Get Duplicated CDs If You Want To Be On Pandora

Hypebot is pushing a headline that reads “Pandora Forces $29.95 Payments From Indie Bands.”  The title is somewhat misleading because the $29.95 does not go to Pandora; it goes to Amazon.com.  Pandora now requires submitting artists to have a CD available for purchase on Amazon.  Amazon charges the annual fee to make your titles available for distribution.

From the Pandora FAQ page, here is what they require from you:

* a CD of your music
* a unique UPC code for that CD
* your CD to be available through Amazon (must be a physical CD, not just MP3s for download)
* the legal rights to your music
* MP3 files for two of the songs from your CD
* a free Pandora account, based on a valid email address, which can be associated with your music

While some artists are focusing on the digital realm for music distribution, this is an example of why you shouldn’t abandon physical formats just yet.  The CD still has plenty of life left to it.  If you only sell digital downloads, then you’ll miss out on lots of opportunities to sell your music.  The same goes if you haven’t gotten on board with selling MP3’s yet and are only selling CDs.  It’s best to have a mixed media distribution strategy.

If you get your CD duplication services provided by COPYCATS Media, you’ll be all set to submit your album to Amazon and Pandora.  We provide a free bar code with our projects along with all the packaging and print.