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[L56]Largest Independent Music Community

by Synthetic Rhyme, Syn

Say your band has already recorded your album. The mix is right, the songs are in top shape, and the entire band is happy with the results. Your worries are not over yet! Recording an album is your most important step, but it isn't your last. If you are planning on selling your CD as merchandise, you'll need to follow all the steps necessary to get your CDs ready to be sold, or as they say in the music industry, “retail ready.” The following article will help you gain a basic understanding of your options as you prepare your CDs for commercial sale.

Mastering your CD

It is absolutely essential to master your music well; this is what separates a home recording from a commercial recording that lands you record deals. Nevertheless, software is becoming cheaper and better, so mastering your project is easier than ever.

Be wary of mastering businesses that charge as little as $20 dollars per song. You might not get what you bargained for unless the mastering business offers references, honest quotes, and a realistic equipment list.

Mastering on your own is another option. Get a software compressor that will give you a professional result without having to tangle with complicated settings. Make your music sound polished and commercial. This is also an essential tip for when you submit your CD to record labels and executives.

Duplicating or Replicating?

First off, the advantage of duplication is that it's less expensive to do in a short run. It uses CD-R discs very similar to the ones used in home computers. However, be mindful that the printing quality is never as good as the silk-screened artwork of replicated CDs. Duplication costs two to four dollars per disc. This includes the jewel case, shrink wrap, bar code, and printing. However, you must pay more than the wholesale price if your CD count is less than 1,000.

Replication, on the other hand, is for larger orders of one thousand CDs or more. Although this process is more expensive than duplication, it involves the actual manufacture of the discs with material pre-recorded onto these discs. Thus, the cost of replication is not practical on a smaller scale.

Distribution.

As soon as your copies are made through duplication or replication, it's time to start selling your CDs. You can do this in several ways. You can go the more traditional route and find a distributor, which is a company that sells your CD in exchange for a fee. The other route people are taking is online music distribution. This is where you find music hosting sites through which you can promote and sell your music. If you are going this route, keep in mind that every site is very different. Be sure to do your research about yearly fees, CD sale profit cuts, pay-for-play, or pay-for-d

If you are an independent musician, then I know that coming up with great music promotion ideas is one of your main goals. Gone are the days where musicians and artists have to rely solely on record deals to make the big bucks. With the rise of online music promotion on the Internet, the possibilities are literally limitless.

One of the most effective ways to market yourself and your music is through a website. But, the trick is driving traffic to that site. Fortunately, through the use of search engine optimization, this is not an impossible music promotion idea. Using keywords and title tags throughout your site will definitely help you achieve these results. Get your link out there. Post it on your MySpace page, your friend's pages and exchange with other bands.

Another way to achieve this is by placing your music for sale on sites that cater to independent artists trying to maximize their online music promotion exposure. These sites list your CDs for sale and end up giving you a pretty fat chunk of the profits. This is a relatively new music promotion idea but quite a few artists are reaping the benefits. Remember, this is in addition to offering your music for sale on your site.

When making your CDs, include a barcode on the package. This way, you can offer local music stores the opportunity to sell your album. Local music stores tend to be particularly favorable to Indie musicians from their area. Independent music promotion doesn't have to be difficult, you just need creativity and the drive to succeed.

You should also look into getting a MySpace page. MySpace music is a powerful tool for unsigned artists and independent music promotion. You gain maximum exposure and it will cost you absolutely nothing at all. You can't beat that!

Include your web address on every piece of material that goes out. This will ensure people get the word about your site. Your website will be your connection to the world around you. Keep it current and up to date, no matter what. Keep it interesting and constantly changing. No one wants to constantly visit a monotonous site.

Independent music promotion has been proven a successful path for artists to take. If your ultimate goal is to get signed then will hard work and dedication it will happen. Implement the above techniques into your online music promotion routine and you will be on the track to raking in profits and hopefully fame and fortune! Keep in mind that you are always learning. Don't be afraid to seek help for problem areas but most importantly, stay positive!

Article Source : Pg. 80

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Both Synthetic Rhyme & Ty Cohen are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Synthetic Rhyme has sinced written about articles on various topics from Entertainment Guide, Keyboard Synthesizer. . Synthetic Rhyme's top article generates over 720 views. to your Favourites.

Ty Cohen has sinced written about articles on various topics from Keyboard Synthesizer, Mens Health and Marriage. Former owner of an independent label, owner of Platinum Millennium Pub. & music industry seminar speaker/panelist. Also the author & creator of 40 + best-selling "How to" resources, that have helped 1000s find their way in the music biz. Visit. Ty Cohen's top article generates over 33100 views. to your Favourites.