Digital Distributing Your Songs With iTunes

Many songwriters ask me how they can distribute their material online after completing their productions.  Distributing your materials online is a very easy way to broaden your listening audience and make your music accessible for purchase throughout the world.  What would we do without the internet?

What Is Digital Distribution?

Digital distribution, when it applies to music, is selling your content online in digital mp3 format.  Instead of purchasing a physical copy of a cd in an old school record store, consumers are now able to purchase recordings online.   This is a sad reality for record stores, but at the same time makes distributing independent music much more accessible!  Currently, the world’s largest digital music company is iTunes.  Ever heard of it?  I thought so.  iTunes has changed the music industry with their model of providing digital music for sale across the globe through their online sales.

How Do I Get My Recordings On iTunes?

Believe it or not, digitally distributing your materials for sale online through iTunes is easy!  Any independent songwriter can post their music for sale online if they take the proper steps.  Just another reason why independent musicians have much more advantage than 20 years ago when the need for label support was more necessary in making your recordings accessible to the public.

Which Companies Offer Digital Distribution?

These sights can help you get your materials live on iTunes:

1.  TuneCore
2.  ReverbNation
3.  CDBaby

All you have to have is a finished master of your materials and you’re ready to get your songs for sale on iTunes (but first make sure you go through the proper steps of determining if it’s ready for release).

Typically, an iTunes single song purchase is .99 cents up to $1.29 per song and the artist receives a designated percentage of the sale of each single song sold.  For every single sold on a .99 cents purchase the artist receives .70 cents.  Managing your iTunes purchases through these online distributors is easy and a great way to get your music sold.  I have personally used Tunecore myself in releasing my materials and find the layout very convenient and user friendly.  They keep track of my sales and have an accounting breakdown of sales per month.  As the artist, I can request to have the royaltees from my sales sent in a check whenever I’m ready, or can choose to have the money transferred to a future project.

Are My Songs Ready For Release?

Get a producer or trusted musical ear to take a listen to your recordings to help you determine if all of the steps have been taken to assure your song is ready for release.  Remember that once your song goes live, you cannot take it back.  Re-releasing materials after they’ve already gone up for sale is not professional.  If you’re happy with where your song is at, I would recommend emailing your final mp3 of your product to a producer at Studio Pros (info@studiopros.com) and they will give you some feedback on what can be improved and help you make the correct steps to get it released.

Improve Your Recordings…

Common improvements that can be made on home recordings are: get your programmed drum tracks recorded by a live drummer, putting some polishing touches on your vocals with  vocal tuning where needed and a professional mix/master by an experienced engineer to get the final polishing.  If you are hesitant of the overall quality of your production, Studio Pros can help you get a professional broadcast quality production complete and radio ready within weeks.

If you’re ready to take the final steps at making your materials live, you can do it today!  Contact a producer at Studio Pros: 1-310-928-7776 or email us at: info@studiopros.com and we can help you put the finishing touches on your recordings.  You can get your recordings distributed in no time!  Give us a call.

Posted on: May 19th, 2010