For most musicians,CD sales count for 1/3 of the total revenue and it is still the basis for most artists if their music is actually being bought.
But now that many people prefer streaming, how can we convince them to buy CDs?
We put something that adds value to it, that’s how! Here are some of our ideas on how to boost CD sales:
Table of Contents
Add a freebie
You can add something as simple as a button or a download card and it will make your album more valuable by a few notches.
If you want it to be more enticing, be more creative. Just make sure it’s still affordable and it won’t affect storage, display, and shipping.
Release a Special Edition CD
I mean, take a look at this. Don’t you wanna own it?
Okay, maybe because it’s Lennon but still. A special set of songs, a special packaging released in a special way is definitely a treat for the fans.
Entice them with Kickass CD packaging
We are advocates of kickass CD packaging and we see absolutely no reason why you shouldn’t be more creative when it comes your album artwork or package. It doesn’t have to be expensive.
In fact, it could cost exactly the same as the regular CD you’re planning to make. All it takes is a good concept executed well. This will make them buy the physical format instead of just downloading your stuff.
Bundle your CDs with other merch
Bundling items together does not only make them seem more affordable, it also makes the buyer feel like a hardcore fan.
That way, every item on the bundle adds value to the other items of the bundle making the bundle greater than the sum of its parts. Here are CD+Vinyl+merch bundles we love.
Let bloggers review your album
You somehow have to get the word out there that your album is out and it’s super duper dope.
This info shouldn’t come from you all the time therefore you either have to ask some fans to give your album a review or ask bloggers and website owners to feature your album. If someone is influential, you better prepare to pay but it’s worth it.
Stay by the merch table
Particularly for mid-sized bands, have at least one member of the band actually sitting at the merch table when you aren’t playing. This is a golden opportunity to talk one-on-one with your fans.
For smaller bands, this should be a no-brainer. But I know that the more prominent your band becomes, the harder it is to muster the enthusiasm to actually interact with the superfans.
But it turns out that fans like feeling connected to musicians and this is a great way to increase your CD sales.
Keep promoting your CD onstage
This one is pretty basic but some musicians just forget to promote their stuff when they’re onstage. Seriously, just keep reminding them to buy your stuff. Simple.
Post it on your website homepage
Make sure you are promoting your stuff in the most important places of the world wide web but more especially on your website. Put your album on the homepage with a link of how they can purchase it.
What other tips can you add to this list?
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James Hill is a veteran of the music industry. He first worked at Warner Reprise Records then later joined Interscope/ Geffen Records where he managed producers and songwriters and got his first platinum record for Keyshia Cole’s The Way It Is. He is now helping indie artists with branding and manufacturing through his company Unified Manufacturing, a CD/DVD/vinyl and merch company in LA.
