22 January 2010

Selling out: Places to sell your music online

Independent bands can sell music directly from their websites, but they'll get more exposure if they sell through a musicians' community or a mainstream CD retailing website.

Here's a list of places where you can sell your music or promote it online. Getting stocked in shops and websites is half the battle, but you'll still need to promote your music to stimulate buyers to go to those shops.

Read my tips for picking an internet record label but bear in mind that while the principles stand, that archive article isn't being updated.

I'll try to keep this up to date. You can help by telling me about new labels you discover or any of these that go under. Please share your experiences with these sites too - good or bad. It will help future site visitors to succeed.

The deals vary from site to site. Read the small print. Inclusion in this list does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation, although I have tried to add sites that already have some momentum and value.

If you're on MySpace, please add my novel's band University of Death. Thank you.

University of Death: A hilarious satire of the music industry

My novel 'University of Death' satirises the music industry and predicts its potential meltdown. The book is named after the band at the centre of the action and takes a slice through the music industry: from the boardroom to the stage; from the studio to the record fair. It explores how fans relate to their favourite bands, how businesses use technology to manipulate consumers, and what would happen if the music industry disappeared overnight.

Although the novel includes fictionalised cameos from some well-known pop stars, the story focuses on those who are at the bottom of the industry and trying to claw their way up.

• Read the first two chapters for FREE now
• Visit the University of Death homepage
• Order the book at Lulu.com (380 pages, 6x9" Royal format and priced at £9.99).

How was it for you?

I'd be interested in hearing about your experiences with any of these sites, or any others you've used to promote your music. Contact me.