Distribution

[rob]

Thinking aloud. Bear with me.

Restarting my label, very softly. Was dealing with a few reputable distributors in the past, but I'm curious if the means for physical distribution is still a dire necessity to reach an intended audience? It seems many labels now offer with the purchase of a physical copy of a record, a high quality digital copy as a pacification device while your purchase is being shipped.

I realize some labels just don't want to deal/don't have the resources/time to deal with direct purchasing, but it seems as if the number of distributors shrink...their reluctance to take on new labels grows, to say nothing of logistics/potential struggles getting paid.

Curious to hear others experiences/commentary.

[runningonair]

If I was selling LPs I'd definitely offer a digital copy to go with it, simply because it's a pain to rip an LP and do all the MP3 tags etc,  I think that's less of an issue with CDs assuming the info has been uploaded to the appropriate database.  If you're asking is there still a demand for physical copies, then yes.  The long standing interest in Vinyl, the resurgence of cassette and CDs, as they become a similarly niche product.  There will always be people who prefer a physical copy even if they spend most of their time listening to mp3s.

The question of distribution is a little more tricky, when you're dealing with small quantities, anything generated from sales tends to be swallowed up by postage and the distributors cut not to mention Paypal if that's how you get paid.  But that doesn't really matter as at least the work is getting out there and I tend to think of that as a long term investment.

With most of the distributors I use I haven't asked them for payment yet so can't make any comment.  I'll be knocking on the door just before Christmas.

[taylordeupree]

a new small label getting distribution these days is very difficult.. at least with the long-established distributors... your best bet is to make killer releases and try to convince some of the smaller, newer niche distributors/shops (experimedia and fluid radio come to mind) to carry your product.

however, don't be put off if they refuse... there's just too much music out there these days!

also... good luck getting paid from many distributors... sometimes takes well over a year... not good for the cash flow....

[jeremybible]

however, don't be put off if they refuse... there's just too much music out there these days!

Indeed.  An overwhelming amount.  Looking at around 100 solicitations a day lately.  As a music lover first and foremost you want to support everyone you can... but after a while its just not feasible.... no way I can vet all that and get my necessary daily tasks completed.  Its difficult to know where to begin. Information overload.  All consuming.  Persistence doesn't hurt.  Being organized with how you present your info and promos is important.

[Le Berger]

however, don't be put off if they refuse... there's just too much music out there these days!

Looking at around 100 solicitations a day lately. 

 

Is that demos for the label portion or people looking for mail-order distro? Or combined I guess...

Anyway, that's still incredibly overwhelming, and I imagine quite a drag at that.
I promise to only ever send dynamite stuff your way, though I'm probably just another deluded artist out there thinking exactly that... PART OF THE PROBLEM, MAAAAN.

That bit about major distros delaying payment endlessly (when they do pay) seems like a pretty good tactic to undermine smaller labels pitted against the majors, it stinks to high heaven and i really hope a worthwhile alternative shows up soon enough, especially that CD sales are on such a landslide decline that majors really don't sell that many more articles per artist than medium sized indies. I mean, can't we have our fair share of the cake while it's still edible?

Ok, I'm dreaming out loud here, but it pains me to see the folks who actually promote artistry and creativity struggle while the temple's merchants have their cake and eat it too. (What's with me and cake tonight?)

[jeremybible]

Is that demos for the label portion or people looking for mail-order distro? Or combined I guess...

Anyway, that's still incredibly overwhelming, and I imagine quite a drag at that.

Combined.  Ehh I wouldnt call it a drag.  Im not complaining.  This is what I signed up for.  Its part of the 'job'.  Just like people to understand the challenges involved and why they may not get a reply.  I see people chastising BK and FE all the time for never sending a reply to their solicitations... and now im finding myself in the same boat.  Its just too much to reply to.  But I also dont want to discourage anyone from sending info.  As I dont too often find time to read review sites besides a few exceptions... my inbox is my link to the world.  

*My advice that may help is keep your info organized and straight to the point...... get it all taken care of in one email.  Reduce inbox clutter.   But also keep it brief.  5 paragraph descriptions aren't necessary.  Simply the brief and important info and link to a download promo with album art.

This is what every solicitation email to a shop or distributor should contain....

Artist, Title, Label, Catalog Number, Country of Origin, Wholesale Cost, Edition, Format, Release Date, Brief Description, Link to Download Full album mp3 Promo (zipped and appropriately titled and tagged), Album Art Jpg

For the label's solicitations and promo Ive had allot of success by presenting the info in a complete and organized manner and have received a number of comments how much it is appreciated. I create simple private password protected pages for each release that contain all the info and resources press and shops might need.  This includes the info above plus a few other simple bells and whistles.

Of course there is no sure fire formula for getting your label attention.  But being organized and professional can help.  DIY doesn't have to equal unprofessional.

[Le Berger]

Then thanks for taking some of that precious time to enlighten us.

[Orphax]

I need to learn how to make password protected websites, so much better than my regular "click on this link to download promo" which can be found by everyone who is just slightly more geek than me (which are quite a lot of those people out there).

[Le Berger]

Nowadays, with CMS platforms, making a password protected page is just that easy.

I'm definitely not a geek, in the computer sense of the term anyway...

Just e-mail me about it Sietse, we'll figure it out.

[Orphax]

Will do so in the weekend or so.

[jeremybible]

You dont need a cms.  You can do this with any web server.
Here are a couple links explaining how to do that easily....

http://www.elated.com/articles/password-protecting-your-pages-with-htaccess/
http://www.javascriptkit.com/howto/htaccess3.shtml

Really any decent web host (dreamhost is the best) should allow you to set that up right in your control panel.

[Le Berger]

^^geek 

[jeremybible]

^^^yep that's what the tattoo on my right arm says.. while my right leg bears a psychic tv cross... #sillythingsididwheniwassixteen

[Orphax]

uhm, yeah what Samual already said.
Though, thanks for the links. Will look into it.