Obviously, selling CDs at your shows is a good way to start promoting your music. However, there are a few great resources for tapping into broad international online markets that every musical artist ought to be aware of.

1. CD Baby - cdbaby.netCD Baby is a music store which enables independent artists to sell their music CDs to a broad interna-tional market. The solution is very inexpensive and simple to start. CD Baby charges a very small one time fee and another small commission for every CD that is sold in the CD Baby store. With CD Baby as a distributor, musicians can also sell digital down-loads of their work on digital music sites such as: Apple iTunes, Napster, Rhapsody, MSN Music, and Yahoo Music Match. For artists who are new to internet marketing, CD Baby is a comprehensive solution.

2. Amazon - amazon.comThere is a link at the bottom of the amazon.com home page called “Join Advantage”. This exciting program is the key to getting distribution of your product on the amazon.com web site. Many publishers and distributors already work directly with Amazon through the Advantage program. The basic Advantage program enables members to coordinate inventory with Amazon’s warehouse so that orders can be shipped on schedule. There is a minimal yearly cost to join the Advantage program, but the Advan-tage program’s commission rates are quite substantial. Of, course the advantage of having a product included in such a popular online store could be worth every penny.

3. eBay Stores - stores.ebay.comOne of the easiest ways to start selling your products online is by opening an eBay Store. With eBay’s advanced technology and tools, mer-

-chants are able to build a web site where customers visiting on or off eBay can easily find and buy the products they are looking for. eBay provides reports, marketing services, extra savings on eBay listings, and a working search engine to store owners. There are a variety of affordable subscription options for eBay Stores for different types of sellers. As your store grows, you can purchase additional services. It’s definitely a good place to start!

4. Paypal - paypal.comAt Paypal’s web site, visitors can find a variety of free merchant tools to help them sell online including a Paypal Shopping Cart and Buy Now Buttons. Do-it-yourself individuals will appreci-ate the fact that these easily imple-mented tools are now included in Macromedia web development applications such as Dreamweaver and Contribute. If you like to design, this solution could be for you.

PROMOTE AND SELLYOUR MUSIC ONLINE

Summer 2005