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Originally Posted by BlueSprocket  You can look at this all kinds of ways. But here's how I feel.
How much would it cost you to do it yourself? You need to purchase a server, get it online, keep it updated and maintained. Next develop an E-commerce system that will provide access to the given files and guarantee that all sales will be accurately tracked so that at the end of the quarter you can receive payment for your product. How much would that cost (realistically...and include your time please).
I'm not even taking into account the convenience provided by these services of "Hey you dig this...maybe you'll like this". Without that you need to double your potential advertising to drive people to your own setup.
Sure, Apple and other digital music distributors could charge less for their services to artists and labels. However, they developed and provide a stable and effective service. They are in their right to charge whatever they want for it. |
I understand your point to a certain aspect. The audience that iTunes provides is something that would be almost impossible to replicate however they most probably wouldn't come across your music on iTunes unless you were someone big.
In terms of the whole server thing, it doesn't actually cost that much to sell music online. A basic 1 page website can be as cheap as £50 and hosting can be as cheap as £3 per month. Google analytics can provide you with good page and link traffic statistics for free and paypal can provide you with a no-set-up fee payment gate way. I know of a company that can do the whole lot from start to finish for around £100. Obviously the more detailed you want the website design to be the more it will cost but that's more of an artistry thing than a technical expense.
Marketing and promotion would have to be done anyway to let people know that you are on iTunes or you'll never be found.