Create and release your own album
Do you dream about releasing your own album? This guide explains how to release you of CD or mp3 music without signing up with a record company. Your album will be available in all the biggest internet shops like Amazon, iTunes etc. It doesn’t have to cost much at all either.
This article can also be read by others who need inspiration for getting something done.
What is your motivation?
If you are planning to conquer the world, then this is probably not he guide for you. It is of course possible to hit it big time through this method as well, but the chances aren’t that great.
The most important thing you can gain from this method is for your music to be heard and bought. Your goal is not necessarily seeing your CD’s in the local shop, get headlines in magazines and get rich overnight. This can be a great part of a compound income strategy. The great thing about it is that you can make money long after you have stopped the hard work of making the music.
If you want to aim bigger and start your own record company, you first have to register your own company. However, starting your own record company and doing the whole process yourself can be very time consuming.
Why release your own CD?
Record companies are primarily concerned with money. If they don’t think you’ll be their next money making machine, they couldn’t care less about you. Getting a record deal doesn’t have to mean as much as you’d think. You’ll get used, share the profits, play concerts when it suits THEM, handle media and possibly get stuck with music they want you to play. Unless you are very strong this could be the beginning of the end.
The solution could be to release your own CD.
Who can release their own CD?
First you have to ask yourself: Do I have real talent? Is the material really good? If the answer is yes and the time is right, then go for it!
The planning phase
Apart from creating the actual music and cover design, there are a lot of things to think about. First, you need to decide whether you want to release your album as a CD and mp3 or just as mp3. If you release actual CD’s there is a lot more to think about: mastering, printing and distribution. How many CD’s should you make? How much should you charge? Etc..
How to release a physical CD
A great place to sell your CD is through the website www.cdbaby.com. This website has helped 150 000 artists releasing their own CD’s (both physical and mp3s) for over 65 million dollars.
CDBaby is a very professional website lives up to its promise! The only thing you have to pay is US$35 and another $20 if you want a barcode on your CD. You usually have to pay hundreds of dollars for this. CDBaby also distribute their CDs through other websites like iTunes.
CDBaby have information on their website, but in short you first send them 5 CDs. If these get sold out you send them another 10, then another 20 etc. It is advisable to have them at hand to send them asap if they get sold out, because when you first release the CD you will be on the news site and get a lot more hits. Therefore you want to have CD’s at hand while you have this lucrative position.
They make a profile of you where you control your own content, link to homepage, links to similar artists, samples of your songs etc. When someone buys your CD you get an email immediately and receive payment once a week. You choose what people should pay for your CD and CDBaby only charge US$4 per sold CD.
HowYouGetRich.com.au have tested and strongly recommend CDBaby. It saves you a lot of stress and it works!
Cover design
A very important part of your CD is the cover design. It is of course not as important as the music, but it is very important for drawing people to your album. Of course you want a design that it interesting and appealing to your target audience.
Use PhotoShop to design the cover. If you don’t know how to do it, either learn to use it or get a friend or graphic designer to make it for you.
To print the covers you need a printer that can print on CD’s, or a new PC with technology like liteScribe (if you are releaseing physical CDs). If you don’t have a printer, you can buy one for about $400, or get them professionally printed. Make sure you get printable CD’s!
You can also buy paper for the CD cover in stationary stores.
Mastering
Mastering the songs means to give them “the little extra” before they are 100% ready, sound wise, for an album. This is something you can get done in a professional studio if you wish, but it costs quite a bit. If you or someone you know have good musical ears, that and a PC could be all you need. You can do the mastering on certain programs on your PC. For example the program Reason.
People have different opinions about mastering. Some are very quality aware, while others wouldn’t hear the difference anyway. In many cases mastering is necessary, while in other cases you can go without. Have a close listen through good speakers and compare yourself with songs similar to yours. Then decide for yourself.
Promoting through social networks
Make sure you have a profile on MySpace and Facebook. Promote your CD through samples on MySpace and links on Facebook and build your network.
Costs
Releasing your own CD can be done at a relatively low cost, but if you don’t have equipment like printers it will cost a little extra. In addition you have to pay for postage every time you send CD’s to the States. This will cost somewhere between $20 and 30.
Rewards
The rewards will vary a lot upon the job you do. Both musically and marketing wise. The great thing about it is that your album will be available on iTunes for a long time, and it may continue to bring in money long after you have started on your next project.
It is a great feeling to receive emails that people have bought your album and to see your profile with sample music. You will quickly discover if people like your sample songs.
Now matter how you do when releasing your first album, it will be a very valuable experience. The next album will also be a lot easier because you have done it before and can do it even better the next time! It will also give you a taste of success and what it is like to take charge of your own future. Get disciplined, start doing it, and have fun
