Digital distribution packages now come with different angles and options. Catapult Digital Distribution helps artist and labels get their music on iTunes and other major online retailers. Their distribution outlets include: iTunes, Napster, Rhapsody, Emusic, Amazon mp3, Best Buy Digital Music Store, Connect, Puretracks, Audio Lunchbox, Urge, Independent Bands, V Cast.

The cost for setup is only $25. There are no yearly or monthly charges. I was shocked at first to see this pricing because services like Tunecore and Songcast have yearly or monthly costs and basically provide the same service. The difference between services lies in the amount of royalties you want to receive, and what payment structure fits your bands needs.

1. Catapult: 91-95% royalties, $25 setup fee, no monthly or yearly fee
2. Songcast: 100% royalties, $25 setup fee, $5.99/month for unlimited albums
3. Tunecore: 100% royalties, $19.98 setup fee, $19.98/year per album

The plans listed above all have great aspects and are affordable. The question really lies in factoring your specific costs according to your future plans. I currently use Songcast because I like the fact you can get 100% royalties and you can upload unlimited albums, which means alot for our record label.

Catapult gives another easy option to upload your music with major online retailers, explore your choices and see which one you suits your needs best.

Hip Hop Distribution is here to discuss issues relevant for indie musicians. Music distribution has become very easy to attain and earning a living as a musician is possible. The main obstacle for musicians is keeping consistent marketing plans during times of being understaffed or unorganized. Speaking from personal experience, nothing in this music industry comes easy.

As an independent musician and label partner in Fried Roots, distribution was the initial obstacle. Fried Roots has used services for distribution such as Songcast and Tunecore to get our music with different major online retailers, and they work just great. Since iTunes currently is the #1 digital music US retailer, we felt that our music needs to be seen by that large of a domestic and international base.

Once your music is submitted with a distribution service or you set your own store up with options like easybe 1-2-3, you still need to direct traffic to your album. Use social networks like Ourstage, Myspace, or FutureProducers to promote your music in various arenas. From personal experience, I have learned alot from speaking with fellow forum members on sites. Use your FREE resources.

The great part of this is hip hop distribution can be packaged for multiple stores, such as iTunes, Rhapsody, and Napster. The main view point with this is you don’t know what music store all of your fans prefer when it comes to listening to and purchasing your music.

Cover your ground and expand your music to other stores to reach as many people as possible. Sell your music worldwide and give yourself a chance to make it.

Fried Roots has released a new album by Lost Thought called “Lost In India”. The music was produced by Shifty J and Lost Thought in the Fried Roots Studio.

The album contains songs recorded by Lost Thought in India and Los Angeles. The writings were created starting from takeoff at LAX airport, landing in Mumbai, and even random thoughts in a Taipei layover, eyes capturing the world.

The goal of this album was to display the creativity contained by two independent label partners and reach a broader audience with our dedication to smooth hip hop lyricism and head nodding instrumentals.

This is an example of our distribution. Fried Roots signed up with Songcast because we feel its the best way for our music to reach main stream audiences for such an affordable price.

Keep posted for more news with Fried Roots. Feel free to visit our “Releases” section and download a couple of FREE Fried Roots albums: “25nyne” and “Expec“. 25nyne is an instrumental album produced by Shifty J and Lost Thought and Expec is a free album from our other Fried Roots artist Spec. Enjoy!

Songcast is a music distribution service that delivers your album to iTunes and other major online retailers. Their service is amazing letting the independent musician compete with major record labels to earn their fare share of royalties.

I currently am an artist signed with Songcast and when I signed up the price was $7.99 a month. I just received news from Artist Support that

“Hi Mario,
We have indeed lowered our fees to $5.99 per month!
Best,
Alex
SongCast“

This is a great deal considering you can upload an unlimited number of albums to your account. $5.99 a month opens the door up for all independent musicians and podcasters across the world. Submit your music and album artwork and connect with online retailers.

How important is placing your music with major online retailers? iTunes is currently the number one U.S music retailer with several stores setup for worldwide distribution which allows your music to find its way across the globe.

Distribution for your record label is getting cheaper by the minute. Sell an album or even a single and earn 100% royalties through Songcast.

The purpose of this article is to see what the independent artist is thinking about in terms of their future in this changing music industry. Independent music is on the rise with digital downloads increasing, but how can we as independents make our mark in history?

This goes out to all the producers, beat makers, songwriters, musicians, and podcasters. What are the strategies or tips you use when thinking about music distribution? Hip Hop Distribution was not created to tell you what you have to do, but to hear from people involved in the music grind and learn from our experiences, creating a resource center.

It is very easy to get your music with a major online retailer. The key to earning a living as a musician is diversifying your options. From a Fried Roots standpoint, we are in the process of selling merchandise and we have distribution through Songcast and Tunecore , but we feel that music from an independents standpoint is getting stronger, so how can we capitalize?

The whole point of this is to solidify the strength of the independent artist who works just as hard as every working man, but doesn’t reap the benefits.

Leave a comment, promote your music, describe your band operation or just click by. Thank you for reading and I hope we can network together and create a new music business model for all starving artists.