How should I go about publishing some music for digital distribution

January 11, 2014 7:33 AM

What's the best approach to digital music publishing? The only approach I have used thus far is CDBaby, but that requires physical product and UPS codes, right?

I would like to take a bit of a stab at the model suggested by the One Hundred Songs a Day. Is there a one-stop digital distribution place I can use?

posted by joecacti to Computers & Internet (7 answers total)

Bandcamp?
posted by holgate at 7:41 AM on January 11, 2014 [1 favorite]

Tunecore and The Orchard are the other major distributers similar to CDBaby. I don't know the requirements, but it's worth checking out. They distribute to iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, Rdio, etc.
posted by fishmasta at 9:12 AM on January 11, 2014

Seconding Bandcamp. It's so easy to use and so free of bullshit that there's a huge incentive to buy from any artist considerate enough to make stuff available on it.
posted by flabdablet at 10:01 AM on January 11, 2014

Response by poster: review of alternatives From fairly recently. I may stick with cdbaby despite the somewhat higher costs. They seem entrenched.
posted by joecacti at 12:17 PM on January 11, 2014

As a consumer, I buy stuff regularly from Bandcamp. I love it. CDBaby is not as streamlined, user-friendly etc. It's kinda annoying from the perspective of someone buying stuff, whereas bandcamp is really easy.
posted by smoke at 2:32 PM on January 11, 2014

Bandcamp.
posted by safetyfork at 6:56 PM on January 11, 2014

Best answer: To distribute through CDbaby you only need something like 3-4 copies of physical CDs. You do not need a real label or UPC codes. However there's nothing that says you can't use Bandcamp AND CD Baby. I'd use both if I were you.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 12:22 PM on January 12, 2014