Benefit Compilation 01: Sponsorship, Distribution, Promotion

We need at LEAST nonexclusive digital distribution of the compilation (and possibly physical distribution), as well as aggressive promotion in all social networks related to Zaadz - mostly the zero-expense classic, word-of-mouth. And depending on how far we decide to take this and how much money we care to invest, we’ll need sponsors. I know Zaadz likes putting money into this kind of thing but I haven’t talked to any of the higher-ups directly, yet.

As far as distribution goes, CDBaby.com requires a $35 application fee and 5 physical CDs, and they take half of the profit. This kind of thing may not be avoidable if we’re going to outsource our distribution, but I’d rather not go through them if we can help it. Setting up a Paypal account or opening some other direct channel would leave us more money for the cause itself.

That said, here are two suggested distribution media that warrant further exploration:

http://ingrooves.com/index_signup.html

http://www.last.fm/tools/downloads/

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Re: Benefit Compilation 01: Sponsorship, Distribution, Promotion

Another avenue to explore is tunecore: http://www.tunecore.com/
Tunecore has a very compelling digital distribution model, but are lacking in hardcopy CD distribution.

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Re: Benefit Compilation 01: Sponsorship, Distribution, Promotion

I think the owners of Zaadz should be approached.  I would think they would like this project.

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Re: Benefit Compilation 01: Sponsorship, Distribution, Promotion

I like Ingrooves. I have a record currently under digital with them. They're reliable and helpful. They take 15%, and send it to over 200 online outlets including iTunes. There's no setup fee.

The other alternatives are IODA, and The Orchard.

IODA, only works with labels. So we'd need that backing. They offer the same feature set as Ingrooves with a few enhancements.

http://www.iodalliance.com/


The Orchard costs to register a record - i forget the cost…but they have a syncing service with international clients…which means good exposure for Zaadz and artists as well as nice $ba-ding

http://www.theorchard.com/

all of these are non-exclusive. all of these do essetially the same thing.

Lastfm is social music network with radio/page listings etc. they're not a distributor…a very good awareness tool…

as for physical distribution. This is not so simple. but a suggestion is White Swan

http://www.whiteswanmusic.com/

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Re: Benefit Compilation 01: Sponsorship, Distribution, Promotion

Another idea would be to talk to magnatune records. They've got a great philisophy…

http://magnatune.com/

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Re: Benefit Compilation 01: Sponsorship, Distribution, Promotion

Hi,

I could very likely get digital distribution to all the major digital networks through one of my label partners (INgrooves or Magnatune.com). Both are non-exclusive. I could make introductions and let you take it from there. NOTE: INgrooves may not be interested unless I release the album under my label (Tourist Records). They only work with labels. I suppose Zaadz could create a label.

With digital distribution, you're not going to be able to track who purchased. So, a simple “pay for album / profits go to charity” approach would need to be implemented.

Maganatune would likely be the best approach. You can also see who purchased. They take 50% of all sales, which is well deserved. They do quite a bit for us artists.

Rob

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Re: Benefit Compilation 01: Sponsorship, Distribution, Promotion

I'd like to throw Nimbit into the hat for a potential distribution partner.  I met with the founders last week about some other business, and I think I could work out a special arrangement with them because this will be for charity. I was blown away with everything that they have put together using an elegant online dashboard to control it all.

They provide you with the means to sell on Itunes (and you keep 100% of the profits), but the also give you an ecommerce engine for selling downloads on your own site, Myspace, and CDFreedom, as well.  Through CDFreedom they provide a means to sell CDs. They also provide a tool for generating sales reports.
 
Their offering also can provide you with assistance in credit card processing at gigs, managing mailing lists and email marketing, radio promotion & tracking airplay, and building and maintaining web sites.

They have bigger and better things on the way.  Unfortunately, I can't talk about those things yet.

You should all check it out.

 

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Re: Benefit Compilation 01: Sponsorship, Distribution, Promotion

My website used to be hosted by Nimbit.  I'd recommend working with them too.  I had a good experience with them.  I took my site down though to save money. 

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Promotion

Good news!  It looks like Zaadz may be able to give this compilation its own storefront right here.  That means we might not have to throw even a FEW dollars from each sale to our distributor…but we still need to figure out how to PROMOTE this.  If you have any ideas that haven't already been posted, please use this space to brainstorm/share/expound.  (This is probably going to get released in late May/early June, by the way.)

your brother in sound
Michael

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Re: Promotion

We should all certainly promote on our Web sites, profiles, etc. 

For the audience we'll mainly reach via Zaadz, digital may be best. Probably should try this first then see if there is a demand for physical CDs. Just about anyone with a computer can burn these days. However, if any of us plan to sell at performances or other events, then who knows. About half the people at my performances ask me if I'm online. I sell over 90% of my work online.

In the end I'd chip in $100.

Have you talked to any of the Zaadz sponsors about inserting a short article on their sites or magazines?

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Re: Promotion

I think we should see where demand is and then check out the physical CD distribution options.  I will be happy to put in $100 if needed.  I think we should all use our existing social circles to help spread the word on Zaadz and its album :) 

I am a Shambhala Buddhist and would be happy to send out a notice on the Shambhala list serv to the thousands of Shambhalians worldwide, letting them know about the album!

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Re: Promotion

I am good friends with the owner of CDFreedom.com and I feel confident that I can get the disc manufactured at cost through our relationship and because it's for a good cause. 

I also can use Nimbit to assist with promotion, digital sales, etc.

I have long standing relationships with a number of editors in the music industry, so I may be able to secure some press for the album.  

My company will begin featuring our employees and their musical pursuits next week.  I can include myself in this if I choose, and promote my recent work for the album.  Our newsletter goes out to hundreds of thousands of musicians worldwide.

I am willing to put in $100 to put toward CDs.

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Re: Benefit Compilation 01: Sponsorship, Distribution, Promotion

i am thinkin disc makers or one of the biggies b/c they auto enroll u in
itunes and cdbaby…reid genauer from assembly of dust runs that company emusic…i went to high school w/him. is he a zaadzter?

oh yeah…
doesn’t WHOLE FOODS have a CD rack in their stores?
i am certain i have seen putamayo stuff in there

ooh ooh i love stream of conciousness…

whole foods>world domination>starbucks>HEAR music?
just a thought….

at yr plervice….

jaik

)*(

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Re: Benefit Compilation 01: Sponsorship, Distribution, Promotion

oh yeah
i am in for a buck ^..^

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Re: Benefit Compilation 01: Sponsorship, Distribution, Promotion

I can get us on Itunes and the other major online distributors.

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Re: Benefit Compilation 01: Sponsorship, Distribution, Promotion

1) Promotion - hmmm, good question. Best promoted through Zaadz, I think. If we could get promoted by Zaadz, that could be GREAT! And advertising in WIE might drum a lot of interest too, but be expensive, I'd imagine.

2) I'm not sure how much the CD demand would be. I personally think it'd be cool to have CDs, but where would we sell them from?What if we put on “Zaadz visionary music” concerts here and there, based on where artists in the compilation live. The CDs could be part of the sales there. That would be a really cool idea, I think.

3) I'd be willing to chip in the money, but I'd want to know first what our whole game plan is.

-David

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Re: Benefit Compilation 01: Sponsorship, Distribution, Promotion

Hi Michael ~

Re your email: I guess my feeling is to see how our DD goes first. See if the energy is there that could support the existance of a physical CD. I must admit though, David Titterington's artwork sure makes you want to want to hold it in your hand :) Whoever came up with him deserves a metal! Very good! I would be proud! ~ But first things first.

I'm not the greatest about this but I suppose that the demand for CDs would indeed be there (whenever) because, even though we live in our computer age, I feel people *might* prefer to hold this beauty in there own hands. But, I am 46, not 26 or 16.

Here's were I (and perhaps most people) will poop out. $. Invest. Because of my personal finances of living on social security disability, I myself will not be in a position to invest. Although, if worked out right I might be able to swing $5-10 per month or something, and this project will need more that that. But, I can be there if needed.

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Re: Benefit Compilation 01: Sponsorship, Distribution, Promotion

I run a small business, and earn less than the minimum, which is fine, but it leaves no money to promote my music, and by association ” our music “. I’m not sure I will ever break even on costs with my stuff, I have a very small but devoted fan base. The Zaadz CD project will obviously appeal to many more people, but I find myself unable to offer more than some administration costs, and hope that the sales grow faster than mine.
My limited experience of selling CDs suggests that nobody ever buys music they’ve not heard of before. I hard lesson for me to learn, since much of my astounding music collection was purchased unheard.
I can only hope that we are able to plug the Zaadz connection to sell the CDs, or get more media exposure, or ( at worst ) offer the music as a download to guage demand and build a client base.
I have never applied business rules to my creative endeavours - a sure way to remain obscure, so don’t pay too much notice to my advice.

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Re: Benefit Compilation 01: Sponsorship, Distribution, Promotion

This is a compilation album.  The danger of selling it digitally would be the cherrypicking of individual tracks.  I'd like to think that because this is for a cause, and a good one that we could sell enough CDs to justify a small run. 

Who turns down kids with chocolate? 

Who turns down  Girl Scout Cookies?

Who turns down their friends when they are doing a walk for hunger or a 10K for breast cancer?

Let's say you get 20 CDs for $100.

We all must know some people that we could ask for a $10 donation for CDs?

If you sold 10, you would earn your investment back.

If you sent the other 10 into your local paper(s), music publications, and college radio stations, with a press release that I am willing to write, you may be lucky enough to get press for yourself, and for the project which could drive additional sales.

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Re: Benefit Compilation 01: Sponsorship, Distribution, Promotion

I know a number of people in Cohen's circle, and will inquire what the likelihood would be of getting this mentioned in WIE.

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Re: Benefit Compilation 01: Sponsorship, Distribution, Promotion

We should also see if Kiva would be willing to promote the CD to their list and on their website .

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Re: Benefit Compilation 01: Sponsorship, Distribution, Promotion

I learned last week that I will be the featured visual artist for the month of June on IntegralNaked.org.  If we can get moving on this I can promote the album in my bio for the gallery.

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Re: Benefit Compilation 01: Sponsorship, Distribution, Promotion

Please read all my posts in this thread as I just replied to half a dozen posts with various thoughts, and I realized they are scattered throughout the page. 

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Re: Benefit Compilation 01: Sponsorship, Distribution, Promotion

I attended a group meditation at Andrew Cohen's EnlightenNext center.  I spoke with my friends that work with Andrew, and they said they would put a word in for us then connect me with the editors at WIE.  Once have the CD printed I'll make the connection.  

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Re: Benefit Compilation 01: Sponsorship, Distribution, Promotion

Carl - those are all great ideas!  I would say however that our digital distribution of the album will be an “all or nothing” affair - at least here on Zaadz.  I don't want cherrypicking either.  But I would like to get the CDs pressed, and promotion through WIE and IN would be excellent.  I'll bring that up with the Zaadz kids when I speak to them about this.

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Re: Benefit Compilation 01: Sponsorship, Distribution, Promotion

Michael and all,

first of, thanks for putting this together! can't wait to see this out there.

for now even though Zaadz doesn't have a media section yet where you can upload stuff, we can certainly help with the promotion (e.g. giving it a shout out on the Team Blog, etc.).

as for promotion, aside from Zaadz, i suggestion to leveraging all your social networking profiles (e.g. Myspace) and point them to your main page where you have the compiled collection.

we can also help you out with a zPro account. just send me a unique email that i can associate with the zPro account and design for the banner. what's a zPro? here's an example :)

for more serendipity, i also suggest that you offer free music samples. for example, if you have an account on free audio hosting sites (e.g. Odeo), you can upload your sample music there and embed them on Zaadz. if you have videos, consider uploading them to YouTube or Google Videos and then embed them on your Zaadz blogs and pods.

that's all for now. feel free to ask me if you have any questions.

godspeed and keep it flowing..

~C

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