Advice for Indie Artists from Derek Sivers (Founder, CDBaby)

[hadehaile]

Great INFO, GOD Bless U for sharing,

[MrTEAMFRESHTV]

THIS VIDEO IS LIKE GIVING AWAY FREE GOLD. GOD BLESS YOU FOR POSTING IT ! DEREK IS A BIG INSPIRATION, THE WOLD NEEDS MORE PEOPLE LIKE HIM TO TELL IT LIKE IT IS!

[brotherzombie]

Thanks for CD Baby man!

Check out the new release "Shades of Revolution" by CJ McClellan. Available on I-tunes and CD Baby.com now!!  New Modern Rock

[instereovideos]

What I got from this: Step one on the path to becoming a moderately successful musician is to first become the world's greatest novelist. Then, once you can describe things as well as William Shakespeare, ignore your obvious calling as a writer and pursue the guitar playing that up 'til this point wasn't getting noticed. Sounds logical to me. Thanks, CD Baby guy!

[Oneness100]

The best advice anyone can give you is get an entertainment lawyer before you do anything with regards to music content.

[LunaSeaSane]

Good advice.

[hasenj]

say few words to make them interested then shut up!

great advice!

[DigitalPush26]

wwwcdbabycom/cd/twinoganza

[XTREEMMAK]

Boom,

Instant favorite. TERRIFIC Advice! Thank you!!!

[888Yappy]

So, mr.CD Baby himself..After hearing him speak I have formulated my opinion of him, which is.....He is really intelligent and clever. Can you say marketing Genius?

[adoniswear]

check out THE ONE WORLD SUCKS "NEW"

[feisty2bad]

Thanks, Derek. Hmmm... now, to find the right words.

[doctalee]

Great Advice Derek

thanks man

[RealRoots1959]

I dont understand below argument Dereks for 100% right! One small description should be enough to draw attention, that the music will do the rest!

[trixie10121]

Where has this guy been since the relaunch of the new cdbaby and its disaster its been two months and things are still not working....hope you enjoy that money you made

[scarsunseen24]

I think when music is good, it out-speaks words that can describe it. The way Derek describes sharing music is somewhat wrong/manipulative. "A cross between the Beatles and James Brown"? That doesn't make someone want to listen. It's so obscure and NON-descriptive that people will want to continue listening to what they already know. If someone wants you to describe your music, hand them a fucking CD! Come PREPARED for a transaction. Labeling your music just means it sounds like other music.

[sabletv]

what would the hulk have sex with exactly?

great advice 5 stars!

[jokerswi7d]

his pinky

[eyhexs]

@sabletv she-hulk

[maltcus]

thanks for this video

[BDyckns]

"Cross between James Brown and The Beatles?..I would say..Oh..You're a cover band?

[RushanMusic]

Do anyone know how to add people to your youtube page? I'm a beginner.

[TTaranak]

There's also the overly exclamation of artists... some artist are able to describe their music as an amazing, smacking, wonderful thing and then when you listen to the music, it sucks... in other words, self marketing hoopla can also be a huge hype for mediocrity!! Sorry guys if you want to hear the truth take your music to Y-Tube, the streets, in subways, or even in streets festivals this is where the public will appreciate it IF it's good!!

[EMOBIZZLE]

Quote: "5. DEREK IS JUST TRYING TO MAKE MONEY."

exactly right.... he's one of the million failed aspiring musicians that payed a ton of money to go to Berklee College of Music and realizes "Hey, im not creative enough to make it in this business, so I've gotta do what the generic college educated student does and make a website to either make money off of ad hosting or sell someone elses material, or both....... so please everyone ignore this guy he cant help you he wants your money

[burninguitfiddle]

I make this comment with respect to you, Emobizzle. This is definitely not true. I do know first hand. Derek didn't know me from anybody,yet he spent a lot of time helping me get our group booked without asking for anything in return. He then even sent my video back on his own dime! He didn't plug CD baby. I'm a cynical dude-and hate music biz types, but any success Derek has is truly well-deserved.

[Chopin389]

Not only that but don't forget, Derek started CD BABY! He has probably made millions from that company. He must know a little about what he is talking about if he could make a multi-million dollar company. Maybe his band didn't take off, but all the Berklee students I've met have an awesome knowledge of music business. I do think he had a lot of success as a musician too though.

[scarsunseen24]

I agree.

[art2art]

Derek's work has had a significant impact on the music business. Thanks so much!

[ruffkutsclothing]

This video is great. I never really had perspective on just how important labeling your music is. Thanks.

[Oneness100]

Tons of magazines and newspapers write reviews and if you music is good enough they'll give you a positive review, then you'll get noticed. If you have a good product and you sent out 500 copies to every newspaper, magaine that does CD reviews I am sure you'll get noticed.

You don't need a distributor. Very few people will buy something unless they recognize the artist or have heard of the band/artist, but they'll check out your website first.

[Oneness100]

Here's my advice.

1. GET AN ENTERTAINMENT LAWYER AND MAKE SURE YOU HAVE LEGALLY BINDING CONTRACTS SIGNED WITH ALL OF THE MUSICIANS TO SELL THEIR TRACKS.

2. GET A DECENT WEBSITE AND JUST SELL THE STUFF YOURSELF. CD BABY ISN"T GOING TO GET THAT MUCH ADDITIONAL SALES THAT YOU COULDN"T GET YOURSELF.

3. IF YOU PRODUCT IS GOOD ENOUGH, A REAL LABEL WILL BE INTERESTED.

4. SOME BANDS CAN ACTUALLY MAKE MORE MONEY FROM SELLING T-SHIRTS AND BASEBALL CAPS

5. DEREK IS JUST TRYING TO MAKE MONEY.

[philphie]

thursday night at 11 A M?

[cheyfye]

jvgfdhg

[Dashfan111]

I hope my music is good enough to make ppl go out on a thursday night at eleven am!

[TheHowToMusicBiz]

My music makes you want to be faithful to your significant other ...i was told

[reckonman]

i want to say that i been around inthe music business a long time and plz beieve me when i say that cdbaby is the most honest , the best open door for unkinown musicians there ever was . i been wth cdbaby since 2003 and they have always been very very prompt and honest in every way . from > capt.meat

[instrumentalartist]

hi derek,

You talk alot about what artist should do but like me im nobody from nowhere.But i just need to ask you why not advertise cdbaby on vh1 or mtv or get connected with american idol.Because i noticed when you got in the berkely collage thing my hits went up and i sold a couple of cds.Their is only one magic wand ADVERTISE....and that should be something you should look into because for me getting 1 to 2 hits a day is just not going to sell cds and me being nobody its crash and burn.

[Oneness100]

Hey Derek,

How come you won't pull content down from your site when others will pull it from their sites? How come Derek? Did you know that that is WILLFUL INTENT TO SELL ILLEGAL CONTENT?

ALL RECORDINGS MUST HAVE RELEASE FORMS FROM EACH MUSICIAN RELEASING THEIR PERFORMANCES TO BE SOLD THROUGH YOU PATHETIC COMPANY. IF YOU DON'T HAVE COPIES OF THESE RELEASE FORMS THEN YOU A VIOLATING FEDERAL LAWS.

TAKE THE CONTENT DOWN THAT YOU HAVE BEEN REQUESTED TO TAKE DOWN. BE A MAN DEREK.

[Oneness100]

First things first Derek,

Each label/artist must ensure that the recordings are legal to sell. How does one go about doing that? GET A FREAKING ENTERTAINMENT LAWYER TO HAVE LEGAL CONTRACTS WRITTEN. Without those legal contracts, then you legally can't sell the recordings.

But Derek doesn't want people to do this, if he did, he would stipulate that they must have a Legal Representative sign the legal contracts and supply copies of the Release Forms signed by each performer on each recording.

[CARLBORRELLI]

ok say ur right .... and i do agree with your basic thoughts, it has been the roll of the producer to connect the "musician " with the right aud. besides footing the bills of touring and promotion. So a one liner describing works developed over years of torment, is, hard for any artist to articulate , therefore making the label has got to do some damm work. Or they don't get paid.

C

[PaulCookeMusic]

Nice one Derek...

[Oneness100]

Derek is a jerk. He sells and distributes content whereby the labels don't have signed Performance Release forms and Derek should be thrown in jail because he won't pull content that doesn't have signed contracts, whereby other download sites will. This is being done and he knows the musicians don't have money to hire attorneys to sue CD Baby. SCREW CD BABY!!!!

[musicbiznetwork]

Great Info!

Vistit musicbiznetwordotcom

[halitosisusa]

thanks derek for getting this thing going!

[acousvnt]

Get them to go to a club on a thursday night at 11 AM? I don't know how I'm going to pull THAT off without some funky time-warping. ;)

Seriously though, great advice. Hilarious example about the businessman.

My current tagline is "screamy music for sensitive people".

[BestPhotoLessonsCom]

Great ideas - something to live by.

[Chazman80]

I added this to my player! This is good chit.

chaz . 2ya . com

[ANDYZ726AOLCOM]

love the incredible hulk line!!!! great outlook!!!

[Lthrboots]

EXACTLY!!!!! Every musician, or even business-person, should follow this protocol. I LOVE your examply of the businessman in a suit... CLASSIC! I wish my teachers in school were as literal and informative as you are. I would have learned a lot more, and paid a lot more attention. Great job Derek! Thanks Standalone for posting this snippet!

[Musilosophy]

Great!

[Andybaby]

brilliant!