Simple Audio Content Delivery/Store

May 16, 2010 9:28 PM

I'm looking for a small-scale audio e-commerce software with PayPal or other payment integration.

I record concerts for a youth orchestra. They do 5 concerts a year, and we've been having 50-75 CDs printed per concert for a momento and to help raise funds for the orchestra. Printed CDs are no longer cost effective, as fewer and fewer families are buying them. We're hoping to change over to a download-only option to cut costs and hopefully generate a little more revenue.

I'd like something that I can host and manage myself (rather than a service like CD Baby). I'm proficient enough with HTML/CSS/PHP to customize but not to write from scratch. I'd like something that either has PayPal integration or a variety of payment options. An integrated player is not really necessary, as we would most likely only offer the entire concert for sale, and the sales would be almost exclusively the families of the kids, so there's not really a marketing aspect.

I'm down with the current HTML5/anti-Flash trend as well, so no Flash is a plus.

Thanks!

posted by al_fresco to Computers & Internet (5 answers total)

Thanks b1tr0t. I'm hoping for something more self-contained than that, though, something that avoids third parties except for payment. I've worked with the WP e-Commerce plugin, for example, but I was hoping for something more audio-centric that I could upload to my server, setup myself and have all of the money go to the orchestra (rather than getting 'royalties').
posted by al_fresco at 11:22 PM on May 16, 2010

Though not self-hosted, it is possible to customise domains and designs using bandcamp and therefore integrate it into a self-hosted site as the shop (and it is geared to music). I think it does everything else you're asking for, and does it well. Sorry that it doesn't quite fit the brief.
posted by nthdegx at 2:48 AM on May 17, 2010

I'm using the WP e-Commerce plugin to set up a clothing store, but noticed they have a download option for purchases. You could link the purchase to a zip file and go from there?
posted by CharlesV42 at 4:20 AM on May 17, 2010

For something this small scale, just have a paypal button and then link to the download. I doubt that someone in a group of 50 parents is going to be all "yo dawgz, here's the link so you can steal the music for free!". If they were so inclined, they'd just burn a copy.

Trying to set up a "secure" pay-then-download system is WAAAAY more trouble than this project is worth. A simple "donate here to defray production costs for your kid's concert CD" paypal link that dumps them back onto the download page at your site will be all you need.
posted by Aquaman at 7:59 AM on May 17, 2010

PS Make sure to word the paypal info so it's clear you will happily accept donations of greater than the suggested amount and that all proceeds above the cost of audio production go back to the orchestra and I bet you will see good results.
posted by Aquaman at 9:49 AM on May 17, 2010