So I am suffering from the mushy head syndrom, sucking up information on distribution, publicity, platforms and social networks for musicians, all the things that need to be done for a proper album release.  As they say.

For digital distribution (to get the album to all the major mp3 stores), my runner-ups are CDBaby, TuneCore and Rebeat. All in all I would prefer not to get into monthly or yearly fixed payments, since I have no idea if and how much I can actually sell, so TuneCore is kinda out of the race. They charge a fixed yearly rate for an album distribution whereas CDBaby and Rebeat keep a percentage of each mp3 sold. Thinking about the long tail of selling I might maybe get off better with Tunecore in the first year, but the years to follow? Rebeat is somewhat expensive for the first signup, because you have to buy the upload software, and CDBaby additionally offers direct-to-fan tools, which could come in handy.

For direct-to-fan tools and platforms, I had a further look at Topspin, Reverbnation and Nimbit. Again, being slightly diffident with yearly payments, Topspin and Nimbit are probably not going to be my favourites. Reverbnation has some free features (digital distribution is on a fixed yearly basis), but I have to compare it against CDBaby´s features – I probably do not need both.

Bandcamp sits somewhere in the middle, it offers digital distribution on site (but not “to the stores”), and not too many features to be regarded as a direct-to-fan platform.

What I like is the possibility to sell high quality audio files for the geeks, and to have a shop to sell physical CD`s as well – with me doing the actual fullfillment. It seems to be the easiest and simplest way for a start, since I cannot predict if I sell any hardware CD at all. And Bandcamp is good enough for Amanda Palmer, isn´t it ?

I have not yet found any easy, hasslefree way of getting physical CD´s distributed from Europe without monthly payments and a nice, easygoing shop interface. Using shops from the above mentioned sites (eg CD Baby´s) with integrated fullfilment from USA seems to be a bit weird for an artist based in Europe. My Mom buying a CD from me and paying 8$ for mail ? Hm.

That said, thank you for reading. It seems that writing this entry was a start to get my mushy head a bit sorted. I should be old enough to know that this syndrome is a clear sign of to much input and too little output.

If you have any ideas regarding physical distribution I am happy to know, and comments are always welcome.

yes, it is true. there is an album in the pipeline, all 14 tracks composed, recorded, produced, 12 of the tracks already mixed.

i am now in the process of publishing, and setting up this site is one step of the long road that lies ahead of me.

as a recording artist (that is: i don´t play live, not at present) going online is probably the best way to connect to my future fans.

i have a vague plan of the things that need to be done to actually get the album „out there“, and i created this blog to report about this process.

so this is for my fellow musicians to see how it is working out for me, so they can avoid the mistakes that i already made. and for my fans to see what i am doing and what is „behind the music“. and for you, because you are curious.

i invite you to follow me on this journey.