Manitoba Music
New Trends for Indie Music Releases
By
When the American Federation of Musicians ponders Our Future in Music at its Canadian Conference, theyre taking on issues that have challenged musicians for centuries.
Who gets paid, how much do they get paid, and what format is the music delivered on?
In our own time, weve seen the LP and 8-track move over for the cassette, then CDs, and now downloads. These days savvy musicians are still offering their music for sale on CD, but theyre also offering digital downloads.
According to Lindsay Gillespie, president of MUSIC MANUFACTURING SERVICES, one of the hottest new trends in download sales, especially for independent musicians, is the digital download card.
MMS, which has established itself as a trend-setter amongst CD manufacturing companies, is one of the first to offer this product line to independent musicians.
Gillespie says its an absolute no-brainer. Lets face it, not everyone buying indie music these days wants to buy it on CD. The digital download card allows musicians to sell their music in a format their fans want, while still catching the impulse buyers at a live show.
The download card is like a gift card for downloadable tracks. Musicians sell the card at their shows, and fans can redeem the cards online for a certain number of tracks, downloadable on high-quality MP3.
The cards can tie in with their CD graphics, or be a stand-alone piece, either for promotion or to test new material. Even better, as the musician records new tracks, the cards can be used to access new material so theres no need to reprint the cards. The musician controls which tracks, the number of tracks, and the selling price of the card.
One early adapter to the download cards, Music Yukon, comments that they launched the cards at the North American Folk Alliance, and they were a big hit with buyers both from the US and from Europe. There was no longer a need to carry a suitcase full of CDs.
Another big trend for independent musicians, reports Gillespie, is the move to more environmentally friendly packaging for CDs.
We all know you cant make the CD itself more environmentally friendly its made of plastic and metal, he says, but you can sure do something about the packaging. When MMS launched its Green CD Program last fall, our phones just started ringing off the hook. People really want to do what they can for the environment, but they also want to know if its going to be a good fit for their release, and if they can afford it.
MMS offers the Eco-Sleeve, a 100% recycled cardboard jacket for CDs, that comes in any number of different configurations, and is printed with vegetable-based inks in full colour.
MMS was also the first CD manufacturing company in North America to offer bio-degradable overwrap for its CD packages, and 100% clear recycled plastic and bio-degradable PaperFoam trays for its DigiPak packaging.
The company has also mandated that all the papers used in making its CD packaging are Forest Stewardship Council approved, which means the paper has been made with forest products harvested with high standards for ecologically and socially responsible forest use.
Im very proud that MMS is working towards making a real difference for the environment, while helping independent musicians along the way, comments Gillespie. I love seeing these guys succeed.
And its innovations like download cards and eco-friendly packaging that will keep musicians future in music secure and profitable.
For more information about MMS download cards or its environmentally friendly CD packaging options, contact Dave Larson, MUSIC MANUFACTURING SERVICES, info@musicmanufacturing.com or 1-800-MMS-4CDS (1-800-667-4237).
© 2008 MUSIC MANUFACTURING SERVICES