Creating and Selling Compilation on iTunes

[neodjandre]

I would like to create a compilation (mixed cd) of 15 songs and sell this through iTunes.

Of course the respective artists should be compensated and i will need to make a profit as well!

Any ideas on how to get started?

many thanks
Andy

[Tarekith]

You'll need an aggregator to get on iTunes, but that's easy enough. I personally like CDBaby.com, but Tunecore and reverb nation are other popular options. Other than that, it's as simple as uploading your songs to them and they handle the rest.

[neodjandre]

the cd will be mixed by myself... can i still use an aggregator?

[Tarekith]

Sure, as long as you have all the artists permission.

[neodjandre]

would you know roughly how much the artists will be asking?

can i pay them a royalty based on the number of sales of the compilation?

[beats me]

Unless the artists are well known I doubt there is a lot of money to be made. Nobody is making money off music sales anymore.

[neodjandre]

what should my monthly sales be expected to be?

I am not looking to make millions but is a decent monthly income possible?

[regretfullySaid]

Sounds like you should just find out.

A good bit of logic could help you out with his, though. Do you have a fan base? Are you advertising the album?

[neodjandre]

i believe there is an audience for this compilation and i know some channels i can distribute it through.

I do believe some people will purchase a mixed-cd if they are fans of this particular genre and it's reasonably priced.

it's an investment of my time though and i would be looking to make at least $1,000 per month to consider this as worthwhile..

[beats me]

I don’t think there is any way of predicting that. How much PR are you going to do? How well known are the artists? And not to be a hater, but no, I don't think a "decent" income is possible just off music sales unless the music is in the top 10 of a popular chart and even then it won't be long lasting. All the money is in live performance now.

[Tarekith]

Given that you sound like you know almost nothing about what you are doing, I would say it's probably unlikely that you will make any money. Not trying to be a smart ass or discouraging, but it takes a bit of experience to put together all of the pieces needed to actually make money with an album these days.

Why not try a smaller EP or something first to test the waters and get a bit more experience in the process?

[TomViolenz]

i believe there is an audience for this compilation and i know some channels i can distribute it through.

I do believe some people will purchase a mixed-cd if they are fans of this particular genre and it's reasonably priced.

it's an investment of my time though and i would be looking to make at least $1,000 per month to consider this as worthwhile..

You want to be making 1000 Dollars a month as a nobody with one mix CD of other peoples tracks?! Lay that pipe down my friend
And even if, as if the world needs another non-creative hack and his get rich quick scheme
Ibiza Dance Classics 234 - The Nobody Edition...

[stringtapper]

Not trying to be a smart ass or discouraging, but it takes a bit of experience to put together all of the pieces needed to actually make music with an album these days.

Freudian truth slip.

[beats me]

i believe there is an audience for this compilation and i know some channels i can distribute it through.

I do believe some people will purchase a mixed-cd if they are fans of this particular genre and it's reasonably priced.

it's an investment of my time though and i would be looking to make at least $1,000 per month to consider this as worthwhile..

You want to be making 1000 Dollars a month as a nobody with one mix CD of other peoples tracks?! Lay that pipe down my friend
And even if, as if the world needs another non-creative hack and his get rich quick scheme
Ibiza Dance Classics 234 - The Nobody Edition...

That’s the harshest version of what some of us have already said.

But for those of us who have poured our blood, sweat, and tears into a release or know somebody else who has only to receive a $10 check from Apple after a couple months...if that, yeah, it does seem a little offensive to expect $1,000 a month for…, well, anything. And anything less than that wouldn’t be worth the effort? Ugh. Some harsh realities ahead.

[TomViolenz]

I have to admit, his post made me actually angry