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| Why you can't make ANY changes to an album in Digital Distribution |
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PLEASE READ this is VERY important if you were EVER planning on making a change to your album, including remixing, new artwork, adding a new song, etc.
Many artists email us, saying, "I have a new album cover for that album you have - can I send you the new album cover, and you can update iTunes and all the other digital retailers?"
Or: "The version of my CD I sent you was a pre-release. Now that the final version is out and remixed, we need to update it on all the digital sites."
SORRY! Can't do it. Here's why...
Most major digital retailers were built around the major-label retail model -- the traditional album-based releases.
In the traditional physical album model, once an album is released, it is NEVER EVER changed.
Or, rather, if an album is remixed or changed in any way, it is put out as a whole new version: a new album with a new UPC barcode.
That's a big part of what UPC Barcodes are for : to determine the difference not only between albums, but between different versions of the same album.
EXAMPLE #1:
the 24-bit remix of Miles Davis' Kind of Blue is technically a different album than the original-mix version. Different UPC Barcodes. Different entries in the database.
EXAMPLE #2:
when Radiohead puts out a limited-edition version of their album with extra cardboard artwork, even though the music is *exactly* the same, the extra-artwork version is a different UPC Barcode with a different price, and a different entry in the system
What happens if a record label wants to REPLACE the old version of Miles Davis' Kind of Blue with the NEW version? They'd have to REMOVE the old one completely, and send out the remixed version as a totally different album!
That's the way you (and we) have to work with the digital retailers. That's the way the system works.
Most of these companies (iTunes, Napster, Rhapsody, MSN Music, etc) - have no real system in place to make any changes to an album that's already up and selling -- because none of the major labels (MOST of their business) - would ever ask them to do that!
So... if you are thinking of putting out ONE version of your CD now, and a DIFFERENT version soon - please keep this in mind. You'll have to start the process all over again with the new version, as if it was a whole new album.
In short:Most major digital retailers were built around the major-label retail model, where once an album is released, it is NEVER EVER changed. So - just like the majors - if an album is remixed or changed in any way, it has to be put out as a whole new version: a new album with a new UPC barcode, signed up as a new release.
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Hello,
I have not signed my album up for digital distribution for THIS VERY reason.
Since my album on CD baby is pre-release, do you have the same requirement that I create an entirely new album?
I figured that I would take the samples out (if I can't clear them), and officially release it after that.
What do you think? CD baby policy on this?
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Everything I said, above, is only for albums that have been sent out into the world for digital distribution.
"This only applies to Digital Distribution, not selling your CD at CD Baby"
If it hasn't been sent out for digital distribution, then yes we can make changes to it.
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| by
on Sunday December 19 2004 @ 10:53AM PST [ reply | parent ] |
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Thank you for the quick reply. I am impressed with the CD baby level of service I have to say.
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How about this scenario:
Our CD sells out the first pressing. It was never signed up for DD.
We re-release it with some improvements (mixing and artwork), get it a UPC, and sign it up for DD.
Will the new mixes be sent to the digital services? Or will the old version be the source of the digital files?
Thanks.
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Yes that scenario would work. You'd just have to double-emphasize that you need us to ERASE your old artwork, ERASE your old audio files, and REPLACE them with your updated version - and then see it with your own eyes - BEFORE signing it up to digital distribution.
Because once you sign it up for digital distribution, we use the digital master on file at the time to make all future copies.
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Is it possible to have an album completely removed from digital distribution?
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Can i do a digital ONLY release via CD baby first with just 5 songs and then release physical album after 3 months?
thanks!
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It would be difficult. Our system is set up to only digitally-distribute albums that are active and selling on cdbaby.com. So - you could send us one copy, let it run "out of stock" so nobody could buy the physical CD, then mail us more CDs 3 months later.
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so the 5 songs have to be on a CD first with barcoding etc. and graphic as well. then i make it out of stock by buying my own cd..then continue with digital distribution? or produce a mini-album with 5 songs and do phase 1 release?
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>so the 5 songs have to be on a CD first with barcoding etc. and graphic as well
Yes. The day your CD arrives we make the album artwork graphic that will be sent to all digital retailers. Once sent it can not be changed. So the day your album arrives here for digital distribution is how it must be permanently.
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So, theoretically, you could, for example, scan new cover art for an existing album and apply that to the CDBaby site, but the change could and would not be reflected in teh image used on other sales sites or digital, eg Tower, or iTunes?
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We have an interesting case at Itunes now that Blanche Davidian's Attack of the Killer is listed with them and a handful of others (thanks to CDBABY). The thirteenth track is actually a 4 munite song. However, the band mixed the song with 9 minutes of dead silence and a little surprise at the end. So track 13 is a 14 minute track. Itunes chose to NOT make the 13th track available as a ala carte download, but I believe it is available if someone DL'd the whole album.
In a way this is cool since it sort of gives the effect of having a "bonus track". In a way this is not cool since track #13, titled "Petunia:, is one of the main songs we are pushing to radio as a single.
An interesting thing to mention about the concept that "if you change an album, it becomes a different album". Good Charlotte a few months back released two versions of their album. Both with different artwork and both with a different bonus track. I am almost sure that they had different UPCs. However, Billboard allowed them to track the album together as "one" release, thus giving the record a higher position on the charts.
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Does the "cannot change a thing" rule apply to the genre catagories?
Everything you have is correct, as usual, but some of the DD sites have incorrectly labeled the genre.
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If there is a mistake, please go into your members login area at https://members.cdbaby.com/ - then click [DIGITAL] - and at the bottom of the page, click "Report a problem"
Please understand that "I'VE CHANGED MY ALBUM" is different than "ITUNES SCREWED UP AND PUT IT IN THE WRONG GENRE".
If a retailer has made a mistake, TELL US with "Report a Problem".
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You guys are very on point! Response time is one of the best qualities that your business has to offer! I would not deal with a company who didn't respond back when I had important questions about my music, which is my life! Responding promptly just lets me know that you take my work seriously, and care about how I feel about decisions that I am making. Thanx cd baby!
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I just signed up for digital distribution only. But can I send you CDRs with just writing on them for sale? I lost my job six months ago and I cant afford to print even stickers to cover the ep! I know its a jerky thing to do but the sound quality is great & I must make this god damned band PAY!!!... Thank you. I'm really excited about all of this! ~bob~
http://cdbaby.com/cd/deemeduseless
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> But can I send you CDRs with just writing on them for sale?
Yes, but nobody will buy them.
Best to have a friend do the artwork and use their color printer. Surely you can ask around.
If you want it to tell, you have to more care into the presentation as well.
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Hmmmmmm we only have a demo right now. I didn't look at how you sell physical albums and take 4$ as your cut (which is fair). My eyes honed in on digital distribution and the opprotunity to sell single songs. Thanks
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I am assuming what i read here that my question is a no but just
to confirm. Can an artist change their name after already
submitting for digital distribution? I am changing mine to Kim
DiVine so it is more searchable and easier to get to.
thanks....Kim
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> Can an artist change their name after already submitting for digital distribution?
The important point is whether we have SENT it anywhere yet.
If we've already sent it, it can't be changed.
If we haven't, it can.
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Hello I have a question about hidden songs:
I submitted my CD "Moons of Jupiter" to CD Baby for DD. All tracks can be listened to as a sampler. I have since realized that they can be listened to on ITunes then saved as a free download. Can I now request some of the tracks to be "hidden" - no free download. It doesn't make any sense to give it all away even if the exposure is good and may lead to sync licenses.
Thanks
Keith Edwards
CD:Moons of Jupiter
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What happens if your CD is encoded incorrectly by CD Baby? My band submitted our CD and whoever encoded it did so incorrectly so now all our track names are mislabeled. We did everything correctly, exactly as requested, yet now we have to face the fact that our songs are completely mis-labeled and incorrect on every download service available. What now?
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Ok, I know i would have to void out my album to make title changes to three songs. My question is when i void out the original album will i need to send another copy of the album to you guys, and will i need to pay again? And what happens to my pending DD sales, because it takes like three months or so to get paid from DD.
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Just wanted to thank you all for the good work you have done with helping independent artist promote their music. This has been a great opportunity and I know I don't take it for granted. Back in the day all these groups would have never been heard and just overlooked!
Thanks Again! MOAN A.K.A. RAW (GODBODY)
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I don't see an answer to this question: How do you remove an album from digital distribution?
I need to know that as well...
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> How do you remove an album from digital distribution?
Just email us.
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Our album, "Harmons Peak, Traditional American Music," has been for sale on CD Baby for almost three weeks and we are considering DD. Our recording engineer did not put track info onto our CD. Will this be a problem for DD? If so, can we supply the track info separately?
We are very pleased with CD Baby's service so far. Thanks for your good service!
Paul
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What abou artwork
Do I need to put out a brand new disk to change the ablum cover
Can I try to contact itunes directly
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MKEYS : yes a new album cover = a new release.
Because that's how the majors do it. if they change the album art on something, they give it a new name (like remix) and assign it a new barcode.
You can't contact iTunes directly about this. (If you do, they will tell you to contact us.)
Sorry - that's the way their systems were built.
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Hi there...
Crud... I just now read this after sending changes. I wasn't aware.... D'OH!
Yes- I too am extremely impressed with CD BABY!
I don't know ANYONE in the game who does business this way- THE RIGHT WAY- who cares as much about artists and fairness.
You guys rock and I want to thank you again for being so excellent!
:)
lp
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I seen a cdbefore that had the same barcode tile etc, as an older version of it that was released about 4 years ago it just had a new front and back cover and everything was the same iam 100 percent sure. there were only a few changes to the covers like the colors were different and on the back cover a couple of the logos, the font etc were change everything else was the same.
I also saw the Michael Jackson CD invincible had the same barcode even though it came in about 4 different colors red blue gray yellow etc for the first batch of disc because i have to of the version one blue and one gray and there are the same barcodes on both the covers and the disc
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Somehow our new CD ended up on iTunes with the right cover
art, right track names, but wrong CD name-it now duplicates the
name of another CD we have on iTunes. Turns out someone
(possibly our well meaning but absent minded professor of a
songwriter) had the wrong CD name listed somewhere with
CDBaby. I corrected that, but it is still incorrect on iTunes. How
do we correct it on iTunes ?
Thnaks
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I want to put a description of the music before my bio and background influences in my profiles for the various digital download sites you guys signed me up with.
Can I still add to the "about me" or "bio" or take anything out once signed up for digital distribution? Everything about the cd would be the same, artwork and audio on disc, but just the bio I would like updated...can you update the bio, just once?
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HI FROM EUROPE,
I'M A M MUSICIAN AND WRITE MY OWN SONGS MUSIC TO IT AND OWN A STUDIO ALRIGHT?I WANNA BE PART OF CD BABY ARTISTS WHO SELL THEIR MUSIC THROUGH YOU BUT I GOT ONE QUESTION WHICH BOTHERS ME A BIT
YOU SAY YOU GOT TO OWN THE COPYRIGHT AND SOUNDS TO YOUR MUSIC!!!HOW DO I DO THAT?WHEN I WRITE PRODUCE AND PERFORM MY OWN MUSIC?
THANKS.
VALENTINE
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hi Valentine :
Yes.
If you write and produce your own music, and have not sold your rights to another company, then you own the copyright.
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How do I remove my album and downloads from being sold!
through cdbaby and all digtal partners
Thank you,
Dale cook
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