iTunes, How we started getting sales on iTunes

[IB_Staff]

How we started getting sales on iTunes.

For many months after we released our CD. There was little to no sales other than direct sales known by us. We signed up with places like Music Forte and CD Baby. Via those two, we got into digital downloads. Many places at once. The main on being iTunes.
Over the next few months of no download sales. We talked to Music Forte about that. Then we saw a few download on Music Forte. The rest of the suggestions and ideas just did not seem to pan out. Expanding out further into the Internet asking people, what are you doing to get download, we found a interesting item about iTunes. A thing called iMixes. You can make iMixes up, put yourself in there, other artiest and call it a mix. Add some marketing to the info box on it and it’s done. Now when people look at a famous artiest site in iTunes, they can also see your iMix or more important, your band listed. Other who bought x also bought you.

Other things about iMixes.
There is a voting aspect about an iMixes. The more votes, 5 star types, the higher it get ranked. iTunes uses a formula too in calculating where this iMix gets ranks on. The object it to do a good mix, put a few of your tracks in there and you will start to see some sales when people buy the whole mix or notice you.
There is a complete your album aspect of the iMix. If you bought one track, you will find a spot to click in iTunes to buy more of the same tracks, the rest of the album or even other albums done by you.
You need to find a buddy overseas who can make a iMix for you in that iTunes store. Yes, if you don’t, I don’t think you will be found. Australia and UK stores are the best for us.
There are a few more things about iMix too but lets just concern us on the above.

A few of us made a few groups using yahoo, forums, and myspace to vote on the iMixes. We make them, we post them to the groups, members there vote on them. Doing that, we manage to keep sales up on our tracks. Is that wrong? Nope, I see it as marketing and using the system to get noticed.

Myspace is special. Here you can get your fans to vote on your iMix. Facebook and others will be just as important. Tag lines on your posts will help too.

There are two groups on yahoo I know about. One is closed, too many in there. The other open. Ask me off list for the link to sign up.

We are on over 50 digital download sites. Only 5 are paying anything. iTunes being number one pay is $0.637 per track. Napaster and Rhapsody, fractions of a penny per track played. To listen using Rhapsody, you get paid via CD Baby $0.009. Napaster varies, $0.001 to $0.031. Ruckus pay per track is $0.005. Music Forte is a rare sale for us on downloads.

From what we know, we see each download site having someway to market or work it. I would not pay to get a banner or ad however as your sales might not ever equal the payback on these download sites.

dale

[Royce]

[julessparkles]

8)Personally I use Rhapsody,iTune,Napster,Sony,amazon (their share is absorbitant) and many other int'l sites. I like the download sites they give listeners a chance to download artwork and print to size they want(much things on covers have hidden items,scenes etc within the images) since I still love the old conceptual album format and its collectability.The whole is art of its itself for art itself and its meanings.Its a package baby,might as well look like it.