! But you’re conclusion points out what CD Baby can do for physical distribution, and I simply can’t resist telling you (and yes, your readers), that TuneCore has leveled this playing field.
TuneCore’s Amazon on Demand launched last week. Our program lets TuneCore customers have their music and art not just in Amazon’s MP3 store, but on the regular shelves of Amazon’s CD store. Fans click to buy a CD, Amazon MANUFACTURES the disc on the spot, puts it in a jewel case, shrink wraps it, packs it, fulfills it, ships it anywhere in the world and funnels the cash back to TuneCore where, as usual, we pass it on 100%.
I’m trying to show that even in the world of CDs, TuneCore artists have a heck of an option. Thanks.
–Peter
peter@tunecore.com
Twitter: BlazingMinds
says:
Hi Peter, thanks for taking the time to post on my blog and for keeping us up to date with the latest TuneCore news.
My pleasure. If you or your readers have any questions about TuneCore or the industry in general, feel free to write me. The key to changing this business and making it fair for artists everywhere is EDUCATION, making sure people know how it works and how they can survive and thrive in it. Ignorance is the only true enemy, and those who would prey upon it.
Thanks again.
–Peter
peter@tunecore.com
Karen,
Thanks for the CD Baby mention! We’re glad that we’ve been a part of your musical pursuits. One advantage of CD Baby, is that in addition to providing download sales through the largest number of partner companies (No per store charge), we’re also a true retail store — and the largest independent music store online at that, with over 100,000 unique visitors a day. And we carry and sell physical CDs in addition to selling downloads, which is a big plus to artists, since CD sales still make up a significant chunk of music revenues today. Also, another big plus for selling downloads through CD Baby’s website, is that the artist can set the price themselves, which for some of our artists, has allowed them to make 2-3 times as much for an album download as they would through iTunes.
This Summer we’re launching a completely new CD Baby that is going to have so many new features, you’ll definitely want to be a part of it!
Twitter: BlazingMinds
says:
Hi Kevin, thank you for taking the time to post you views, decisions, decisions
i have a growing disappointment with Cd baby. This company has been good over the years but recently has really dropped the ball. I as well as other musicians i know signed to Cd baby are having issues getting e-mails answered which used to be answered immediately. I had to send an e-mail 3 times over the course of 2 weeks until it got answered and yes i had the right e-mail address. i have one i sent just 2 weeks ago which has not been answered and i have sent it twice already. it is concerning how to get some songs uploaded and registered because the functions that they have on their site which allow this are not functioning properly. we want to get this music posted NOW and are considering Tunecore due to these delays. We understand that there is a rehaul with the site but emails still need to be answered and functions on the site fixed so people can still sell their music.
I always wondered how the local groups were able to get their music on iTunes, Rhapsody, and the like – now I know. It really seems like a smart move in the digital age to use these types of services.
Do you ever envision a time when there is no need for a local “record store”?
Twitter: BlazingMinds
says:
Funny you mention local “record store” all the good ones we had locally have gone!
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Can anyone tell me about oasis manufacturing, is it worth all the money or should i go with tunecore or Cdbaby.
Twitter: BlazingMinds
says:
Oasis seems to be for manufacturing of your release only! CDBaby and TuneCore are for the actual distribution to online music stores etc.
These days, you don’t really need to go all out on CD pressing and printing as the majority of digital distribution sites are digital, allowing you to upload your works directly. Unless you are planning to sell physical CDs at shows etc, if not then you will only need a master disc to upload.
Getting Your Music Released – Tunecore Vs CD Baby…
Now no one can say that I don’t have wide range of posts on this blog, but the topic of music is something close to my heart, so I thought I would take the time out to write a post for fellow artists/bands with a little advice….
Hi Karen,
You should really check out http://routenote.com. No upfront fees at all and even FREE UPC and ISRC codes.
They are fast becoming one of the major players in this space.
Twitter: BlazingMinds
says:
Hi Steven, thanks for commenting, though you are really promoting your own site, but that’s ok, it’s giving artists another avenue to pursue, I’ll be stopping by ASAP to check out routenote.
Twitter: missus_emm
says:
I’ve been a CD Baby fan for years. As a customer, I really respect how they promote smaller bands. I love how I can input the name of a famous band and they come up with something similar for me.
I hadn’t heard of Tunescore before but I guess customers don’t really interact with them…
.-= Emm is hoping you stop by and read Book review: Ark Angel – Anthony Horowitz =-.
Ahhh… I’d heard of both of these but wasn’t sure how to start. While I’m not releasing anything soon, I have a friend who will be very interested in CDBaby – sounds perfect for what she needs.
.-= Wendy is hoping you stop by and read Where can you hire a function band like Chemistry? =-.
Twitter: BlazingMinds
says:
I have several releases under my Remergence title on CDBaby and they sell really well via iTunes etc. So it’s worth checking both Tunecore and CDBaby out
I have had a few problems with Tunecore over the years.
This is a comparison between them and Ditto Music who am looking into trying out for my next release
http://www.dittomusic.com/ditto-music-vs-tunecore/
CD Baby is awesome!! It’s all I ever use!! I swear by it!!
Blake recently posted..Immittercom – Tunen to Last Week
Twitter: cmygoodies
says:
There is something to say for the “set it and forget it” nature of CD Baby with no annual fees. A musician friend of mine recently logged into his CD Baby account after not having done so in quite some time (he perhaps took the “forget it” part of the equation to literally) to find $35 waiting for him – maybe not a huge amount but it is kinda like finding a handful of change in the couch cushion when you desperately need a few extra bucks to pay the pizza guy.
Chris recently posted..Samsung LED HDTV Now Comes with Free Room Cleaning
Twitter: BlazingMinds
says:
It is quite hard to make a bit on money from music these days, unless you have a massive label behind you, but every little bit made helps
Hi,
Thanks for bringing up the topic. Although this is from 2009, still relevant for many that will read this.
Just to add to the discussion-I’ve been a CDBaby Customer for a few years now and no complaints. When I saw the Tunecore ads I was interested as they offer other retail outlets that CDB does not.
Keep in mind… Tunecore claims that you get 100% of your royalties… yeah, sure, but that is only 70% of the total price per download (per the user agreement, in most cases, but someone please correct me if I’m wrong, that is what I read as of 8/2010) whereas you get 91% with CDB of whatever they sell it for. I mean, that’s 21 % less with TC right of the bat plus the annual fees which CDB does not have.
Anyhow, please read the fine print as it does add up to quite a bit of money for the various things that Tunecore offers VS minimal percentage charge by CDB across the board with no annual fees (sign-up fee notwithstanding). I hope someone takes the time to do an actual apples to apples comparison for the final cost to the average musician with 10 tracks.
So, I will probably still use Tunecore for access to the other outlets but I am well aware that their service will be costing me a lot more than CDB and will factor that into my profit calculations.
All the best to the musicians out there!
Lyn, the reason you get $0.70 when iTunes U.S. sells a song for $0.99 is that iTunes keeps $0.29. That’s their cut. That’s how iTunes makes their money. OF THE REMAINDER, TuneCore will always pay out 100%–that is, the full $0.70. If CD Baby is paying 91%, it means instead of getting $0.70, you’re getting only $0.637 cents.
Thanks!
–Peter
peter@tunecore.com
Twitter: schwarzblesson
says:
thanks for all info. has anyone heard of Zimbalam at all (because no one has mentioned them here but they claim a lot as TC and CDB)
Thanks