The CD Player Myth That’s Costing Artists Sales
Have you ever been standing at your merch table after a show when a fan picks up your CD and says: “I’d buy it, but I don’t have a CD […]
10 Things Independent Artists Should Know About Vinyl Records
I just got back from a trip to the Making Vinyl conference. There, I was joined by 450 professionals representing the whole vinyl record supply chain, starting from PVC manufacturers […]
Your Music Is Already Training AI
There’s an artist I love named Ximena Castro. The artist has a great voice and amazing protest lyrics about injustice in Iran, Gaza, ICE, and immigration. It’s very current, emotionally […]
Music Licensing Costs for Physical Releases: Covers, Samples, and Artwork
You’ve finished recording. The mixes are approved, the album art looks great, and you’re ready to press your first batch of CDs or vinyl. Then someone asks, “Did you clear […]
How I Sold My Limited Vinyl Run in 2 Days
I want to show you exactly what I did to sell out of a very limited colored vinyl run for one of my old bands. But first, here are two […]
CDs Aren’t a Commodity Anymore
Here’s a news flash: CDs are no longer a commodity. And that’s a big shift from where we were some 20 years ago. Back then, if you were an artist, […]
Why Vinyl’s Next Growth Wave Will Be Sparked by Emerging Artists
For nearly two decades, the vinyl revival has been driven from the top down: collectors rediscovering old classics, audiophiles rebuilding collections, major labels mining their catalogs, and — in recent […]
The Hidden Problem With Vinyl on Demand
If you’re a musician, you may have seen ads about way to put your music on vinyl with no upfront investment. Vinyl on demand. Make records one at a time. […]
How to Copyright Music: The Smartest Strategy for Singles, Albums, and Unreleased Songs
Most independent artists don’t register copyrights for their music — not because they’re careless, but because they simply don’t know when or how to do it correctly. And that gap […]
How Disc Makers Stacks Up Against Other CD Manufacturers: A “Secret Shopper” Experience
Every now and then, I hear an artist say something like, “Disc Makers’ CDs are expensive. Why would I pay more?” It’s a fair question. I’ll readily admit that our […]
4 Tips to Triple Your Merch Sales
If you’re playing live shows and not maximizing your merch, you’re leaving real money on the table. And by band merch, I don’t just mean t-shirts. I mean CDs, vinyl, […]
How to Price CDs Online When Shipping and Fees Cut Into Profits
As we all know all too well, times are tough for independent musicians. The loss of traditional structures for music discovery and distribution means that indie artists now have to […]
How to Value Your Music Without Hurting Sales
Independent artists have always struggled with the question of “How much do I charge for my music?” It’s understandably tricky. Pricing your music can feel like guesswork — especially when […]
The Truth About CD Turn Times: What We Found When We Secret-Shopped the Competition
If you’ve got a CD release coming up, the turn time of your order is critical. Maybe you have a release event planned or a tour that’s starting next week, […]
G7 Printing: The Secret to Great-Looking CD & LP Covers
If you’re releasing a CD or vinyl record, the packaging is something most artists may not think about until it’s too late. Your music might sound amazing, but does your […]