So who has actually sold some CD's?

[Tony B]

I was honest in my post a few weeks ago when I wanted to know some successful strategies to sell CD's - nobody replied. Does anybody actually sell CD's. I sold 70 copies of mine and gave away about 150 - there's still heaps under the bed ...

I've been interested to hear people's journey's - the tipping point when 2 Cd's at a gig became a phone call here - a festival there and it all started to happen!

I was discouraged recently to read of an Australian singer songwriter who was previously on a major label and with top ten success in the 90's - anyway he was saying how he now sold 20 copies of his CD at a gig (and he's actually still quite famous down under). It made me realise how difficult it is to get a slice of the preverbial pie.

What do you think? Who's making a crust (or even just selling a few copies of their CD) can you help? What's your story? Do you exist?

I've seen much of the advice given on this forum and others - though I haven't seen a great deal of testimonials and life journey's. That's what I'm into - what are your journey's - your successes - and failures. Has anybody out there gone from the living room to having even a modicum of success? If so - please let me in on your journey.

I want to hear from muso's who have sold a few CD's - and how it all happened - that's all. (sorry for the raving - too much Christmas red wine cheer).

Cheers,

Tony

MySpace.com - Tony Brewin - Melbourne, AU - Pop / Rock - www.myspace.com/tonybrewin

[gg.gamble]

This isnt an answer your looking for but i think it's slightly relevent to anyone who hasnt heard;

Rather than CD's i've noticed people uploading there content onto torrent sites for people to download freely. On demonoid they have bands featured on the front page and i know i have downloaded just for the curiosity.
Amature bands can get literally thousands of downloads from all around the world.
just a quick example at a glance
currently featured;
'Hello Madness' - light and life after dusk
created: one month ago
so far :8536 downloads

quite interesting. thought it was kind of relevent on the topic of the demise of the CD

[richiebee]

I recorded on a CD last year that is selling really well. Why? The band works their asses off - they are constantly touring (currently in Australia). Personally, I think their music, though excellent, is pretty miserable. I love some of their songs, but overall, I don't understand the attraction. But I've played a couple of gigs with the band and they're always sold out with a crowd that absolutely loves them. The CD was extremely well produced by an excellent Canadian producer.

They don't make much money by the way.

The CD I produced with my band about 18 months ago sells a little - the band sold about 200 copies in the first year. But the band doesn't play much - once every couple of months, and unless you go crazy on publicity/touring/gigging, no one will know you exist. There's only so much you can do with internet marketing because the world market is saturated.

[Tony B]

At this stage I've had: 111 views - two replies and 1 PM. I reckon I've found a nerve here. There must be such a high percentage of us just recording our tunes and doing nothing else about it apart from dreaming.
Am I right?
We look for answers ... I remember an interview with Sting where he was quoted as saying his success was like winning the lottery. Notwithstanding his phenomenal success - I was asking if anyone had had a "modicum of success" in selling a few CD's.

111 views - two replies and 1 PM - most of us aren't selling CD's is my guess?

Cheers,

Tony

MySpace.com - Tony Brewin - Melbourne, AU - Pop / Rock - www.myspace.com/tonybrewin

[richiebee]

Maybe this is the wrong group to be asking, or at least, you need to find out how many people are creating their work to sell to the masses. I work with classical artists, some of whom never sell more than 100 copies of their album. The work that goes into creating them, and the costs, is incredible. People don't always make stuff to get mass sales, and I'm thinking the kind of people on this forum, are among those who do it for the love of doing it. So you shouldn't be surprised that either no one is biting, or no one is volunteering their marketing strategy.

Personally, I don't create my own work to make a profit, or to get worldwide fame. I do it for me. If anyone else likes it, its a bonus, but for me its just a way to relax. I run it as a business only because it offers me tax advantages. The one side of the business that really makes any money is live performance... all the money I get from that goes straight back into the studio.

I wouldn't consider that my musical tastes are common. I would never really expect my own work to sell massively. I would never expect any of the music of any of the groups I regularly perform with would either.

If you're in it for fame or money, then yeah, good luck.

[Cailyn]

Originally Posted by richiebee

Personally, I don't create my own work to make a profit, or to get worldwide fame. I do it for me.

If you're in it for fame or money, then yeah, good luck.

Agree 100%. I record for me and the people who like my work. My last project was a classical-blues crossover CD. In six months I've sold and given away over 600 (I think I sold more than I gave away but I'm not keeping track). People seem to like it and I managed to get some radio airplay and positive reviews. I consider it an overwhelming success for a first home-produced CD.

Fame or money just isn't part of my equation.

[justabob]

I have sold a few. just a few. for me I have not really tried to sell. The one thing I found that is the biggest part of selling is simple. The more you wow them with the live show the more you will sell. I played at a place where they new and I did a lot of shows. A friend there finally bought a cd after comming to hear me many times. He and his wife came just to see me when i played. yet this was the first time they considered buying a cd. I asked them why now. I was told this was the first time I was good enough to make them want to buy one. If you want them to buy the second cd they have to like the first one they bought. The more cd's of different titles you have the more they think this person is worthy. they would not have so many different if they were not selling them so they must be ok. Go to Canada and play in a coffee house for free. you can market your self as international. but it all starts with what you do in front of them. You have to make them want you. it's that simple. In the words of Bill and Ted (BE EXCELLENT) my friend.

[mikromort]

The formula I think for selling CD's

- have talent
- make good catchy music that common folk like
-produce and perform that music better than 99.9% of the people are making at home right now
- know the right people, get involved with the music community and suck up to everyone
- give up your family life and any other interests you might have
- put on a great live show
- being good looking doesn't hurt
- have a niche
- promote, promote, promote - go on local radio stations, tv stations, do charity events

Most importantly ....

If people don't like your music it doesn't matter how hard you try and sell it, people won't buy it.

Also if your sitting at home trying to sell Cd's on the internet forget it. The market is totally saturated with music, no one buys anything because it's just too hard to sift throught the crap to find that diamond in the rough

We printed 100 Cd's did a couple of shows and sold all of them in a month, that was good enough for me. I didn't print any more because a lot of them where to fellow musicians and friends and the next bunch would be the hard sell, you know where you play every shit dive in town and beg for someone to buy your CD. I feel cheap when I ask someone to buy a CD so I don't.

If you really want to sell CD's I think that's what you have to do, but results may vary. Like I said I only sold 100 copies so what do I know. The people who have sold more probably can't afford a computer or do not have time to respond to recording forums, they're too busy fighting for their next meal

[Tony B]

Hey,

I'm sorry I sounded like a whinging old fool - I probably am I suppose. Really I'm grateful to be writing, recording and playing music. It's been my dream since I made my own pretend guitars and mimed to Kiss back in the 70's. And I still say I'd like to be a rock star when I grow up (I'm 43).

But hey - a weekend warrior is my lot. We choose our own destiny and I've got the wife, kids and mortgage in the suburbs.

I just wanted to hear a few stories and I'm grateful to those of you honest enough to say - hey I sell a few copies to my friends and people at my gigs.

Thanks again for your comments - I appreciate it.

Cheers,

Tony

MySpace.com - Tony Brewin - Melbourne, AU - Pop / Rock - www.myspace.com/tonybrewin

[bradzoot]

Hi Tony b.
Interesting topic like you say.
My story is; when I started recording about 20 yrs ago it was for fun and to get my stuff 'down'. (Still doing it now funnily enough)
Later, around 1999 2000, I teamed up with a few guys I know and formed a band to record an album.
This led on from there and soon we had recorded and produced our own album.
With the help and dedication of my good wife we soon had a distribution deal here in the UK.
The reason for the distribution deal was so we could enter the album for the mercury music prize. (which we didn't win of course) LOL
A few albums were sold online, a few even in the shops but most of the 1000 we had pressed sold at gigs.
A few were sent off as promo's to radio stations and we did get some airtime, mostly on local radio tho'.
Out of the original 1000 copies i think i have around 30 or so lying around the house.
So if I try to work out how many were sold I would have to guess somewhere between 300 to 400.
Incidently a few of the venues we played at this time even put the album on their jukebox.
All in all it was a wonderful experience from the recording to the mixing etc right down to getting out there and gigging the tunes.
It lasted about 3 years from concept to break up.
I have been involved in other bands with cds which I think were just as good if not better, to sell at gigs but nothing to match the experience of that time in my life.
Hope that answers your query?
By the way the band was called 'Amberjack' and the album was called 'Anytime whenever'.
Look it up on the net. I'm sure there are still some references to it out there (Once you trawl through all the stuff about fish) Never thought about that when choosing the name.

Hey that felt quite good, letting that go.