[Jeff Price]

I am sorry, but I flat our disagree with some of your statements.

I am the founder of TuneCore but I also am the co-founder and GM of a record label called spinART Records. Over the past 15 years, spinART has distributed over 180 releases including such band/artist as: Frank Black, You Am I, The Pixies, John Doe, Apples In Stereo, The Dears, Vic Chesnutt, Jason Falkner, Richard Thompson, Echo & The Bunnymen, Ron Sexsmith, Paul Kelly, The Fastbacks, Creeper Lagoon, The Church, Lilys, The Eels, Clem Snide and more.

Along the way, we received demos from a few bands that we "passed" Two that come to mind - The Shins and Spoon. Boy was I dead wrong. Both are brilliant bands and I love their music.

So I made a subjective decision about the "quality" of the music.

I also remember standing in an A&R person's office at Giant Records many years ago. He handed me a tape of his most recent "pass" - Alanis Morissette. Admittedly, not one of my favorites but I appear to be in a minority. On the other hand, I have heard major label and indie bands that are, in my opinion, truly horrible, but they got signed and promoted ( to no avail).

I guess where I am going with this is, once I put up filters, they are subjective. I never thought Bright Eyes or Arcade Fire would do what they have done. Not because I do or do not like them, but because I did not hear the mass appeal. I was wrong

On other bands like Weezer, Nirvana, Green Day, Modest Mouse, Death Cab For Cutie I expected them to be huge and they were.

I made a decision when I started TuneCore that I was not going to be a subjective filter. We receive a minimum of 300 demos a week at spinART. And 99.9% of them are not bands we choose to work with. But I remind myself that the people that send them to us pour their heart and soul into their music. they think it is good. Who am I to make a universal statement that its not.

iTunes already has well over a million songs. Its shelves are virtual. Having an album in "stock" does not push out another album. The only way the album or song is going to sell is if there is demand but I can not see how a song sitting on a virtual Apple server will clutter someone's ability to find or buy something else.

All that being said, you are right, there is not doubt there will be some crap coming in. Some of it will make it through. And if it does, as it is virtual, no one will end up buying it but it will not cause something else not to sell.

I agree music / bands need to be promoted. Again, please provide specific examples of 'promotion' you feel these other companies have done to remotly justify their fees and model. Perhaps of the hundreds of thousands of bands you might find one?

What promotion is it you think they do? From my perspective and direct experiences this promotion is all smoke and mirrors.

Also, factualy you are incorrect when you state "The bigger players will always carry 95% major label releases and indie music is always a second thought. "

The majority of the content at iTunes, the other digital services and even Amazon is indie label content. As a matter fo fact, the combined total sales of indie music is rivals major label content ( the long tail theory)

In addition, you don't always need big chunks of cash to promote yourself. Some simple ideas... go to iTunes and make an iMix that contains at least two of your own songs and 10 from other better know bands. These playlists surface and people will discover your music in the very store where they can buy it. Rate any playlist with 5 stars that has your music in it. Email your album to a friend via iTunes. Ask everyone else you know to make an iMix and rate them.

It is possible to get your music into Amazon as well. You don't need to be on a label. Once its in there, review it and rate it. Ask your friends to as well.

Both of these simple ideas cause sales.

MP3 blogs are also a great way to get music around. Type MP3 blog into google and search and email the bloggers

There is a lot that can done on your own with no money.

I agree, if you make music and do nothing, no one will know it is there... but there is a lot you can do without having to give up your rights and money just to gain access to a retail shelf