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February 07, 2007
Updated Breakdown of Download Salesby David Harrell
Time for another store-by-store analysis of our digital sales! Last April I posted a breakdown of total download sales for independent musicians and small labels distributed via CD Baby and followed it up with two similar lists for my own band in April and July.
CD Baby hasn't posted any updates for its overall sales (maybe I'll send them a note...) but the table below lists our reported download/streaming sales through today.
The actual dollar amounts involved here are fairly small -- as is the case with most self-released musicians, we still haven't recouped our total costs for recording, mixing, mastering, and CD manufacturing. But I think we've had enough digital sales over the past couple of years to see some valid trends:
Total Download Sales for the Layaways
| as of 7/06 | as of 2/07 | |
| Apple iTunes | 47.28% | 43.85% |
| eMusic | 36.77% | 37.83% |
| Rhapsody | 7.84% | 6.28% |
| iTunes Canada | 1.95% | 5.57% |
| Napster | 1.83% | 1.89% |
| MusicNet | 1.18% | 1.66% |
| MusicMatch | 0.93% | 1.14% |
| iTunes Europe | 0.92% | 0.73% |
| iTunes UK | 0.48% | 0.38% |
| iTunes Australia | 0.42% | 0.33% |
| Nokia/OD2 (LoudEye) | 0.37% | 0.30% |
| MusicNow | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Ruckus | ---- | 0.00% |
| ----- | ----- | |
| 100.00% | 100.00% |
As before, iTunes and eMusic dominate. The combined totals for the four regional iTunes stores and eMusic acount for nearly 90% of our digital revenue. Ruckus is new to the list, but the total sales amount is less than .01% so far.
Both of our albums, however, have been delivered by CD Baby to 50+ digital retailers. In some cases, the albums aren't yet availabe for sale. Other retailers (DiscLogic, Etherstream, Music4cents, EMEPE3, Viztas, Mperia, etc.) went under or merged before any sales were reported. But there are a few stores where -- based on customer ratings and sales rankings -- we've definitely had sales but have yet to see any money. Either they're sloooow to pay or we haven't reached a minimum payout threshold.
One final thought: While sales via iTunes have produced the most DOLLARS, we've actually had more DOWNLOADS from eMusic. (After CD Baby's 9% cut, we receive approximately 64 cents per individual download from iTunes vs. 22 cents or so for each eMusic download.)
tags: iTunes eMusic Rhapsody Napster Ruckus digital downloads
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The Layaways (my band)
New album: "The Space Between" is now available from eMusic.
"It can't be easy to make something this basically simple sound so fulfilling; it if were, everyone would do it." -- Fingertips
"The Layaways have a unique sound with great drum fills and airy vocals that will make you tap your feet and sing along." -- VIC Radio
Keep It to Yourself - free mp3
All Around the World - free mp3
Come Back Home - free mp3
Download from eMusic, iTunes, Amazon MP3, Lala.com, or CD Baby, listen to free streams at Last.fm and Napster.
"The Layaways make fine indie pop. Hushed vocals interweave with understated buzzing guitars. The whole LP is a revelation from the start." -- Lost Music
"A wonderfully crafted recording built around tasteful songwriting and musicianship..." -- PopMatters
Silence - free mp3
The Long Night - free mp3
Download from eMusic, Amazon MP3, or iTunes, listen to free streams at Last.fm, Napster, or Rhapsody.
"These are songs that you want to take home with you, curl up with, hold them close -- and pray that they are still with you when you wake up." -- The Big Takeover
Let Me In - free mp3
Ocean Blue - free mp3
Download from eMusic, Amazon MP3, or iTunes, listen to free streams at Last.fm, Napster, or Rhapsody.
More Layaways downloads:
the layaways website
Current/Recent Reading and Listening:
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It's written as a how-to guide for those looking to become music supervisors, but I found it to be a good resource for musicians (like me) who are trying to get their music used in movies, TV, etc.