[Dixielandjazz] MP3s or Digital Releases

[Steve Barbone]

You can also make a deal with CD Baby whereby they become the digital
distributor of your songs:

Their Deal (from their web site)
start snip - - -

*    Think of it like traditional physical distribution:
*    You are the label. (You own the music and all rights.)
*    The retail store is now Apple iTunes, Rhapsody, Yahoo, ringtone
     companies, etc.
*    CD Baby is just the distributor that gets your music to the retailer.
*    They pay us. We pay you.
*    We do not take any rights to your music. This is not a record deal.
*    You are just "lending" us the right to be your digital distributor, for
     the albums you tell us distribute, for as long as you want.
*    You can cancel at any time. We will never tie up your rights or make it
     hard for you to leave.

end snip - - -

Naturally you need to own the copyright, or the song must be public domain,
or you must determine who owns the copyright and send them a letter that you
intend to digitally distribute "their" song. They can't stop you, however
you must keep accurate records and pay them a royalty every time the song is
downloaded.

CD Baby keeps 9 cents per download, the royalty would probably be 8 cents,
so you net 82 cents per download.

CAVEAT, when selling downloads you are very visible to ASCAP, BMI, etc.
Especially when you go electronic with ITunes, Yahoo, etc. So do it right.

And if you don't put your songs there, and/or have a fairly well known band,
you aren't going to sell many downloads.

Like ask Stomp Off Records how many MP3s they've sold since they've started
offering them. They switch to MP3 when they've sold out, rather than
re-press. Check their catalog to see what they now offer via MP3.

http://www.jazzbymail.com/Label.aspx?iPID=1012&sPN=Stomp+Off+Records

Cheers,
Steve Barbone