U
ujamaa7
New member
what is a distribution deal and how do you get it?
M
MGS
Member
ujamaaa,
That sounds like a Finnish name like mine. How did you make out with your 4-track search?
Suomalainen
That sounds like a Finnish name like mine. How did you make out with your 4-track search?
Suomalainen
D
David Hooper
New member
ujamaa7 said:
In short, you have to have something where the cost of distribution is less than the money that selling the product will bring in.
Do you have a National fanbase? If not, I'd suggest just going with consignment and online shops.
dave @ kathode ray
http://www.indiebiz.com/
C
Chuckschwandt
New member
Distribution with duplication deals
Your best bet is to go to a duplication
house that provides the distribution &
radio with the purchase of CDs / cassettes.
Diskmakers & oasis are the two biggies
doing it for the indies. Their markets
reach through even to the camalot chain,
and other retail outlets. Consignment works,
but it will happen mostly local for you and
requires alot of foot work and followup on
your part. If you can afford it, use the
big duplicators and let them move your product.
You must have some good stuff however, they can't
move a polished do do - ha.
Chuck
Your best bet is to go to a duplication
house that provides the distribution &
radio with the purchase of CDs / cassettes.
Diskmakers & oasis are the two biggies
doing it for the indies. Their markets
reach through even to the camalot chain,
and other retail outlets. Consignment works,
but it will happen mostly local for you and
requires alot of foot work and followup on
your part. If you can afford it, use the
big duplicators and let them move your product.
You must have some good stuff however, they can't
move a polished do do - ha.
Chuck
R
Rev E
New member
Distribution means nothing if there is no Demand for your product! In the grand scheme, marketing and promotion are the biggest challenges in breaking your music with the public. On my first CD, I just basically put it out there. I did the footwork and got a few places to take the CD on consignment. They gladly accepted.
The lesson: Distributing product is just footwork and that your product will just sit if the public doesn't constantly know that it's available. Creating awareness is a much harder job than asking a few merchants to take your product. It's a pipe dream to think that orders are going to just flow in, just because your CD is listed with the large chains. PLUS, even IF your product did get orders, could you REALLY afford to deliever thousands of orders of product , when money will not come back to you for 6 months? And that's only IF the CD sold!
Either way, you'll still have the same questions to deal with... How do I get the attention of a lot of people to WANT my product? Because, once this question is answered, the topic of distribution is a moot issue. The game is still all about marketing and promotion ($$ and time). Don't bite off more than you can chew! FOCUS on a particular area (local, the Web, regional). Do local shows, radio, the Web, print, local TV, cable access, other media (cheap and free promotion). THEN, when you've been successfull there, you can gradually expand your base.
Working the local/regional/Internet scene will allow you to truly identify your fans, test out strategies and get your act together (cheaply) before attempting a bigger crowd. Hopefully, you will have sold product and gotten PAID quickly (live shows-instantly, consignment - biweekly). You'll need more MONEY in-hand for a bigger campaign to reach a wider audience. My suggestion is to BUILD SLOWLY, being diligent to EARN a PROFIT every step of the way. "He that shows himself faithful with few, will be given much".
Even in this day of microwave success, the concept of "paying your dues" is still alive and well!
Rev E
The lesson: Distributing product is just footwork and that your product will just sit if the public doesn't constantly know that it's available. Creating awareness is a much harder job than asking a few merchants to take your product. It's a pipe dream to think that orders are going to just flow in, just because your CD is listed with the large chains. PLUS, even IF your product did get orders, could you REALLY afford to deliever thousands of orders of product , when money will not come back to you for 6 months? And that's only IF the CD sold!
Either way, you'll still have the same questions to deal with... How do I get the attention of a lot of people to WANT my product? Because, once this question is answered, the topic of distribution is a moot issue. The game is still all about marketing and promotion ($$ and time). Don't bite off more than you can chew! FOCUS on a particular area (local, the Web, regional). Do local shows, radio, the Web, print, local TV, cable access, other media (cheap and free promotion). THEN, when you've been successfull there, you can gradually expand your base.
Working the local/regional/Internet scene will allow you to truly identify your fans, test out strategies and get your act together (cheaply) before attempting a bigger crowd. Hopefully, you will have sold product and gotten PAID quickly (live shows-instantly, consignment - biweekly). You'll need more MONEY in-hand for a bigger campaign to reach a wider audience. My suggestion is to BUILD SLOWLY, being diligent to EARN a PROFIT every step of the way. "He that shows himself faithful with few, will be given much".
Even in this day of microwave success, the concept of "paying your dues" is still alive and well!
Rev E
dobro
Well-known member
Good, good post
I've read articles in magazines that have tried, but failed, to say what you just said as clearly, succinctly and usefully! Rev E, if you don't come out on top in this racket, it won't be because you didn't understand what was required.
I've read articles in magazines that have tried, but failed, to say what you just said as clearly, succinctly and usefully! Rev E, if you don't come out on top in this racket, it won't be because you didn't understand what was required.
Buck62
噛んでくれ
Ujamaa....
This is just to reiterate what Rev E had to say.
My partner and I chose Oasis to manufacture our cd because of the total package that was offered, including a full years' membership to "The Orchard" (a well-known distributor), sales at established e-stores, and the chance that we could end up on one of thier "sampler" cd's that would get national distribution to radio stations, record labels, and all the right people.
Well, as luck would have it, we were offered the chance to appear on thier sampler cd... ours was one of a few hand-picked songs out of thousands that were considered.
Read my post "Just When We Expected Nothing To Happen", and you'll see how dilligence can start to pay off if you really, really want to succeed.
Rev E is right on the mark. You have to create a demand by convincing people that you have something they want. Use every available means of promotion that you can to do this.
Also, good cover-art and a cool website are a "must"!!
First impressions are very important when your cd is sitting in a bin with 5,000 other discs.
This is just to reiterate what Rev E had to say.
My partner and I chose Oasis to manufacture our cd because of the total package that was offered, including a full years' membership to "The Orchard" (a well-known distributor), sales at established e-stores, and the chance that we could end up on one of thier "sampler" cd's that would get national distribution to radio stations, record labels, and all the right people.
Well, as luck would have it, we were offered the chance to appear on thier sampler cd... ours was one of a few hand-picked songs out of thousands that were considered.
Read my post "Just When We Expected Nothing To Happen", and you'll see how dilligence can start to pay off if you really, really want to succeed.
Rev E is right on the mark. You have to create a demand by convincing people that you have something they want. Use every available means of promotion that you can to do this.
Also, good cover-art and a cool website are a "must"!!
First impressions are very important when your cd is sitting in a bin with 5,000 other discs.