Magnatune signs digital distribution deal with CDBABY

Magnatune has signed a digital distribution deal with CDBABY, who will be sending all of Magnatune's music to all the music stores listed below. I've been working with Apple since June (and MSN since September), and because they're so overwhelmed with their success, the music is still not up on their store. Since CDBABY has an existing relationship with all these distributors, I'm told the music will get up there fairly fast.

Perhaps more importantly, we at Magnatune greatly admire CDBABY, and they have a great reputation in the indie-industry for treating people well and actually paying their bills (a rare trait). We're really happy to be working with them.

Here is a complete list of sites Magnatune's music will appear on:

AliveAudio
Apple iTunes
AudioLunchbox
Bitmunk
Bold Soul
Brainshield
BuyMusic
CatchMusic
DigiPie
Digital Kiosk Technologies
Digizaar
DiscLogic
EMEPE3
Emusic
Etherstream
GraniteRocks
iSound
iTunes-Canada
iTunes-Europe
iTunes-UK
Lindows
LoudEye
Mperia
MPFlea
MSN Music
Music4Cents
MusicIsHere
MusicMatch
MusicNet
MusicNow
Napster
Napster-Canada
Napster-UK
NetMusic
NewViews Music
On-line Promo
Play Indies
Puretracks
QTRnote
Rhapsody
Ruckus Network
RuleRadio
Sony Connect
True Independent
Viztas
Weed
WeedICP - ShareNewYork
WeedICP - WeedFiles

Keep in mind that some like LoudEye and MusicNet are actually sub-distributors that power MTV.com VirginRadio.com AT&T music store, and more like that.

Comments

[Eric Fung]

Will Magnatune artists' music be subject to the DRM some stores (e.g. iTMS) use, or is that negotiated on a per-artist basis?

[John Buckman]

"Will Magnatune artists' music be subject to the DRM some stores (e.g. iTMS) use, or is that negotiated on a per-artist basis?"

So far, the few stores I've mentioned the DRM issue to (iTunes, MSN Music) have told me that their infrastructure is 100% DRM, and that they can't make any exceptions.

Obviously, I'd prefer people bought Magnatune's music at www.magnatune.com, and they'll get a higher quality product (no DRM, better sound) but that's the buyer's choice.

-john

[Asheesh Laroia]

Regarding iTMS DRM:

Does this mean that you would grant us permission to strip iTMS files of their DRM when we buy them?

[John Buckman]

"Does this mean that you would grant us permission to strip iTMS files of their DRM when we buy them?"

Yes, absolutely, Magnatune (and I) have no problem with users removing DRM on iTunes purchased tracks.

-john

[Magess]

So what's the relationship between magnatune and cdbaby? You both seem to have similar goals. Their artists look like they'd make as much, if not more than magnatune's. Is it mostly the CC license that's the difference? And whether or not an artist wants that availability?

[John Buckman]

"So what's the relationship between magnatune and cdbaby? You both seem to have similar goals"

CDBABY and Magnatune share the same philosophy, and indeed, many Magnatune musicians have a separate arrangement with CD BABY to have them sell their CDs. But, CD BABY is mostly an online CD store, with a massive catalog (anyone who wants to can join CDBABY) while Magnatune picks 2% of what's submitted and is the business of promoting what we choose to try to create sales.

[Troy Farrell]

Lindows changed their name a while ago to Linspire. The web facing component to Linspire's music ambitions is mp3tunes.com. It just so happens that mp3tunes.com is why I found Magnatune.

On an unrelated note, I suppose it is silly to ask if this has any bearing on Magnatune's ability to sign artists already on CDBaby. I don't really understand all the relationships going on there. Ivan Rosenburg and company make some really nice bluegrass - I found them on mp3tunes.com, then discovered their presence at CDBaby.

Troy