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| CD Baby Sales - doubled again! |
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CD Baby sales doubled again, as they have each year since I started this baby.
We've paid $500,000 (half-million!) to artists in the last few months. It took 3.5 years of sales to pay artists the first million-dollar mark that happened on December 31.
Now the next million-dollar mark will happen this year alone.
A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to all the artists on CD Baby that are doing a better-and-better job of getting their music out there, and selling CDs!
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Thanks brother, but I'm sure all here would agree that praise and respect is due up front to you Derek. Peace-Ry
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I Totally agree with Ry,,,the only thing that pisses me off, is that I didn't think of the CDBaby idea before Derek did!!,,,good job bro, we love ya,,,,mike
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It's unfortunate you weren't running ENRON and MCI, imagine if they had had the same results--but then, they would have been more interested in their employees....this place is awesome!!!!!
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I believe that if local radio stations would support local bands and musicians by playing their material on the radio and then giving out their CdBaby URL, sales would go through the roof. Keep up the great work Derek. - Russ
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I agree with you! Independant groups need a large voice...CD baby screams....
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I was a DJ back in the late sixties and seventies, we really pushed the local music and played local artists music. DJ's were more in charge, You picked your music, you had to be funny, able to introduce the music, etc, now a DJ is tied to a format, to me there are no DJ's anymore, just guys and gals who every now and then give us the Time and Temp... Sad, but true, the local bands will never get the air play and that is a shame because there is great talent out there. Why I love CDbaby.com. Now go buy my CD's I need some new socks.
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Way to go, Derek! That's great!
(You may want to know that I wrote CD Baby in as a candidate for a Webby Award. Hope it helps!)
Thanks for all the work you do. May your success increase!
Best,
Rahel
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ConGRADUATIONS Derek and all@ CDbaby for creating a trusting and nurturing interface for my outward bound sounds .........
peace @ your center_
thumbtack smoothie
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Helluva job Derek!!!!!! Thanks to you and your staff @ CDBaby "Tha Fam" here @ Crazy Loot Records has definately found a home and will continue to support you 100%. One.....
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That's fabulous news, Derek. Congratulations to you and the staff at CD Baby on such stunning success! You've certainly earned it, and we are very grateful for all your help in getting our music out into the world.
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Not surprised Derek .... your creativity and energy has helped the independent artists become "known" to the world. Your little dream has grown to a wonderful reality. Good Karma.
Pops Walker
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We love CDBaby! Congrats and many, many thanks from the indie music community to Derek and his hardworking crew.
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i'm not surprised at the the success of
cdbaby...having bought a few cds already (and have
been really surprised at the speed at which they
got to the uk) i know what a fun-to-deal-with
company it is...just keep doing
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The success of this site and other sites who
cater to indie musicians is simple to
understand. They are selling the dream. The
dream is that you can record an album on the
cheap and sell copies and make money.
Maybe someday you'll quit your job and make
a full-time occupation at music. Probably not,
but hey, that's why it's a dream and that's the
secret to success - give 'em hope no matter
what the odds (see the Big Game, Mega
Millions, Powerball, Vegas, Atl. City, et al).
You've got guys thrilled to have sold 7 CDs
(see the "cdbaby.com VS. cdstreet.com VS.
amazon.com" thread) - so, how could you not
succeed when success for the participating
artists is set so modestly. You'll never go
broke feeding, or catering to, THE DREAM.
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Well I see that "internet investment guru" is a
fairly cynical character who doesn't quite have
his facts straight. First, the numbers above
show that CD Baby makes most of it's money
from CD sales rather than set-up fees. There
are many artists on CD Baby, but hardly
enough to keep a business going for two and
a half years at $35 a pop.
By the way, the REAL "dream" is to become
"successful" in the music industry, what ever
that means to each of us. I will agree that
some people are trying to make money from
thier musical hobby, but what is wrong with
that? I would also mention that many of the
artists on the site are already full time
musicians.
Unlike the lottery and various gambling
establishments, CD Baby offers not only hope,
but also help to reach your particular dream,
even if it is only to sell seven CDs.
I believe that CD Baby is all about avoiding
corporate mindsets like internet investment
guru's. So, "guru" maybe some day you will
get a soul. Probably not, but at least you could
do the math before you spread your bad
attitude on top of bad "facts".
I send best wishes to Derek and all the CD
Baby crew. Thanks for doing a great job
helping all of us reach for our own "dream".
Craig Matison
The Upper Twelve
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I think you just reinforced my point.
You'll not go broke feeding the dream.
Even if the dream is 7 CDs sold.
7 CDs times 22,000 artists = ?
154,000 @ $4 = $616,000.00
Give or Take.
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Cost of 10,000 sq. ft warehouse to hold those 22,000 artists' CDs. Cost of three full-time people to answer questions from 22,000 artists and 200,000 customers? Cost of four full-time shipping department people to ship the 500 orders a day, and receive, inventory, and file over 100 incoming boxes a day? Cost of three full-time people to listen to every CD that comes in while making a web page for it? Cost of developing the kind of database/website infrastructure that can handle all that?
Try it sometime.
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Of course the $616,000.00 figure in the
mythical example above is GPPD.
GPPD = Gross Profit Per Disc.
I didn't think anyone would take it as NPPD.
NPPD = Net Profit Per Disc.
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Regardless, of what the genuis is here (site
the #s) what matters here is that Derek is a
music lover. Derek thought of a system to
help himself and to help other musicians. It
doesn't matter how much he makes from it.
He should get every penny he gets. He's not
robbing the indie artist here. He is giving
them an opportunity that they would not have
had if it were not for CDBaby. So what about
CDStreet and Amazon.com they cater to
different people. I think it is great that these
sites are giving to the artist. Do you have any
real clue? The IIG sounds like a pissed off
major label old schooler. Why do people have
to get their panties in a wad because the artist
is actually seeing the money here. Do you
know how many major labels don't even offer
their bands what CDBaby offers them? A little
more control over their art form, the money
they make, giving them pointers to get their
music heard, etc...
Just like any store these website that help out
indie artists attract a different group of people,
not all the same. So a bands fan base can
grow that much more just from being on a few
different sites such as CDBaby.
So all I can say here is good job Derek and
keep up the good work and don't let the
jealous ones get you down. Would love to
work with CDBaby I am sure it is a fun/good
company to work for.
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Congratulations, Derek. Thanks for everything you've done. Your success is very impressive.
Sincerely,
Kelly Buchanan
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CD baby we love you here at SOTAM keep up the good work congratulations.
SINCERELY,
HORACE RILEY
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It's not a million a month, it's a million total.
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Yep, mighty fine work, folks. I'm talking you up everywhere I go. Peace,
David
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Congratulations Derek!
Way to pimp the system.
Kenny K
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where does it say million in those numbers? It only goes up to $180,000
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>>where does it say million in those numbers? It only goes up to $180,000
Sorry - not well labeled. That chart is CD sales per month, NOT "total". (That's why it went down in January, for example.)
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Awesome, just awesome. Derek, YOU THE MAN!!
H.Herron
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Awesome - but it's not surprising - CDBaby is a great idea, right on the case with customer services - and the product is the best you can get. Thanks for being there with us and for doing it so cleanly and so clearly.
A toast - to soaring sales!!!!
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Congradulations Derek and the CDBABY staff on your much deserved success for your hard work and dedication! Sincerely, Martin Jaye
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I have really looked over a bunch of indie websites and kept coming to CDBaby. I like the way it is written, I feel like I am being talked with not to or down. Congrats on a great site CD and thanks.
Lloyd Haymon
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Keep it Poppin:Derick and John and the crew." its on like donkey Kong....
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YO I AM A NEW ARTIST TO CDBABY BUT NOT NEW TO CDBABY. I HAVE BEEN SITTING BACK WATCING AND WAITING TO SEE IF THIS IS A GOOD IDEA. HOW DO YOU DO THAT? YOU READ THE POST YOU CHECK SEARCH ENGINES YOU CALL, OH YEAH I CALLED.AND MY CONCLUCION IS THIS LIKE IT SAID IN THE BEGINING I AM A NEW ARTIST TO CD BABY. BEING INDEPENDENT MEANS " NUTS AND BOLTS" CAUSE THATS WHAT YOU ARE WORKING WITH AND DEREK, BUDY, BUILT A BENTLEY!!!
THE ONLY WAY TO GET PAID AND THIS IS ALSO COMMENT TO I.I.G " THIS IS A I WILL WORK AS HARD AS YOU WORK BUT EVEN HARDER PROGRAM. IN LAMEMONS TERMS IF YOU ARENT PROMOTING YOUR MUSIC OR JUST DON'T MAKE GOOD MUSIC THEN HELL NOT EVEN GOD CAN SELL THEM FOR YOU. AND SEVEN CD'S SOLD WOULD MOST definitely BE A BLESSIN. SO DEREK LETS MAKE SOME MONEY!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Hello Baby Boy, and thanks for your comment.
You're right. I agree with what you say.
The genius of the site is the way it is set up.
With this site, it's not required to have
musicians selling hundreds or even ten CDs
a month.
Just get enough guys and gals and bands
selling 7 CDs a year. That's all you need, and
that's the genius.
Working even harder for yourself, would be
gravy for this site. That's the genius.
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I I G is just mad because daddy took away I I
G's guitar when he was a teenager and made
him go to college and be financially
successful. But all he wanted was to be a
rockstar! Obviously he still does want to just
be a rockstar. Sad.
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Derek, You Rock as Usual.
With the state of the music industry (sales declining), I think you'd better keep CDBaby a secret. . . If the big 5 record companies find out about you, they are going to try to buy you out.
Don't let them.
K
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Dear Derek,
just want to say, " thank you " because of you I am getting great respond back from different companies around the world. I received a e-mail letter from Tim Anthory
from London England, and he wants to put information out on me in his Magazine. Also, I signed a Master release agreement with, Emerald Records/ Cliff Ayers from Nashville, TN
and they are putting " A Change Is Gonna Come " on their Complication CD which will be distributed around the world, This I hope will finally get me the recording contract I've been working so hard to get. And because of this, you and CDBABY became a reality in my life. Keep up the good work, God has truly smile down on you!!
Very Truly Yours,
Gene Stewart
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Hey folks! My group does an unusual folk music from Veracruz, Mexico, so it will be interesting to see what happens here! I checked out CDBaby, CD Street and Amazon (I did duplication through Oasis, and they offer those three options) and from what I am seeing, Amazon is the LOSER! They only pay the artist 45% of the retail, so at our retail we would lose money with every CD sold. I am seriously thinking of forgetting Amazon, and listing with CD Baby only. I got my CDs yesterday, created my account last night, and am shipping my CDs today!
John
www.elsondelpueblo.com
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Hey folks! My group does an unusual folk music from Veracruz, Mexico, so it will be interesting to see what happens here! I checked out CDBaby, CD Street and Amazon (I did duplication through Oasis, and they offer those three options) and from what I am seeing, Amazon is the LOSER! They only pay the artist 45% of the retail, so at our retail we would lose money with every CD sold. I am seriously thinking of forgetting Amazon, and listing with CD Baby only. I got my CDs yesterday, created my account last night, and am shipping my CDs today!
John
www.elsondelpueblo.com
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yeah, cdbaby is defintely impressive. giving much thanks to all the staff who have supported Arjun and Guardians, and Bhajananandi.You guys r cool, good taste, and hope for more and more success, which seems to be running it anyway!
listed right up front in my new cd for where to buy my cds on the web.thanks again!
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we have several thousand songs for sale and submission....we're not too familiar with your company....please tell us: What advantage we might have placing our material with you,for distribution?
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CD BABY IS WORKIN FOR ME I LOVE THE CONCEPT AND APPRECIATE THE HELP THAT THE CREW GIVES NO BAD EXPERIENCES AND I AM TRULY ENJOYING THOSE 5 PM NOTICES LETTING ME KNOW THAT IVE JUST SOLD ANOTHER CD OR IN SOME CASES ANOTHER 10 GREAT IDEA GREAT SERVICE AND UNLIKE SOME OF MY OTHER NON -CYBERSPACE DISTRIBUTION EFFORTS THE CD BABY CHECKS CA$H!! NO BULL SH@# THESE GUYS AND DOLLS ARE ABOUT GOOD BUSINESS
MUCH LOVE
B.R.
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"The one that listens is the one that understands."
Jabo proverb
CDBaby Rocks.
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That i.i.g. person seems a little jealous.
I just put in 5 CD's for selling and paid my $35
and will probably crap if even one sells
(considering the sad quality of the recording).
But i have worked in the financial real world,
and I can tell you that 35 bucks and a 4 dollar
cut off the top of 7 CD's after payroll is done,
and the lights, and insurance, well, it might get
you a burger and a beer. But riding your bike
because you dont have a car, and major
perseverance, is true dedication. And
dedication from love for an idea is
SUPPOSED to make you the kind of money
that others will covet, eventually. That's why I
recorded some music on crappy equipment.
Maybe one day...
Thanks, in advance, Derek.
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hey folks just sent 5 screamin' hot rock c.d.s the band is called coma king and the cd is called conscious effort. check it out!!
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I have had two CD's on CD Baby for about a year now and the sales just keep picking up and picking up. What Derek Sivers has done for the independant artist is unbielevable! What a great fucking idea! Baby! So go to my site and check out those CD's and while you're at it order a couple they make great Holiday gifts for your parents and Grandparents! They just love that Piano music.
Jim Bajor
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I think all of us independant artist have a lot to be grateful for in Derek Sivers and his wonderful creation CD BABY! What an honest no bullshit site. What a great fucking system. All for a mere $35.00 and you're on here for life. And I've never worked with any distributor or retailer in almost 20 years in this business who pays like Derek pays. Those checks are right there in the mail pronto!! And you gotta love that. Derek is truly the the Recording Artists advocate. Everyting he does is to help us to succeed. All the CD Baby stuff the books the data bases, etc. it's all for our benefit. And good for him if he can make a few bucks in the process. He well deserves it. I look forward to the day when CD Baby is my full time living. And I know that following Dereks guidance it can and will be. Derek here's to you BABY!! For all you do.!!
Jim Bajor
www.jimbajor.com
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Derek,
You along with Cdbaby are the best. If everyone in the music business does business like you, this world would be a better place. I have recommended friends of mine to Cdbaby and they too are enjoying the same success that I have been enjoying.
Keep up the good work, ya 'ear me son?
Nuff Luv,
Delroy Souden
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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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