How realistic is successful, independant online music distribution?
Question by KurtR: How realistic is successful, independant online music distribution?
I am a musician, composer, and performer. All the time I hear artists talk about how badly they want to be signed to a major label, to “make it” – that invisible, ever-changing status where you’re financially secure, famous to many, and living the life of Riley.
I also hear a great deal from the other side of the fence – the side that says no money can be made for the artist with a major label, and that they will screw you out of every penny possible to profit and perpetuate themselves. These people say that the burgeoning online music community is the new horizon for the musician/artist. And it’s the way of the future…the way to actually make a nice profit from ones recordings without the stereotypical burdens and mafioso business the record industry is known for.
My question is this – is online sales and distribution feasible and realistic? What is the likelihood of an independent musician selling his music over the Internet and generating profit while doing so?
The greatest problem I’ve seen is one of distribution. The record industry, if they wish, can have your CD in every store from New York to London. But if lowly-old-average-rocker, who recorded his album with his savings at a studio, tries to sell it online…how can he get anyone to pay attention?
Any advice whatsoever would be appreciated. Thanks for reading!
Best answer:
Answer by hairhorn
the “major label” route is even more of a sucker’s bet than it used to be: CD sales are not doing well.
The easiest route is probably through semi-independent distribution: get hooked up with a distributor that’s hooked up with iTunes.
But, as with any distribution method, the way to sell music is to get out and promote it. Play, play, play, tour, tour, tour. Increasingly that’s also the way to make money, rather than music sales.
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