Skip Tunecore and CD Baby – Upload Your Music Directly To iTunes
We all know that Tunecore and CD Baby will help you get your music on to iTunes.
Both companies have been doing this for a long time and have this down to a science. They provide things like UPC codes and make sure you meet iTunes formatting and quality standards. It costs money to work with them, but both have large and satisfied customer bases.
But now there is another option. As Digital Music News has reported, you can actually skip dealing with those companies alltogether and go straight to the source, with iTunes connect. The argument that DMN makes is that Tunecore, CD Baby, and similar companies are so cheap and easy that it’s not really worth doing the whole thing yourself.
But in the comments below the story a few people have brought up other interesting benefits to DIY iTunes.
- You have direct access to your original sales data, something which many digital pundits STILL manage to not understand.
- Going direct can be a hassle for sure, however, if you understand the power of data, have the relationships and deliver great content, you are in a position to reap the benefits of a direct relationship with iTunes.
- Using iTunes Connect …works well, and gives a label total, immediate control over their content.
- Support is a pain, but the system is generally intuitive if you pay attention to what you’re doing.
Take Control of Your Music
Voyno
Category: Copyright, Digital Music
While it is true that any artist may apply to use iTunes Connect to start a direct relationship with iTunes, we must keep in mind that it is exactly that, an application. iTunes does not guarantee that they will accept the application. To quote a comment recently left on the DMN blog article about this topic:
“This article is a bit misleading. It makes it sound like anyone can just head over to iTunes Connect and start the process. Not true at all. You have to fill out a form to be considered for a direct deal. You have to wait for their approval. I filled out the form and got this message from iTunes.
————-
Thank you for submitting your application and label details to the iTunes Store.
We are currently evaluating hundreds of applications, so it may take some time to respond. We will individually review and consider each application and will contact you should you meet the requirements for direct agreement.
Your file will be kept in our records for future reference so there is no need to apply more than once.
Once again, we appreciate your patience in this process.
Yours in music,
The iTunes Music Store Team“
___________________
But there are more things to consider than just access. As DMN alluded to, there are significant time considerations you’ll want to examine and weigh (a lengthy iTunes submission process and the time of managing you own account, sales reports, etc). CD Baby can guarantee delivery of your music to iTunes within 2 business days (given that you’ve correctly completed all the information in our simple signup process and your music/artwork meet partner requirements) and handle all the sales reporting, payment processing, and customer support for you. Plus, you only have to sign your music up with us ONCE. Then we’ll handle the rest, delivering it to iTunes, AmazonMP3, Spotify, eMusic, Rhapsody, etc. You avoid the hassle, headache, and confusion of managing multiple accounts, PLUS get the benefit of selling MP3s and physical CDs, CD-Rs, or vinyl from your artist page at cdbaby.com. And if you’re into actual human conversation, we’ve got a great customer service team who are happy to talk to you about your musical needs.
If anyone has questions about CD Baby’s services, they can check out http://members.cdbaby.com/, send an email to cdbaby@cdbaby.com, or call 1-800-Buy-My-CD.
Delivery is one aspect of the process. But I’m not teaching anyone anything when I say that the trick is not to get music into iTunes, but to get the music out of iTunes, 7Digital and the others through sales!
Unless you’re a label with a pretty savvy sales and marketing operation, I’d recommend going with people that facilitate your marketing (through the availability of widgets, stats etc).
Most people need all the help they can get, whether that be through a provider with marketing services, your own promo people or TopSpin. I certainly do.