Is anyone selling any downloads these days ?

[beachbum]

I know most people don't value music they way they used to (and feel it should be free) - I have a LOT of songs I get real good feedback on and feel they would sell for a buck or two if put in front of the right ears - but where is that place ?

Yes..i've thrown a tune or two on Itunes and all the affiliates you get through that but without a lot of promotion you can't even get people to give it a listen..

anyone having any success selling d'loads and if so where ?

you can pm me if you'd rather not tell the world...

thanks..bum

[matto]

Yes..i've thrown a tune or two on Itunes and all the affiliates you get through that but without a lot of promotion you can't even get people to give it a listen..

I think you've just answered your own question...

There's no magic place where you can put your songs and people will buy it.
The people who sell downloads (and there are plenty of these people, ranging all the way from megastars to independent 'niche market' artists) are the ones working to generate sales via promotion. And everybody is largely using the same tools...Facebook, Twitter, YouTube...that sort of thing.
So I think the question you'd really want to ask is, 'how do I promote my music (online) to generate download sales?'

matto

[beachbum]

You're right Matto..I'm just not a self promoter,not the guy who grabs the guitar at a party - most people don't even know I play an instrument or write...it just feels wrong talking myself up..it's not laziness as i'm constantly writing/recording & pitching my music (and making $) - in 2012 i'm trying to create enough music revenue streams to be able to go without a part time job - the download thing is a real possibility (I know it won't be much but it's SOMETHING) and I should be all over it but FB for me is really just a way to keep in touch w/friends & family - I have a FB artists page but w/out enough fans you can't even host music there - I don't play out as it seems pointless living on the beach (cue Margaritaville) and writing & recording is my thing..I'm almost 50 and it's against my nature to banging my chest saying "look at me" - I dunno I guess i'm just thinking out loud - thanks for the reply...bum
http://www.myspace.com/liteboxtherapy

[mazz]

The most successful musical artists seem to be the ones that can somehow generate "buzz" around them. With so much music available to the public now, an artist has to do something that sets them apart, and it's usually something above and beyond the music. It just seems like it's not enough to have great music anymore (was it ever really?), now more than ever it's about making oneself stand out from the crowd.

The temperament of a composer usually seems to favor the isolation and solitude of creating and once some connections are made, possibly online without ever meeting the client, it's easy enough to just upload tracks to the clients without ever having to meet them face to face. So I understand that self promotion goes against that grain. If one is not willing to do the promotion thing, then one will most likely be doing the solitary composer thing and probably not selling that many downloads.

Cheers,

Mazz

[ragani]

There are many ways you can start to get a little "buzz" going about your music, even if you don't play live. We do sell a good deal on downloads, especially on iTunes, so it's good to have your stuff there. CDBaby also has marketing tips you can read about, including doing cover songs of well known artsts (and they have info there about licensing your covers to sell too), so that when people search for a particular song, they find yours. Key is picking a song that is not covered by millions of people, so you can stand out a little (i.e. one artist group was featured for doing this and having top sales after covering "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" or whatever it's called. They did a killer cover and got noticed!).

You can also start lists on iTunes including other songs that people might enjoy along with your music, again so when they search for it they also find yours. No one likes to be told "listen to my new song" (unless you're posting in Shameless Self-Promotion here- lol!), but if they happen upon it on a list, that's all good.

Good luck to you!
Raags

[beachbum]

Real good answers - thanks guys..bum
http://www.myspace.com/liteboxtherapy

[beachbum]

I setup an album last night...the list idea looks great Raags - anyone else have any ideas on how to promote an album/singles on Itunes and affiliates through Tunecore ?

I'm considering a youtube video of some cool footage (not me playing or anything) but some interesting stuff shot on my camera..
also..Itunes is down for uploads til 12/29 - how long does it normally take to have your record active there ?'


thanks..bum
http://www.myspace.com/liteboxtherapy
https://www.facebook.com/pages/lightbox ... 1418822628

[moomy]

Beachbum

It depends….
Everyone has their own version of an answer on this, so mine is only specific to us. Regarding selling downloads of pop music, I haven't seen the results we would want on that side. We have music on iTunes, Amazon and several other sites. We had major promos - one with over a million hits on the song. We also did a promotion on myspace when that was the big thing. Over 300,000 page views. We put a lot of funds into promoting dance music and pop. Money spent - lotsa. Fans - quite a few. Downloads - nyeh.

On the other hand we have specialty music - meditations - that are on their own site. Haven't put them on iTunes or anything else. Word of mouth and some email efforts have sold them regularly off the site. It's self perpetuating at this point and global - buys groceries.

So in my opinion, depends on the kind of music. There is so much out there and let's face it you hear plenty on the radio, or online for free. Heavily promoting it (for our budget) was not a good investment. Right now I'm investing in downloads of sounds-likes for our music so I have ready reference.

I do see the people I know making a decent living at live concerts selling their CDs. They also are selling download passes. The excitement of the live concert still makes a space to generate sales.

Raaj,
I appreciate your comment about the lists on iTunes and will add them. I still don't feel someone could generate a great deal of sales in the standard music world unless you have the major label machine behind it generating huge buzz OR you get a hit ad on TV OR a major film trailer, etc.

On your music, I totally see why you are getting downloads. You have unique World music aimed for a specific audience who is looking for it. Difficult to create, beautiful and unique and very hard to find. It's wonderful and I'm going to go download some.

[beachbum]

So in my opinion, depends on the kind of music. There is so much out there and let's face it you hear plenty on the radio, or online for free. Heavily promoting it (for our budget) was not a good investment. - I still don't feel someone could generate a great deal of sales in the standard music world unless you have the major label machine behind it generating huge buzz OR you get a hit ad on TV OR a major film trailer, etc.

Thanks for the reply..I agree about not selling the farm to invest in a record these days (though Freedy Johnston did!)
I come from the school of thought that you have to squeeze as much as you can out of what you have..I even lucked out on the Itunes thing ($19.95 special/I put up 23 songs) - my gear is basic and I don't even change my guitar strings as much as I used to - i'm trying to make as much of a living as I can from my music instead of it being an expensive hobby..

You're right about "the machine"...w/out it you're really just a raindrop in a thunderstorm..

I am impressed with how a crudely made video (which mine are) can get your music to people who normally wouldn't give it a listen...I came late to the video game and wish I hadn't - happy new year to anyone who reads this...bum

[moomy]

You're right about the videos. Very useful buzz creators. Helps people see you who would never go to a concert. Helps you see yourself too.
I think the majority of our download sales (outside of the ones connected to a TV placement) have come from videos.