Some of the best tips for selling songs are to know the requirements of music websites, making physical copies available to customers, and, if at all possible, get a contract with a record label. Many songs are sold in digital copies on websites that make it easy to download the songs onto music players, but artists may need help starting out. While self-publishing, musicians should try not to forget physical copies, which certain companies can provide with minimal work on the musician’s behalf. In addition, working with a company that helps produce, market, and distribute music can be a dream come true for some musicians, but not everyone can sign such a contract.
If an independent musician wishes to begin selling songs on popular websites, he or she needs to read the website’s requirements. Sometimes such websites only allow people to list albums if they have a certain number of them, such as more than 20. Since it is unlikely for a beginner musician to have 20 albums to his or her name, it may be necessary to bring in a third party to help meet the requirements of the website. Aggregators help people with individual songs or albums get listed on popular websites for better exposure. These third parties rarely offer their services for free, but the help they offer usually extends beyond simply meeting a company’s requirements into ensuring a smooth delivery of the product.
Some independent artists may think that physical distribution of music is too expensive or complicated, but this is not necessarily true. Self publishing services can produce physical copies of albums in response to customer orders, so musicians do not have to have the financial resources to support bulk production. Often, the same service can produce digital sales and distribution to an independent artist who wishes to start selling songs.
One of the best ways of selling songs is to get a contract with a record label. In general, artists and repertoire (A&R) representatives — the people who work for record labels and are charged with finding new talent — tend to contact musicians who have caught their eye. These musicians are usually up and coming and have either marketed themselves well in an area or knew someone in the business who could get them in contact with an A&R representative. Signing a contract with a record label company takes some responsibility, like marketing, off the musician’s shoulders and allows him or her to concentrate on developing good music and the right brand.