CDBaby vs. Tunecore - Harmony Central Musician Community Forums

sabriel9v · 11-12-2007, 09:08 PM

For the people who have tried these programs, which one is better? What are the strengths and weaknesses of both?

goodwater · 11-13-2007, 10:24 AM

I've used CDBaby and been pretty happy--easy to deal with, well-known...I would recommend them

sabriel9v · 11-13-2007, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goodwater

I've used CDBaby and been pretty happy--easy to deal with, well-known...I would recommend them

The reason I'm asking is because tunecore and cdbaby both get you onto itunes and rhapsody as well as other downloading and digital distribution outlets and services. I'm not sure which program is cheaper though.

gtrbass · 11-14-2007, 10:48 PM

CD Baby is less than $50.00 to set up. They are very reasonable for a digital aggregator. Not sure what Tunecore charges. At those prices who cares? You could probbaly do both.

Jebus0000 · 11-16-2007, 02:12 PM

I've used tunecore but not cdbaby.
The only downside to tunecore is that it can take a long time to get your song up. Other than that... no downside. It cost us about $25 to set up an album with all their stores and the a yearly cost of $7.95. so cheap.They collect all the money for you and you can withdrawl it at anytime. They don't take a cut either.

BlueStrat · 11-16-2007, 05:58 PM

I won't use either of them for digital sales until they start offering songs ala carte. I have 4 CDs, and all of them are a mix of originals and covers. I don't really want to sell the covers, and don't want to pay licensing fees on them. Why can't I just have them offer my originals?

I'm thinking of doing a compilation album of all my originals just so I can offer them digitally.

cherri · 11-16-2007, 08:19 PM

It isn't that expensive to license covers.

A.Scriabin · 11-16-2007, 08:58 PM

What's the average turn around time for tunecore's posting of your album on Itunes?

terryd5150 · 11-16-2007, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cherri

It isn't that expensive to license covers.

Could you ellaborate on that one a little more?

I'm working on a CD of mostly covers, well...not "direct" covers, there are some major changes in most the arrangements, but there will be no getting around the fact that they were previously released songs, and I'm not trying to- I want people to know they were based on other songs.

Any help would be great.

sabriel9v · 11-17-2007, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueStrat

I won't use either of them for digital sales until they start offering songs ala carte. I have 4 CDs, and all of them are a mix of originals and covers. I don't really want to sell the covers, and don't want to pay licensing fees on them. Why can't I just have them offer my originals?

I'm thinking of doing a compilation album of all my originals just so I can offer them digitally.

Bluestrat, you could do snocap and they will allow you to "a la carte" singles on your myspace page.

BlueStrat · 11-17-2007, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cherri

It isn't that expensive to license covers.

Yeah, I know, but that isn't the point. I'm not interested in selling digital covers.

cherri · 11-18-2007, 07:39 AM

BS - understood. I figure, 99 cents is 99 cents, even if I have to turn around and send 9.1 cents of it to the song owner.

Terry - the arrangement I currently have for digital distribution is I report quarterly to the song owner's management, and pay 9.1 cents per download. I don't know the industry standard, but that's the clause that came with the mechanical / digital licenses.

Kid Klash · 11-19-2007, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jebus0000

I've used tunecore but not cdbaby.
The only downside to tunecore is that it can take a long time to get your song up. Other than that... no downside. It cost us about $25 to set up an album with all their stores and the a yearly cost of $7.95. so cheap.They collect all the money for you and you can withdrawl it at anytime. They don't take a cut either.

CDBABY doesn't charge a yearly fee. They're also the biggest online distributor of indie music in the world, and have a great reputation. Their service to the customer and artist is second to none IMHO. They've been doing the distribution for us for several years, and I'd highly recommend them. Very decent folks.

Poker99 · 11-19-2007, 11:59 AM

Is snocap available now for Canadian Artists? Last time I checked we couldn't use it on our myspace because we were from Canada.

Bobsax · 12-11-2007, 10:17 AM

Hi
Very interesting thread I hope you don't mind if I do a little hijacking that relates to these discussions.

I've got a Christmas album and I was wondering if any of these distributers can get you up on iTunes in a week? Somebody above said CD Baby was faster.

cherri · 12-11-2007, 11:02 AM

CD Baby is quick, but the turnaround is longer than a week.

Bobsax · 12-11-2007, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cherri

CD Baby is quick, but the turnaround is longer than a week.

Thanks Cherri, No rush then , I'll wait till next year and research the rights for the few covers in the meantime.

backtoblue · 12-11-2007, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobsax

Hi
Very interesting thread I hope you don't mind if I do a little hijacking that relates to these discussions.

I've got a Christmas album and I was wondering if any of these distributers can get you up on iTunes in a week? Somebody above said CD Baby was faster.

Yeah, even if you could send your songs directly to iTunes, they wouldn't process it that fast. CDBaby took about 2 months to get mine on iTunes.

strathound · 01-09-2008, 11:59 AM

Is there a difference between Tunecore and CDBaby on how you get paid? I'm trying to understand what you get for your annual fee at Tunecore that would encourage me to do that instead of CDBaby where there isn't an annual fee. I mean, once iTunes has your music and starts selling it, seams like the hard part is done.

Netvalar · 01-09-2008, 11:40 PM

Look over both sites completely I think you will find more help from CDBaby for the same cost 1st year and no additional costs in additional years. For instance CDBaby will help you be able to accept Credit Card transactions for merchandise and cd sales at your live shows. I didn't see anywhere on Tunecore for that.

11-12-2007, 09:08 PM	#1
sabriel9v Hall of Fame Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: A galaxy far, far away Posts: 5,411	CDBaby vs. Tunecore For the people who have tried these programs, which one is better? What are the strengths and weaknesses of both?

11-16-2007, 02:12 PM	#5
Jebus0000 Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Winnipeg, MB, Canada Posts: 423	I've used tunecore but not cdbaby. The only downside to tunecore is that it can take a long time to get your song up. Other than that... no downside. It cost us about $25 to set up an album with all their stores and the a yearly cost of $7.95. so cheap.They collect all the money for you and you can withdrawl it at anytime. They don't take a cut either. __________________ Instrumental Jazz/Funk www.mosesmayes.com New album out! Check out samples @ www.myspace.com/mosesmayes

11-16-2007, 05:58 PM	#6
BlueStrat perennial malcontent Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Out where we used to think we were musicians, until we realized we were really beer salesmen. Posts: 20,250	I won't use either of them for digital sales until they start offering songs ala carte. I have 4 CDs, and all of them are a mix of originals and covers. I don't really want to sell the covers, and don't want to pay licensing fees on them. Why can't I just have them offer my originals? I'm thinking of doing a compilation album of all my originals just so I can offer them digitally. __________________ Crownman: Holy crap that singer sux. I'm trying to be nice. If you had a pitch corrector it would grow arms to give him the finger for making it work so hard. George Bernard Shaw: "He knows nothing and thinks he knows everything. That points clearly to a political career."

11-16-2007, 08:19 PM	#7
cherri Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: North of BFE Posts: 2,039	It isn't that expensive to license covers. __________________ #4F - Geezer Brigade "Cherri is our resident mom/ surrogate wife/ diplomat/ arbiter of common sense...and we lubs her..." Cherri & the Violators CNV Myspace page CNV Soundclick Page

11-18-2007, 07:39 AM	#12
cherri Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: North of BFE Posts: 2,039	BS - understood. I figure, 99 cents is 99 cents, even if I have to turn around and send 9.1 cents of it to the song owner. Terry - the arrangement I currently have for digital distribution is I report quarterly to the song owner's management, and pay 9.1 cents per download. I don't know the industry standard, but that's the clause that came with the mechanical / digital licenses. __________________ #4F - Geezer Brigade "Cherri is our resident mom/ surrogate wife/ diplomat/ arbiter of common sense...and we lubs her..." Cherri & the Violators CNV Myspace page CNV Soundclick Page

11-13-2007, 10:24 AM	#2
goodwater Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 692	I've used CDBaby and been pretty happy--easy to deal with, well-known...I would recommend them

11-16-2007, 08:58 PM	#8
A.Scriabin Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Temple, Tx Posts: 24	What's the average turn around time for tunecore's posting of your album on Itunes?

11-19-2007, 11:59 AM	#14
Poker99 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 3,447	Is snocap available now for Canadian Artists? Last time I checked we couldn't use it on our myspace because we were from Canada.

12-11-2007, 10:17 AM	#15
Bobsax Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: north of South San Francisco Posts: 134	Hi Very interesting thread I hope you don't mind if I do a little hijacking that relates to these discussions. I've got a Christmas album and I was wondering if any of these distributers can get you up on iTunes in a week? Somebody above said CD Baby was faster.

12-11-2007, 11:02 AM	#16
cherri Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: North of BFE Posts: 2,039	CD Baby is quick, but the turnaround is longer than a week. __________________ #4F - Geezer Brigade "Cherri is our resident mom/ surrogate wife/ diplomat/ arbiter of common sense...and we lubs her..." Cherri & the Violators CNV Myspace page CNV Soundclick Page

01-09-2008, 11:59 AM	#19
strathound Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: 9999 Funky Avenue West Posts: 1,698	Is there a difference between Tunecore and CDBaby on how you get paid? I'm trying to understand what you get for your annual fee at Tunecore that would encourage me to do that instead of CDBaby where there isn't an annual fee. I mean, once iTunes has your music and starts selling it, seams like the hard part is done. __________________ The Majestics Proud Member of the Texas Blues Roadhouse Online. Click HERE for info.

01-09-2008, 11:40 PM	#20
Netvalar Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 38	Look over both sites completely I think you will find more help from CDBaby for the same cost 1st year and no additional costs in additional years. For instance CDBaby will help you be able to accept Credit Card transactions for merchandise and cd sales at your live shows. I didn't see anywhere on Tunecore for that. __________________ For the last decade people have been screaming for a music revolution. But the industry really needs an evolution.

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