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Improving CD
Sales: Resources page
sponsored in part by Inferno Labs web design:
http://www.infernolabs.com
(pro websites
for artists, labels and other businesses)
.: Read the article below by
Tim Sweeney, who over the last 20 years has helped
several major labels (Columbia, Epic, MCA, Universal, Warner
Bros., Capitol, Mercury, Polygram, Revolution, Hollywood
(and their sub-labels), and well known independent labels
(Restless, Metal Blade, Enigma, Accretions, etc.) develop
the careers of some of their most promising and successful
artists of all time.
How To Generate
More CD Sales In Record Stores
By Tim
Sweeney
The lack of CD sales is probably one of the biggest concerns
that artists have when they call me for consulting.
Thousands of artists have discovered that simply putting
their CDs in record stores either through consignment or
distribution doesn’t mean sales. Over the years independent
and major label artists believed that if their CDs were in
key independent and major record stores, they would see
guaranteed sales because music fans could easily buy them.
This belief carried over to
online sites that promised thousands to even millions of
customers. Unfortunately for the artists, they
discovered once again that simply having their CDs at these
sites didn’t mean the large quantity of sales that the
online sites promised.
This means instead of relying on outdated beliefs or the
false promises of others, you need to start focusing on
three basic ways to start generating CD sales in record
stores.
(1) Using The Free Resource Available To You
While many artists have talked and worked with the
consignment managers at various record stores, they have not
spent any time with the rest of the staff. The sales staff
of the record store is one of the most important resources
because they know where their customers come from and what
“motivates” them to come into the store and buy a particular
CD. Spend some time introducing yourself to the staff. Give
them a CD sampler of your music and learn from them where
their customers live and hang out. What radio stations they
listen to, what clubs they go to, etc.
(2) Try An Instore Performance
Everyone is looking for new places to play. Why not do an
instore performance where your new audience can buy your CD
right then? Out of the thousands of record stores in the
country, a good percentage of them would like to have
artists like you perform in their store. Next time you are
working out a consignment deal or putting more stock in your
local record store, ask them what you need to do to play
there.
(3) Promotion Generates Sales
As you know, simply having your CDs in a record store like
online sites doesn’t generate sales. While performing in the
record store will generate some CD sales, you will need to
do more. This means you have to hit the streets! You will
need to promote your shows to new people in person, not just
hit your mailing list again. You will need to build
relationships with new people. In your conversations with
new fans and in the promotional materials you give them, you
need to let them know where to buy your CDs.
To learn more ways of selling your CDs, order a copy of my
new audio book, Tim Sweeney’s Guide To Releasing Independent
Records Part 2 through my website.
Tim's book available at his site:
www.tsamusic.com
Past Articles:
Getting
More Press Reviews
by Tim Sweeney
Motivation
by Tim Sweeney
Who's
on Your Mailing List?
by Tim Sweeney
How To Generate
More CD Sales In Record Stores by Tim Sweeney
Being in Control of Your Music
by Tim Sweeney
How to
Put Out Your Own Record by Wendy Day
Business Basics by Wendy Day
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