does Beatport really take 50%? very passionate man here..

[certifiedhumane]

I have to first say because in this day and age there is too little passion. . . my passions for creating the most beautiful deep house music are endless and constantly flowing every moment i am breathing.. i consider myself one of the most passionate music men out there .. i am still in the learning stage, have been for about 2 years.. I use Reason and Logic, learning both and learning Omnisphere as well.. I have taken 1 class with Point Blank, 1 with Berkleemusic, and will be going back to Berkleemusic this next term on April 4th..

I want to say the above because so many people I find for them it's more about quantity vs quality, and with absolutely no disrespect, I would love to be able to make beautiful songs all the time, however I would be happy with the greatest tune every decade or such . .

My goal is to literally bridge the gap between mainstream radio music and deep house and I know I will make it happen, similar to how Maya Jane Cole's What They Say is doing just that . .


I was reading a thread on here where someone said Beatport takes 50%, this is literally making me throw up in my soul . . First of all I have supported Beatport for years, I buy tracks every day almost, and beside that on a more meaningful note, they have been the source of all my inspirations and passions these past years, without them I really wouldn't have all this love for music, so I am literally rolling on the floor having a heart attack reading this..
If I ever made a company like this I always tell myself I would literally take 0 profit, I would take the minimum I needed to support myself, without buying a huge mansion and paying my employees little, and the rest would go to the person who deserves it right? The person who made the song..
I mean I literally go thru this in my head everyday, if I start a label I wouldn't even take more than 5%, where is the love and soul in that??

50%? Why do they need so much profit, they are the biggest guys out there, I literally am about to stop buying tracks from them I am going insane this makes me so angry.. To know that they are making that much money and living the high life is so wrong . .

I don't even know how we could have a discussion about this there is nothing to discuss you know? They couldn't give me 1 solid, substantial reason why they do that..

Is this really true?? If so, I doubt I will ever release thru them, that is sickening that the people behind all my love and spirit are literally scamming the whole music world thru their greed . . There is no passion and love in that.. That is not music at all

[timbreman]

Originally Posted by certifiedhumane

They couldn't give me 1 solid, substantial reason why they do that..

They host their own site and servers. You have any idea how much that costs?

Having a heart don't pay the bills.

[mrkaizen]

yes they do for most labels i would think that arrangements with bigger distributions such as kompakt and its sublables are quite different but generally yes beatport takes 50 % remaining 50 goes to label/distribution company. After label/distro split additional split that rtist has with the label (say another 50/50) so in reality artist is lucky to get even a 15-20% of the original sale. There are some lables that deal with beaport directly but mostly are either big ones or friends of employees etc.

Don't forget the additional wav charges that they keep so thats another dollar on top of all that.

Beatport is ruthless in terms of catering to artists, it is a business and a VERY BIG ONE. + they have additional deals with booking agencies so that booking agencies catering to certain clubs get priority dibs on bookings otherwise beatport might threaten to pull artists catalog offline (there is a recent lawsuit against beatport for this).

In reality you have more chance making $20 dollars on a track through bandcamp that through a digital only label on beatport.

So as a small conclusion i would advise many to think twice before signing track to a digital only label. Yes you name might make it to beatport but you won't make a dime on it because most digital labels will not offer any advances, will not pay you until a certain level of sales is reached, will rarely do any mastering. DO YOU REALLY WANT TO RELEASE MUSIC THROUGH SOMEONE WHO WILL BASICALLY TAKE YOUR MUSIC AND PUT IT ON BEATPORT AND KEEP ALL THE CASH TO HIMSELF?

I've turned down multiple offers based on just this, if a label doesn't do mastering, doesn't pay you for your time but just sticks your track to beatport is this a label or an exploitation scheme by yet another corporation? I'm not talking big/mid level labels but about those labels that come and offer to take your takes for free.


i hope this thread will generate a lot of discussion

[certifiedhumane]

having a heart dont pay the bills? . . you know what you are 100% wrong and i will make sure of it . . you can have a heart and be successful without being a dick so shit like that is completely false . . i dont give a shit if you have commericals on tv you do it with pride and dignity . .

i am not supporting beatport anymore from this day on, i will look to traxsource for my music . .

does anyone know how much traxsource takes??

and you know what i will stick to music and i will be more successful than you ever will be and my heart will continue to grow stronger and beat faster and with more blood than yours ever will

[mrkaizen]

Originally Posted by certifiedhumane

having a heart dont pay the bills? . . you know what you are 100% wrong and i will make sure of it . . you can have a heart and be successful without being a dick so shit like that is completely false . . i dont give a shit if you have commericals on tv you do it with pride and dignity . .

and you know what i will stick to music and i will be more successful than you ever will be and my heart will continue to grow stronger and beat faster and with more blood than yours ever will

no sure what you trying to say, can you elaborate?

does anyone know how much traxsource takes??

not sure the splits but from what i've gathered there is a very good response from labels about their business, all monies are paid on time and regularly.

[Ben F]

And 50% of no sales is pretty poor indeed!

[Pier]

Originally Posted by certifiedhumane

If I ever made a company like this I always tell myself I would literally take 0 profit, I would take the minimum I needed to support myself, without buying a huge mansion and paying my employees little, and the rest would go to the person who deserves it right? The person who made the song..
I mean I literally go thru this in my head everyday, if I start a label I wouldn't even take more than 5%, where is the love and soul in that??

Obviously you know nothing about running a business. Beatport not only costs a lot of money in technology (servers, bandwidth, development, etc), it also has lots of advertisement costs, legal costs, etc, etc, etc.

My point is not if 50% is a lot or not, my point you can't run a business and take no profit. And I'm not talking about personal profit. How will the company grow? How will it make investments, research, etc? How will it handle unplanned costs, emergencies, etc? A company with no profit will inevitably die.

I agree with you that 50% is a lot, and that Beatport doesn't have the most honest commercial practices... but come on.

What is really strange is that you signed up on this forum just to say that.

[certifiedhumane]

i am the farthest thing from a troll, but you know what it made me upset. as the leader of the movement you have a right to do the right thing, be fair, you know? i dont agree with 50% is running a successful company, never..

MLA this is exactly my point why would you even want to support such a company you know? the point is whether or not you can make money at top spot, it is why would you want to give them your music, your heart and soul, and have them profit so much from it . . to me that is not a business, that is not the way to run one, and i do believe you can run a successful business without treating your customers that way . .

maybe i like when people agree with me, i wasn't expecting someone to come in and be like "you know what 50% is for advertisements and such" no its not that is a lie, they are making big profits and that is simply wrong, no other way to look at it. you can call it a business til the sun comes up to me that is not a successful, nor a proper business . .

[Pier]

Originally Posted by certifiedhumane

i am the farthest thing from a troll, but you know what it made me upset. as the leader of the movement you have a right to do the right thing, be fair, you know? i dont agree with 50% is running a successful company, never..

MLA this is exactly my point why would you even want to support such a company you know? the point is whether or not you can make money at top spot, it is why would you want to give them your music, your heart and soul, and have them profit so much from it . . to me that is not a business, that is not the way to run one, and i do believe you can run a successful business without treating your customers that way . .

maybe i like when people agree with me, i wasn't expecting someone to come in and be like "you know what 50% is for advertisements and such" no its not that is a lie, they are making big profits and that is simply wrong, no other way to look at it. you can call it a business til the sun comes up to me that is not a successful, nor a proper business . .

Seriously, did you ever run a business?

For example in Spain the government takes 30% of all profit you make, in Mexico it's between 15% and 35%. I suppose in the US they also take away a big chunk of the profit of a company

And 50% isn't that much if you think about it and consider other types of businesses. The food industry for example is even worst than the music industry. Do you think a farmer that grows tomatoes gets 50% of the final price of a tomato? He doesn't even get a 5%, because he has lots of costs and risks, and usually there many distributors between the farmer and the final customer.

So if a label gets 50% of the final purchase price is not that bad. In the times of CDs and vinyls they used to get less than that.

If you really believe in your music set up your own label. Create an account on Felyr and you are ready to go.

Feiyr.com - Load Up Your Music

[Siem]

This is some of my experience with dfegadbeatport. I suppose this is still the same, unless anything has changed in the last year:

In order to get a release the charts on beatport many labels buy their own tracks (yes, you know who you are) and beatport knows this and chooses to ignore it. Good luck competing in these diluted charts.

You're very lucky if beatports 'features' a track of you, even if you show them quotes from the most famous dj's in the world. Unless you're releasing on an affiliated label then your "B-side" tracks will be on the front page no matter how crappy they sound.

obviously I have no intention on releasing any music on beatport anymore.

[certifiedhumane]

i apologize if my attitude was presented in a harsh way, i already explained my feelings about the "business" of music..

anyway, on to something more productive, can you guys recommend because i dont know too much what are some other more fair music sites.. All I have heard of is Traxsource and Juno or something simliar, maybe AudioJelly as well, I would of course be looking at a dance-oriented, house, tehcno/electronic music website . .

I am checking out this feiyr right now thank you man

[certifiedhumane]

wow i do not understand feiyr at all, they will forward your music to download sites that makes completely no sense to me.. would someone care to explain to the uneducated what feiyr is?

[crufty]

Warning - i have no experience here.


But, i would assume, maybe vanity pressing is for you? Pay for pro mixing, mastering, pres 500 vinyls, setup a www site and push your own records.

I look at beatport from a consumer perspective...i bought kid unknown's "nightmare walking" a track i had been looking for FOREVER. How many people bought that track? Its a solid tune from the last century. If anything, beatport has too big a heart. But i am glad they do, as i am able buy releases, new and classic, that i would have never would have been able to. The value proposition is there. I almst never pay attention to the top charts. I look based on labels, labels with standards and musicians. Something to think about...

[Yoozer]

Originally Posted by Pier

I suppose in the US they also take away a big chunk of the profit of a company

Only if said company has completely incompetent accountants.

How Much Do Music Artists Earn Online?

That should show you what to do, and in that light, the vanity pressing doesn't sound like a bad idea. But - it helps if you have as many channels as possible to sell through.

[dhollmusik]

Originally Posted by certifiedhumane

i dont agree with 50% is running a successful company, never..

Certified clueless.

Sorry mate, but you first have to understand the logistics of running a business before making such comments. It's not like it's a friend selling tracks for other friends.

Making good profit means more money can be invested...means more bandwidth for higher-quality uploads from more musicians, among many other beneficial things.

[golden beers]

50% is cheap bro

[Paul Greenway]

Originally Posted by Pier

And 50% isn't that much if you think about it and consider other types of businesses. So if a label gets 50% of the final purchase price is not that bad. In the times of CDs and vinyls they used to get less than that.

But Beatport itself is not a label. Actually when you think about it its sad we came to this standard in music where a online distributor takes 50% and tells you its ok to do that.

And because we don't know any better we just sign it right on the spot instead of questioning it. Musicians are getting played more and more these days because of not second guessing such methods.

[Mans]

Originally Posted by Paul Greenway

But Beatport itself is not a label. Actually when you think about it its sad we came to this standard in music where a online distributor takes 50% and tells you its ok to do that.

And because we don't know any better we just sign it right on the spot instead of questioning it. Musicians are getting played more and more these days because of not second guessing such methods.

There is nothing stopping anyone to pursue other means of distribution. Beatport saw an opportunity. I can't find any fault in that.

[JayPee]

Who among us hit the top 10?

[Primativ]

Originally Posted by JayPee

Who among us hit the top 10?

On Betaport? I would if I knew where to send my demo's

[Brainchild]

I also consider myself one of the most passionate music men out there.

[Swurveman]

Originally Posted by certifiedhumane

i am the farthest thing from a troll, but you know what it made me upset. as the leader of the movement you have a right to do the right thing, be fair, you know? .

I'm curious to know what "movement" Beatport is a leader of?

[golden beers]

Originally Posted by Swurveman

I'm curious to know what "movement" Beatport is a leader of?

Bowel

[beats are us]

is iTunes not an option?? (not trying to be a dick, just wondering)

Through CD baby, iTunes gives me around 84 cents for each sale in America and Europe and 67 cents in Canada

[rolo]

I too am passionate about being passionate concerning the art of passion and all it's passionate passions. you know?

Seriously dude... when I signed on a a label in 99 my cut per cd was $1 - $2 bucks per... and that was WAY back in the day when cd's sold.

It's TONZ harder to make a living in the biz now. And I am totally content with my current %50 situation... They do all the work....I do the music...half and half.... fair is fair.

Might want to make an appointment with a reality specialist.

Love and Passion,
rolo

[rolo]

looks like you're passionate about being an ass as well. cheers.

Originally Posted by certifiedhumane

having a heart dont pay the bills? . . you know what you are 100% wrong and i will make sure of it . . you can have a heart and be successful without being a dick so shit like that is completely false . . i dont give a shit if you have commericals on tv you do it with pride and dignity . .

i am not supporting beatport anymore from this day on, i will look to traxsource for my music . .

does anyone know how much traxsource takes??

and you know what i will stick to music and i will be more successful than you ever will be and my heart will continue to grow stronger and beat faster and with more blood than yours ever will

[Entrainer]

You also have to take into account how much money Beatport is spending
to get traffic to their site.

You can set up a site to sell tracks, take $0, and pay your employees little...
but if no one visits the site, then the artist will also get $0.

Beatport has a STAGE at the Movement Festival/DEMF in Detroit.

That isn't cheap... and it's giving back to the community, because that
festival has been on the verge of extinction several times.

They buy ads in all the dance music magazines, which in turn enables those
magazines to keep publishing, supporting the reviewers and new artists,
getting the word out.

So a lot of their money does go back to the larger dance music environment.

[RyanC]

I'm in Denver and have known some of the Beatport guys since before it started. I can say they aren't rich from beatport, and the lawsuit that was mentioned in the 2nd post is something different all together. The main investors in BP are a former Denver Bronco (Trevor Price) and the owner of a ad firm in town and this was their pet project. They didn't set out to loose money on it, but it still isn't a big money maker for them.

One reality of things like this is that people tend to have ugly baby syndrome. They think their tracks are on par with top 10 stuff and when it doesn't sell they cry foul play. Successful dance music is about fashion of the music more then any virtuosity. And any successful music is about promotion on top of the music being good.

[fearofflying]

Originally Posted by JayPee

Who among us hit the top 10?

No 8 before in Deep House chart. No 5 in Tech House, but never got into the top 10 in the main chart.

[Radiance]

certifiedhumane: welcome the the digital age. Do you have any clue on how much the "record industry" used to take in the pre download era?

50% is not so bad, trust me....and actually, I don't think it's 50%. If I remember correctly it's more like 40%.

Or I might have gotten a better deal at the time...dunno..