Do you sell your own royalty free music online?

[4thstreet]

Hi,

If you do sell your own music I have a question (or maybe a few).

My son creates music using a computerized keyboard instrument type of thing. He was thinking of selling his creations ( I guess his music is called music samples) online for other musicians to use.

He was thinking of using SnowCap since it appears to be inexpensive (he has no job and no money) and is very simple to use.

Have you used SnowCap or would you suggest another way of handling a way to start this?

He would, if his music had any good demand levels get a site created and possibly use another system for this but right now he is just thinking of selling on MySpace and wants something cheap and easy.

Thank you!

[LilBlackDress]

Hi 4thStreet,

Hardly anyone makes money with SnoCap. They take a very high percentage. They make it hard for buyers with the way they require sign up, etc. CD BABY had a joint venture with them and didn't make any money!
I know of very few artists still using SnoCap. And I do not know of any artists having success with it. Snocap is NOT cheap and easy.

Look into Broadjam and Reverbnation. Broadjam has a free "Mini Mob" membership and you can sell songs. They take very little of the earnings. I believe Snocap was taking a full 40cents. We got rid of SnoCap a long time ago (as did many other artists) so not sure what they charge now.

However, keep in mind that Myspace is not the best place to sell music. People expect free music and find ways to get it for free. So don't feel bad if you dont sell much.

My daughter is a singer and though she does sell downloads we tend to give them away to gain other things such as getting exposure on major websites etc.

[atwellpub]

Maybe you could sell them directly to song writers. Make a mailing list and spam them asking if this is an announcement service you would be interested, give samples.

If they see potential to turn a profit they might be good buyers?

[4thstreet]

Thank you for your suggestions and I have passed along the information.

I didn't think that Myspace would be good for selling things so I'll suggest to them that he should put freebies there so that people get to know his style of music and how it's used.

Again - thank you!

[Colin Palfrey]

Hi as well as the whole net thing I'm a singer/guitarist and my band sell their music through Soundclick.

It's free to join and if you use the social networking side of it can be very good.

Not a huge amount of sales but I'm in the top ten there for blues. SoundClick artist: BlueRays - Blue Rays are a five piece Cork band, playing an emotive blend of Rock and Blues with just a taste o Tell him to check it out and make an account.

You also get free widgets to put on other social sites. I have them on myspace, Reverbnation and loads of other places.

[Mark Riddle]

Yes I've been selling music online for about 5 years, nothing huge more of a fun thing to do.

Basically I already had DL Guard so I used it to create my download links and promoted to radio stations and production houses who I knew were wanting 30 60 and full length tracks.

I also am involve in an internet radio station KC Cafe Radio and many of our artist are self produced and they use myspace etc as thier first step into marketing.

CD baby is a reasonable place to start but I can tell you first hand that the volume going through CD baby is dropping significantly.

Many band are simply putting a paypal button on their blog and selling their music that way.

Mark Riddle

[pstacks]

Def start with MySpace - their initial focus was purely music and it's one of the best tools around for up and coming musicians. Networking is key, the more people that hear his music and samples the more likely he is to find someone that is interested. Just start friending tons of people in the same genre.

I haven't used TuneCore - but it's worth checking out.

[4thstreet]

More great information - thank you so much!