First Art Records believes an internet presence is vital for today's self-produced artists. Independent musicians can access the global music market through the World Wide Web, literally allowing the world access to your music. This is done through Web site development, online sales, and making use of online resources. Navigating through the process can be a daunting task, however, and First Art Records can help.

In order for you to have a home address on the internet, artists, bands, and the CDs you are selling need a Web site. Giving your fans, customers and business professionals an internet address is common today, and will only continue to be more common as the internet grows more popular. Web addresses can be integrated into your promotional materials and campaigns, giving your users instant access to you at all times.

First Art Records can assist you at every step of the process of getting your Web site online, including:

• target profile
• keyword / keyphrase profile
• domain registration
• web site development and design
• web hosting
• web maintainance

There are a variety of methods available for designing and hosting Web sites, and First Art Records can guide you towards the best one for your needs. Depending on your level of involvement, many cost- and time-saving techniques can increase your quailty-to-expense ratio, and put you in more direct touch with your fans, customers and fellow professionals. Your Web site also makes an excellent place to sell your CD.   [ top ] [ next ]

First Art Records strives to design and maintain Web sites which are COMPLIANT, meaning they conform to a standard which allows access to non-graphical browsers, used by a variety of individuals with special needs. This includes hypertext navigation, and descriptive tags and tool-tips for images and links.

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Selling your CDs online is one of the best uses of the internet for the independent musician. By allowing your customers to order your CD through the internet, you provide them with continuous access to your product. Depending upon the method of retail, your customers can use credit cards, money orders, international money orders, checks and cash to pay for the CD, and use the internet, the telephone, fax lines, and even snail mail to place their order. Some retailers will even provide you with a credit card swiper to use at your live shows.

First Art Records uses an online retailer called CDBaby.com. They are a 100% reliable company, and utilize the most sophisticated security available to protect your customers credit card information. In addition to performing all the services listed above, CDBaby.com operates by having your CD ready to ship when your customer places an order. First Art Records can set up and manage your accounts, and save you money in the process (Ask us how).

Account management includes:

• manufacturing and assembling CDs
• maintaining and shipping inventory
• web page development and maintenance
• e-mail response and management (small accounts only)
• addition to CD store on J.D. Hopkins.com
• participation in larger, collective promotional efforts

First Art Records can integrate your manufacturing and online sales, so you are never paying too much ahead in inventory. We monitor your online supply and react accordingly, increasing production as demand increases. Releasing more than one album at a time, or in quick succession, becomes much more feasable for independent musicians. Live shows and concerts can be sold to your fans, or used as part of your promotional efforts.

For those new to the internet, First Art Records can get your Web site and CD sales up and running while you become comfortable with the new technologies. For those more experienced, you can save time and effort with our services, and devote yourself to other aspects of your music creation.

Browse our list of Web sites and online CD sales sites:

Web Design and Maintaince

www.firstartrecords.com - home page
www.franksinger.com - artist website
www.jdhopkins.com - combination site
www.standards-1.com - CD website
www.oneworldtribe.com - band website
www.jamalongcds.com - instructional cds for play along jam sessions

Website Maintaince

www.catsabear.com - band website
www.booksforkids-erie.org - Books For Kids Erie
www.jazzerie.com - Jazz Erie jazz society

CD Duplication and Online Sales

Jam Along Blues CD - 11 Blues Shuffles for Fun and Learning
oFF tHE tOP: standards 1 - solo jazz guitar from Frank Singer
Generations String Quartet - original classical composition by Frank Singer
Eye of the Pyramid - 8 original jazz compositions from Cat's A Bear
Tito: In Search of a Revolution - 8 original jazz compositions from Cat's A Bear
Tito In Wonderland - 4 jazz standards and 2 originals from Cat's A Bear
Near Journey's End - collective improvisation from J.D. and the Sons of Rhythm [2 discs]
Astral Worlds - collective improvisation from J.D. and the Sons of Rhythm [2 discs]
Moving Through The Elements - collective improvisation from J.D. and the Sons of Rhythm [2 discs]
Beyond Attention - collective improvisation from J.D. and the Sons of Rhythm [2 discs]
Crossing Oceans of Time - collective improvisation from J.D. and the Sons of Rhythm [2 discs]
Live at Forward Hall - collective improvisation from J.D. and the Sons of Rhythm [2 discs]
Imagination Doctors - collective improvisation from J.D. and the Sons of Rhythm [2 discs]
Smoke Shadows - collective improvisation from J.D. and the Sons of Rhythm [2 discs]
Quantum Events - collective improvisation from J.D. and the Sons of Rhythm [2 discs]
Music From Another Planet - collective improvisation from J.D. and the Sons of Rhythm [2 discs]
Primate Gestures - collective improvisation from J.D. and the Sons of Rhythm [2 discs]
Potato Battery - Original Instrumental Jazz with a Blues-Rock Flavor from Potato Battery
Things Are Not What They Seem - double-tracked guitar performances of original music by Mike Ohm
One Thing After Another - double-tracked guitar performances of original music by Mike Ohm
Unity and Diversity - Reggae World-Beat Funk Latin Hip-Hop from One World Tribe
The World Today - World Beat, Latin, Reggae, Funk, HipHop from One World Tribe
I Spy the Hootzpah - spoken word jazz improvisation from Weirdo Theatre

Online CD Sales

Family Values - collective improvisation from J.D. and the Sons of Rhythm [2 discs]
Skudd - original hard core rock and roll from Skudd
That Dog In Egypt ['99] - original rock from That Dog In Egypt [2 discs]
That Dog In Egypt ['97] - original rock from That Dog In Egypt
Mambo - latin pop from Mambo

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Contact First Art Records for more details and information here.

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WEB PRESENCE
 

Web Development

Online CD Sales

NEWS:

CD Baby pays $10 million to musicians for CDs sold

Independent online music retailer CD Baby has now paid over $10 million directly to musicians for CDs sold worldwide through their online store at cdbaby.com.

CD Baby's easy consignment system has given every musician access to worldwide sales and distribution, without having to sign away their music to a record label.

While record labels are blaming piracy for a lack of sales, music sold through CD Baby has almost doubled every year for the past six years.

"It's easier than ever for music fans to find great non-mainstream music," says CD Baby founder Derek Sivers. "So what's reported as a sales decline for a huge pop star is actually a sales boost for the less-famous but more-talented musicians of the world. We sell thousands of CDs a day by artists you've never heard, but will love when you do."

Now, as one of the primary suppliers of music to digital download services such as Apple iTunes, MSN Music, Napster, Rhapsody, Sony Connect, MusicMatch, and more, CD Baby is helping artists everywhere get their music out into even wider distribution.

CD Baby has been a launching pad for later-famous acts such as O.A.R., Jack Johnson and Gary Jules. Other already-famous artists such as Thomas Dolby, George Clinton, Grant-Lee Phillips, and Beach Boy Al Jardine have chosen to use CD Baby's unique distribution service to release smaller projects directly to their fans.

CD Baby now represents over 75,000 artists and labels, making them the largest seller of independent music on the web.

For more information, interview requests, etc., please contact Alex Steininger at CD Baby alex@cdbaby.com or 503-595-3000.

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About CD Baby:
CD Baby handles online sales and distribution for independent artists and labels. Founder and musician Derek Sivers was selling his own CD online in 1998, and as a hobby offered to let a few friends use his system. Friends told friends and now over 75,000 artists sell their music through CD Baby, making it the largest seller of independent music on the web. CD Baby has sold over one million CDs sold to customers worldwide, and paid over $10 million directly to the musicians. CD Baby's Digital Distribution program has deals with all major digital outlets such as Apple iTunes, MSN Music, Rhapsody, Napster, and Sony Connect, making CD Baby one of the leaders in the aggregation of digital content. For more information visit www.cdbaby.com.