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How to Sell a Song on ITunes

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Get a Song on iTunes

When I created an audiobook, I wondered how audio tracks of any kind, whether an album or an audiobook, get on iTunes. So I started querying about "How to Sell on iTunes". I found some confusing instructions that sounded like a lot of work. Then I met someone who had produced audiobooks before and she let me in on the secret. There IS an easy way to sell a song, or audiobook on iTunes. In fact, you can sell on iTunes even if you don't have a CD in hand yet.

Think for a minute about what this means. Your friends, family and fans can purchase your music and load it on their iPod. You get paid and it's easy for new people to hear your sound!

So here's how to get started.

CDBaby.com

Yes, CDBaby.com is the answer to your question about how to sell music on iTunes

CDBaby.com works with musicians and audio publishers large and small to sell their products online through iTunes and other music download sites (such as Amazon MP3). They have an easy to use interface and charge a very low setup fee (I think it's about $35 for an album). I know I probably sound like I work for CDBaby, but I don't -- but you can't believe what a great service they offer for anyone who wants to sell music online.

Here's how it works:

1) You sign up

2) You send them music and artwork -- either using their online interface, or mailing in a real CD. You can opt to sell a single selection. You don't have to have an entire album.

3) They do all the work. Okay, what I mean by this is they "digitize the music and artwork". They follow those complicated instructions from iTunes and Amazon and all the other resellers and put the files in the right format and figure out where to send them.

4) Your music is sold worldwide. Your songs will be listed on CDBaby.com and distributed to digital distribution partners (iTunes, Amazon MP3, Rhapsody, eMusic, and dozens more). And you have the option of supplying regular CD's for sale through CDBaby and associated bricks and mortar stores.

5) They pay you!!

Here are the audiobooks that I put on CDBaby ...

selling audiobook onlineselling audiobook online

How Important is Having Your Song on iTunes?

iTunes sells more music than all the other digital retailers combined.

Sell on Amazon MP3 website (not JUST iTunes)

So here, to show you what i mean, are my same two audiobooks for sale as downloads on Amazon MP3 website. I didn't do ANYTHING to put these for sale on Amazon. The people who work at CDBaby did all that.
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And Individual Tracks are Listed on iTunes

So again.... just showing you, tracks from the same audiobooks are available on iTunes. So I dealt with one website and ended up with my audiobook (could be songs) selling on iTunes, Amazon MP3, etc.

Track Artist Album  
Introduction and Title (feat. Vytenis Misevicius & Michelle Thorson) Jean Marc Berne Yaks March on Washington, No-Work Spanish Audiobook 1
Chapter 1: A Fast Dog Jean Marc Berne Yaks March on Washington, No-Work Spanish Audiobook 1
Chapter 1: Due Date Tomorrow Michelle Thorson Poster Girl, No-Work Spanish Audiobook Title 2

Tell Me about the Songs You'd Like to Sell on iTunes

Don't be shy.... tell us about your music or audio production

  • Alice May 6, 2012 @ 5:19 pm | delete
    Oh WOW, I can't believe I found this website. I am currently working on reformatting a spoken-word audio program that originally was distributed as cassette tapes (remember those?) -- a home recovery program for breast cancer survivors based on the Feldenkrais Method. The program is called "Unbound!" and is designed to free up movement that may have been compromised or lost due to surgery and treatment for BC as well as help re-establish a sense of relaxed well-being. I LOVE the idea of having it as both an audiobook AND as individual podcast downloads, seems it could reach more women that way. Question: When changing product format, does one need a new ISBN? And do I need to re-register my copyright? I am doing quite a bit of re-editing, so the original product will have been altered. Thanks for this great resource!
  • BookMama May 6, 2012 @ 5:30 pm | delete
    Yes, according to the information about registering ISBN numbers, if a product is in a new format, it should have a new ISBN and I would register that copyright. With an audio program, I believe you should have someone read the copyright (I always do).

    I know I've heard copyrights read where they say "this book is copyright of author's name in 1964. The recording is copyright 2012 of audio-company." Granted, I am not a copyright or legal expert, but this is my understanding as an author and publisher.

    And yes, not only do I remember cassette tapes, I've still got a modest collection on my book shelves!

    Good luck with your audio program!
  • Les Watts Mar 16, 2012 @ 9:31 am | delete
    I have written a song for a charity asscociated witht he company I work for. I still have not recorded it and the band are due to go into a recording studio very soon. My question is how do I sell online for the charity, making sure they get the money from the downloads? and is there a way of the charity not incurring any costs?

    Thanks
  • BookMama Mar 16, 2012 @ 12:51 pm | delete
    I don't know if there is any way to do what you would like. You may have to settle for you having the account with CDBaby and simply noting in the song description that all profits go to Charity X. But, it never hurts to ask. I would email the folks at CDBaby or even call them. It is a sizeable enough company that you can talk or correspond with someone. Good luck with your song and sales!
  • GizmoButler Feb 18, 2012 @ 9:33 pm | delete
    Great lens. I probably ought to get off my butt and do something about that. Meantime, if you're working on music, specifically drum tracks for your new tunes come check mine out about how to sequence natural sounding drum tracks.
    http://www.squidoo.com/awesome-universal-tips-for-beat-editing-part-2
  • JoeBorowy Aug 16, 2011 @ 11:03 am | delete
    Your favorite part of selling songs on iTunes...Getting Paid! LOL! Very nice lens and good information. My favorite part of iTunes is...iTunes. But Im kind of a geek, an iTunes geek.
  • Kyle Jun 2, 2011 @ 2:33 pm | delete
    do you have to copyright your song/audiobook before you sign up for cdbaby? if so, how long does this take?
  • Photahsiamirabel May 7, 2011 @ 1:47 pm | delete
    I did mine via Tunecore. I thought about CD Baby, but as the emphasis was on providing them with CDs and the postage would have been prohibitive from the UK I decided to look elsewhere. I recorded at home, uploaded to Tunecore and I now have a CD on Amazon, Flying to Meet the Sunrise, with tracks available on iTunes too. :)
  • BookMama May 7, 2011 @ 2:53 pm | delete
    That's great. So now readers have another option as well. You can use CD Baby without ever sending them CDs. You just have to choose "digital distribution only". But it wasn't obvious that that was an option. I had to send an email or two before I realized. That was what I did -- the digital distribution only. Because while I had CDs, I already had other venues for selling those and their packaging as an audiobook was not a standard CD jewel case.

    Flying to Meet the Sunrise -- I like that name and will have to go check it out!
  • RenaissanceWoman2010 Apr 26, 2011 @ 4:31 pm | delete
    Very interesting. I need to consider doing this. Thanks for the resources. I wasn't aware of this service.
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That's IT?

Yes, it doesn't take long to tell you how to sell a song on iTunes

I know there is not a lot of content on this web page. But that's the whole idea. It can be really easy to sell a song on iTunes. Sell your music, sell an audiobook, whatever you like. Just go to CDBaby.com

And then stop back here and brag about what you've done. Go get 'em! Go get that song on iTunes, NOW!

Oops.... I did forget one thing....

My FAVORITE Part of Selling Songs on iTunes

Getting Paid

Not only is the money nice, but the most recent email telling me that they paid me, includes where the money came from (some from iTunes Europe, some iTunes USA, some Amazon MP3) and then it gives me a link to get still more details and then they say:

Yes it's good to get paid paid paid paid for making music!
We hope we write you a million more checks.
We hope you write a million more songs.
We hope you get a million more fans
who give you a million kisses.

Ciao!

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I just love that and I bet you will too. So now that you know how AND how easy it is.... get your music out there!

For More Ideas for How to Make Money Selling Music Online

SingerBouncing around Squidoo here, I came across a lens (page) I liked Make Money as an Artist, as in performing artist. There are some ideas there about creating music videos, collaborating, etc that might help you build your following as a musician.

Also, even if you don't yet have a song ready to sell on iTunes, and are still working on getting to that point or maybe you just want to perform more as a musician, consider creating an account (really just a login id) as a publisher on CDBaby.com because they email a lot of tips about promoting your music online. Many of them don't apply to me, since I publish audiobooks, BUT.... you never know when one of them might be a turning point in your music career.

I wish everyone out there following their dreams, the best of luck. As you can tell from above, I'm not a musician. Closest I came to that was having a son who sang in a Rock Band. But I really cheer for everyone who, well.... puts themselves out there and gives it their best shot!

by

BookMama

I love books my family, our dogs, running and have a wide variety of interests! A recent passion is finding an easy way to learn Spanish more »

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