Q:How can I market and sell my CD's or tapes online and in stores if I don't have a label?

A: With the popularity of the internet, bands have many more distribution options than they had in the past. You can build your own web site with online shopping carts so people can purchase your albums and other merchandise right off your web site via credit card and sometimes even check. You can do it mail order style as well if you can't afford to work up a shopping site. OR you can use companies like IDN the Independent Distribution Network. There is no fee for you to use IDN, they distribute online and in stores. They also do not limit you like other distributors by not saying you can only distribute thru them. You can contact IDN at http://www.ivs.net/IDN.

Another method if you have the money is to run ads in newspapers and magazines, radio, and even television just like the major labels. Also if you are able to find an independent film producer or director willing to use one of your songs in their movie this also can help get your name out there and possibly give you a nice royalty. Of course it will have to be one that people will actually go see the movie or rent it.

Time Warner has cashed in on their owning tv and record companies. They used Edwin McCain's song "I'll Be" (from a Warner album that was originally not doing well at all) in the TV show Dawson Creek and suddenly the album sales jumped to nearly 18,000 albums a week and pushed the song into the top 10 on Billboard and other charts. So if you know someone involved in TV you might want to really work hard to get your song on one of their shows etc.

"Be creative, if you are really serious about a music career you will work your ass off to get exactly what you want out of it. Don't expect your agent, manager, or lawyer to do it all for you. You have to make the decision that no one in the world cares about your music career more than you do." direct quote from Tam McClure CEO of Artist Management Services at the Crossroads Music Expo in Memphis April 1998 DIY Panel Discussion.