We put your music on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook, eMusic, Rhapsody, Rdio, Nokia, LastFm, Xbox Music and many other major online stores and give you 70% of the money from your music sales along with detailed streaming and sales reports. We handle all the payment transactions, download fulfillment and customer service – so you can concentrate on music.
Q: What is Cleversoul Distribution?
A: It is a digital distribution service that distributes independent artists and labels to online retailers like iTunes.
Q: What separates our Digital Distribution from competitors?
A: We provide FREE marketing tips in a monthly newsletter, don’t have No yearly fees which means you’ll never lose money if your sales slow down and can design your artwork internally for a small fee.
Q: How much does it cost?
A: We charge $140 as a set-up fee per album with a FREE UPC code and $39 for single song setup/sale with a FREE bar code. (All Currency is USD).
Q: What is a UPC Code?
A: Universal Product Code (UPC) is a number (from 12 to 14 characters long) exclusively associated with your release. Retailers use the UPC as a unique identifier for your release and track and report all sales according to the UPC. Most published CDs have the UPC printed, along with the bar code form, on the back cover.
Q:What is an ISRC number?
A: An International Standard Recording Code (ISRC) is a 12 character code that serves as a unique identifier for your songs. Each song has its own ISRC code, which is necessary for tracking and accounting purposes.
Q: Do I need an ISRC Code for my album or UPC code?
A: The retailers, online distributors, and the Billboard Charts (SoundScan) set forth these requirements:
You need ISRC codes for each track of your album. However, the album itself requires a UPC code. In fact, if you plan to sell your album as a digital download AND as a physical audio CD then you need 2 UPC codes: one for the digital album download and a second one for the physical audio CD. This is the only way that performance on your individual songs can be tracked versus sales of the physical audio CD versus downloads of the complete digital album.
Q: How much do I get paid?
A: For example (Apple keeps $.29 per ITUNES single download as their fee) and we take a % of the balance. (Fee varies depending on your products).
Q: What does Cleversoul Distribution need to put my music up on iTunes?
A: Essentially five things: (1) Music on a CD or WAV files, (2) Cover artwork at 2400×2400 pixels, (3) Song information called “Meta Data”, (4) A signed contract, (5) a W9 form (to get paid) and (6) the set up fee.
Q: How fast can you get my music up?
A: It takes approx. 2-3 weeks after you turn everything in.
Q: Can I just put up one song instead of a complete album?
A: YES.
Q: On iTunes, is the “Label” designated as Cleversoul Publishing or my label
A: Your label.
Q: What promotion and marketing does Cleversoul Publishing do?
A: Promotion and marketing is the responsibility of the label – you. You must do online and offline promotion and marketing to lead your fans to iTunes. We are the digital distributor. Our relationship with iTunes and the other retailers is such that we can suggest banners, bricks, and prominent placement of your music on the site but at the end of the day Apple makes these decisions.
Q: Can you guarantee Apple will prominently place my music iTunes?
A: No. iTunes makes all decisions about where things are placed. The more “marketing drivers” you have (radio, TV/film placement, touring, press, video, etc.) the greater your chances of getting great placement.
Q: Can people pay for prominent placement on iTunes?
A: No. Apple makes all decisions based on whether or not they are feeling the music.
Q: Regarding Marketing, what are you looking for?
A: We are looking for artists and labels who understand that selling music is hard WORK. You must be willing to put in the work. We are looking for clients who have substantial online/social media presence.
Q: When you say, “online/social media presence”, what does that mean?
A: You must have the basics: facebook, myspace, soundcloud, twitter, youtube, bandcamp, etc. If you don’t know the importance of building your online following using social media, take time to learn – before you contact us. Cool?
Q: How long is the contract with Cleversoul Publishing?
A: It varies depending on the service.
Q: Who are a few Artists whose music you distribute online?
A: We distribute music masters recorded by artists in many different genres including: Tony Curtis, Anthony Cruz, Gwhizz, Mr Lexx and others.
Q: How often do I get paid?
A: We account to you 45 days after the end of each quarter (every three months).
Q: Who pays the publishing royalties?
A: You, as the record company, must pay any 3rd party publishers. If you record a song written/published by someone else, you must pay them. If you write/publish your own material you get to keep all of the money for your self.
Q: Who pays producer, artist, publishing and other royalties?
A: We pay you and you pay any 3rd party royalties.
Q: Can I sell a DJ mix of songs by other artists?
A: No. unless you have the written permission of all record companies and publishing companies, you can’t sell music you don’t own on iTunes.
Q: Can I sell one long DJ mix of 45 minutes?
A: No – you have to break up the mix into “songs”.
Q: Who provides the “cover artwork”, me or Cleversoul Publishing?
A: you provide the finished artwork at 2400×2400 pixels or we can recommend a 3rd party designer.
Q: What about ringtones?
A: Your songs are automatically available for “ringtones” on iTunes when you upload your music to iTunes.
Q: Can I just put music on iTunes for “Free Download”
A: No. With the exception of special promotions, you must sell music on iTunes. No free giveaways.
Q: I heard another distributor charges 5% less as a distro fee. Why do you charge more?
A: We know of distributors that charges 15%-30%. We think the personal service we offer is worth the extra 5%.
Q: Why can’t I just call up Apple and make a direct deal with them?
A: You can easily contact Apple (indies@apple.com). The wait is 6 months at which time they will probably tell you they are not doing direct deals with indies – they will suggest you go through a major label or a distributor/aggregator.
