Selling your new album without getting involved in Streaming

[debra1rlo]

My thinking now is that I will introduce my album in stages, and extremely slowly. I will start marketing the CD. Months later, I may try selling thru downloads on my own web site, and the new download sites that pop up. I don't see ITunes giving musicians the choice to opt out of streaming in June. Right now computer geeks run the music business. I'd rather sell 100 CD albums and get paid, rather than 20,000 streaming hits and get $50 bucks. That's just stupid to me. As for Tidal, I can't be a part owner and get equity in the experiment like the start artists, so I am not interested in that at all. Right now the music industry is kind of in the toilet. I will stick to my guns. I will not be played by the industry hucksters and fast buck artists. I own all my copyrights and am in the driver's seat. Ultimately, if very talented musicians across the world introduce their music only through normal selling channels, customers will be forced to compenstate them fairly for their work. It's up to each musician. For me, streaming is DOA: worthless.

What I'm wondering is, are all your songs about your obsession with music streaming, just like all your posts on KVR?

ooh i enjoy a good concept album

Operation Streamcrime

"Ahhhh-ahhhhh
Your insane paranoid ramblings
Ahhhh-ahhhhh
tin foil hat brain is scrambling
Ahhhh-ahhhhh
I will protect you from spotify
Ahhhh-ahhhhh
streaming your new tunes, in silent idiocity"

[She Changed Her Mind]

One of my favorites, this bear almost was worth $30,000:

[experimental.crow]

yada yada

4. There are numerous software programs for designing a website for selling MP3 downloads. And they are for automatic sales. See this link:
http://www.vandelaydesign.com/selling-digital-products/

yada yada

could be a problem , right there ...

http://seinfeld.wikia.com/wiki/Vandelay_Industries

[fedexnman]

The ultimate streaming horror story: P. Williams got 43 million plays for his song "Happy" and received a check for $2700

No the ultimate horror story is having to listen to that song pretty much anywhere in public at least once an hour since it came out.

exactly ...

[She Changed Her Mind]

'..just as Taylor swift and all those who have walked away from streaming.'

That's a lie. Taylor Swift went to Tidal. As did Jay Z. Because he *owns* that company.

[bailees7irish]

I'm kind of sad about the streaming taking away from peoples profits but ...... at the same time music has to be put out somehow some way . If I ever put out an EP or Album which I'd like to do , Id go all out and use Bandcamp, Youtube , SoundCloud , and use Distrokid to get it up on all the MP3 stores and streaming sites . Free or Not free you have to make it available in as many possible ways even if people get it free . You have to make fans and friends to make it a business IMHO .

Well said and 100% agreed!

[bailees7irish]

I'd also think that even if you don't get too much the fact that many people enjoy your music should at least mean something...

Well said, love. This is the truest statement up here. What happened to people making music to speak to someone's heart or soul or funny bone? Everyone seems to be all about the f***ing paycheck in 2015 and that's just sad. "Aww, your song was played 50 billion times and you only made $400? Get the f*** over it. At least people liked your song." That should be enough. (And to anyone who brings up "What if it's your full-time job?": perhaps you need a new day job.

[Aleatoriac]

"Ahhhh-ahhhhh
in silent idiocity"

My brothers and I used to parody almost everything... OK everything we heard, Weird Al style.

I don't remember all the twisted lyrics we had for that song, but I clearly remember the phrase "violent stupidity" being involved.

Which... reminds me I think I have a recording of my horrible teenage vocal cover of Master of Puppets... ("Masturbator is pulling his thing... shootin his jizz on everything..." and so on). Horrible sounding nasally screaching into a cheap cassette deck... Ah those were the days.

[metamorphosis]

Well said, love. This is the truest statement up here. What happened to people making music to speak to someone's heart or soul or funny bone? Everyone seems to be all about the f***ing paycheck in 2015 and that's just sad. "Aww, your song was played 50 billion times and you only made $400? Get the f*** over it. At least people liked your song." That should be enough. (And to anyone who brings up "What if it's your full-time job?": perhaps you need a new day job.

I don't think that's useful dialogue to be having or sharing. Bye.

[RunBeerRun]

Both sides are relevant, if an artist stands up, they'll boycott him. Work harder on your craft-slowing down is bad for your mental health.

[chaosWyrM]

My obsession is not to be used by industry twits and fast buck artists. My obsession is to place a value on art, not to give it away foolishly to millionares who want to use it to put big bicks in their pocket.

hmmm....thats not the first time youve said something like that.

i hope you find much success however you decide to do things. i will say though that it seems like you have a basic misunderstanding/misconception on how the entertainment (art) industry works on a fundamental level.

firstly, YOU dont get to place a value on your own art. im sorry to say but thats simply not how it works. art has no intrinsic value...its sole source of worth comes from the people who experience it. they will ultimately decide its monetary value.

secondly, there are no (or at least almost no) financially successful artists who became successful all on their own. that is also not how the entertainment industry works. you (me...everyone) are not a unique snowflake...no matter how good you are...there are PLENTY of other artists who can and do do what you do. artists are a dime a dozen...which is why no one makes it on their own.

have you ever heard the term "starving banker"? no? why do you think that is? creating art is easy. creating good art is only slightly more difficult. creating great art...well thats a tad trickier still, but easier than say, performing surgery on a living brain.

the point is that there is no obstruction to entry in the "art" world. creating art is easy, anyone can do it...and just about everyone on earth has at some point done it. its ubiquitous to the human experience.

i have and do give my music away for free. of course ive added an option where people *can* pay me should they wish. i can and do give paintings away for free (i could sell those...probably...my paintings have been in galleries, but who has the time to put into that?). i have (no longer due to time constraints) performed in plays and films for free, and ive also been paid handsomely for the same. i have experienced both sides of the coin.

i decided to give my art away freely because the reward for me comes in the form of human connection. it comes in the form of knowing ive enhanced a persons "soul" for a time. it comes in the form that ive provided an experience that has enriched a life in some small way.

if someone wants to give me money for that...i will (and have/do) take it with appreciation, but thats NOT why im doing it.

giving my art away for free isnt foolish if it accomplishes the goal im trying to achieve.

unless you can adopt that mindset...im afraid you wont obtain the success youre after using the methods you want.

its kind of a "one or the other" situation. do things on your own exactly how you want OR play along with the rules of the game.

both paths can lead to success...depending on your definition of success.


:side note:

people are going to get your music for free anyway...you might as well be the one determining (for the most part) how and where that occurs. better for you if they get it for free from you than a torrent site...just sayin'

[She Changed Her Mind]

'the point is that there is no obstruction to entry in the "art" world. creating art is easy, anyone can do it...and just about everyone on earth has at some point done it. its ubiquitous to the human experience.'
Nonsense. Besides, your whole argument comes down to: "oh someone stole my car, let's walk...because someone will steal it anyhow!"
Theft is just theft; whatever you state. The only difference as it comes to stealing is that a car is somewhat harder to steal than software. Well.. in most cases.

[vurt]

im not sure what that has to do with anything in this thread?

[ghettosynth]

well that was irritating!

Which one was porky spice again?

[Shabdahbriah]

well that was irritating!

I concur. Looks like it was shot ["directed"] by someone attempting to up-scale their career from 'Toys-R-Us' holiday commercials.

painful.