We're Done
Because it is. No more tweaking. No more adjusting. No more anything.
The album is off to the duplicator. The mastering is done, the final art rendered, the UPC registered. In a couple of weeks we'll have actual CD's, a listing on iTunes and Amazon, real, actual sales. I hope.
There's still stuff to do. But most of it is in the can, and we can sit back and take a breath.
Thanks to everyone for your support and comments. Have you "liked" us on Facebook, yet?
If you hope to benefit financially from CD sales (whether that's right or not is another issue) then I recommend reading this blogpost and following the link:
ReplyDeletehttp://youngglory.blogspot.com/2008/04/shocking-truth-behind-artists-royalties.html
And then cancel the distribution through iTunes and Amazon.
BTW Congrats and well done - it's been a huge uphill piece of work, but you haven't got fed up and walked away..
ReplyDeleteInteresting article, and thanks for looking out for us. However, the article fails to mention something. Those numbers are based on an artist signed with a label that iTunes/Amazon has an agreement with. Independent artists fair much better, as iTunes/Amazon sends the label's share to the artist as well.
ReplyDeleteNow, of course, an independent artist cannot get listed on iTunes without going through an aggregator or digital distributor. But they take much, much less of a chunk than a label does.
DPD's (digital sales) are incremental revenue. There is no additional cost to them, like there is with a physical disc. Our "costs" are the same, regardless of whether we sell 100 or 10,000. (Royalties aside, for the moment) And DPD's typically do not cannibalize physical sales. Typically, the more channels you can get your product into, the better off you are.
We're not in this for the money, anyway. Of course, we'd like to cover expenses. Any additional funds will not go to anyone in the band; rather to things like equipment for the worship ministry, and seed money for a future album.
Hi Mike,
ReplyDeleteI'm the writer of the post Toni was linking to.
You're quite right, one of the ways to avoid being ripped off by the record company is to own the company, which is what you're doing in a way.
The post was aimed more at consumers who believe that by buying from iTunes they are 'supporting' the artist, whereas they are supporting the companies that are ripping them off.
All the best with your CD.
BTW - I see a number of the tracks are cover versions. Have you licenced them? If not this CD Baby Podcast may help...