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| CD Baby Has Paid Over $1 MILLION to Musicians for CDs sold |
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| posted by Derek Sivers on Sunday January 13 2002 @ 12:22PM PST |
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CD Baby Passes Million Dollar Mark In Musician Payouts
Portland, OR - CD Baby (www.cdbaby.com), an online retailer of independently released CDs, announced today that they have now paid over one million dollars to musicians for CDs sold.
CD Baby was started as a hobby in 1998 by musician Derek Sivers, looking for a better way to sell his own CD online. His musician friends also joined up, and told their friends. Soon, without any advertising, word-of-mouth quietly made CD Baby the largest independent-only CD store, with 10,000 artists selling over 100,000 CDs a year.
A unique setup, CD Baby only sells CDs for artists who have chosen to release their own records instead of signing with a record label. CD Baby gets the CDs directly from musicians, sells them online and pays the musician immediately after the sale. CD Baby currently pays about $20,000 per week directly to musicians.
In a typical record deal, musicians only make $1-$2 per CD, if they ever get paid by their label. When selling through CD Baby, musicians make $6-$12 per CD, and get paid weekly. "We're helping break the stereotype of independent musicians as unsigned or amateur musicians." Sivers says, "They're often just as good as the artists who have signed over their career to a corporate label, but they've decided to focus on making music instead of being a media star."
Refusing all investment and advertising dollars, CD Baby is that rare bird in both the Internet and music spaces - a profitable company. Hidden in a colorful Portland Oregon warehouse, the entire operation is run by only seven people, all of them musicians.
"I made the CD Baby web site in my spare time. Anyone can do it. Sell some great CDs, take orders, ship them out, and pay the musicians first. Don't spend the profits. Be a cool person. Let word-of-mouth happen. Voila! No need for all that corporate fat."
The company is actively growing and expanding while staying true to their mission of selling CDs for independent musicians. CD Baby is providing CD distribution for such online sites as MP3.com, IUMA, and Garageband - and is the preferred retailer for Oasis CD duplication and Discmakers.
Sivers says, "I'm not an accountant. I never look at the numbers. I just make sure the musicians are thrilled, the customers are thrilled, and the rest works itself out."
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Congratulations, Derek! That is soooo cool! I tell every musician I meet about you and CDBaby and Hostbaby. You are the best and I am so proud to know you!
Have another record breaking year, and I hope to see you at one of the conferences.
Peace and love,
Carole
www.specialblendz.com
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Dear Derek,
Like we say in Hebrew: Kol hakavod.
(It means: Well done, or literally, All honor to you.)
You're doing really special and important work. Congratulations, and thank you.
All the best,
Rahel Jaskow
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Future is here, musicians taking over business. Obviously not everyone is that commercially succesful - Congratulations!
All the best
Ernst Blomstrand
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People in the music business have told me "you can't be a children's artist and an adult artist at the same time." I say, Why not? It's adults who buy CDs for children, and if they like it, they want something for themselves.
I don't believe in barriers - just the way CDBABY has broken down barriers of the music biz to reach listeners.
I feel so lucky that CDBABY exists in this world! In every single piece of press that I'm able to obtain for Lezlee's Lovabyes, I direct everyone to CDBABY...and it works! THANK YOU!!
Lovabye,
Lezlee
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Derek
Awesome, just AWESOME!!! You are doing a great job as well as a service. Our CD's are selling great in Japan alone. I pray we just sell out in Japan!! God bless you and the Company.
Henry
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CONGRATULATIONS Derek, you truly deserve it...I know God is going to continue to bless you and the bizzz. As an artist I truly appreciate the exposure, It's been REAL.....(worldwide, it doesn't get better than that) Thanks to CDBABY
cdbaby.com/paulalatham
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I'm a newcomer to CDbaby and am convinced this is the best way forward for me! You're enabling me to pursue my dream. Thank you.
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Derek,
Love your common sense approch. Thank's
Rick Shorter
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Derek and cdbaby staff,
In a world of what ifs and maybe,
I seek righteousness and proper.
I was talking to Jill Cohn about cdbaby,
Only her next music set would stop her.
Needing more wisdom I started the computer,
Till I found cdbaby with this little pudgy face
that could be no cuter!
Giving birth to my first CD was a thought I
had not had,
Until I remembered the labor pains, all put
together could make a heap of sad.
We are glowing now with your wide open arms to
help us........so we call you DAD!
thank you for your compassion, care, and responsive action to our needs,
much love, Ben Small
P.S. If you need a break and want to go fishing give me a call here in Corvallis:)
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HEY DEREK,
GOD BLESS YOU MAN, YOU REALLY DESERVE A BIG CONGRATULATIONS ON ALL YOUR SUCCESS. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE FOR ME, AND YOU WILL BE MY CD STORE FOR LIFE!!
I WILL BE SENDING YOU MORE CD'S SINCE IT'S SELLING GOOD IN JAPAN!!
VERY SINCERELY YOURS,
GENE STEWART
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Derek,
What I meant to say before I clicked the button
accidently...;-)
is..
that you are a true visionary. I am so glad you
are getting such great success. I knew you would
because someone had to prove that you can make
money and still help people in an honest way.
What a great example you are to the business and
music community. Let's just hope others will get
the message.
Maybe we can have world peace next...can you start
working on that too?
Love your soul
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Dear Derek
Wot up bro! wot a gr8 idea! without knowing bout this site i probly wud hav nva persude my music making hobby!
Peace n lv!
Kw1n
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Derek, it truely is a BZE(World) and I can't thank you enough for keeping us in the loop and having a place to call home. I check my site and reviews & email with more anticipation of more new sales of "The Release Of A G." CD. You make it possible to reach millions of fans Worldwide and the tracking sheet is proof. I look forward to setting up many of B.Z.E.(World) artist for years to come. "Where there is sparks so there is a Flame! Holla
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| NOTE: If you need a reply you should email CD Baby directly instead of posting here. We don't often read old message board postings, and have no way of replying to them!
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