Digital Audio Insider -- the economics of music and other digital content

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Digital Audio Insider is David Harrell's blog about the economics of music and other digital content. I write from the perspective of a musican who has self-released four albums with the indie rock band the Layaways.

My personal website has links to my LinkedIn and Google+ pages and you can send e-mail to david [at] thelayaways [dot] com.

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December 01, 2011

Some Details About the Google Music Store and Self-Released Artists
by David Harrell

One pleasant surprise: Google Music waives the $25 setup fee if an act is already included Google's database. (Thanks to Chris, who mentioned the fee waiver in a comment to my post at Hypebot.) The Layaways were already there, so I claimed the page for no charge.

Pricing Details:
Albums can be designated as "free" or for any dollar amount, as long as it ends in 49 or 99 cents.

Individual songs can be priced as "free," 49 cents, 69 cents, 99 cents, $1.29, or "album only."

You can edit album and individiual song prices after an album is published, but the changes aren't instant, as they are with Bandcamp. They do, however, appear in a few hours.

There's no need to enter a UPC barcode number for a release, or ISRC codes for individual songs. So, like Bandcamp, Google Music makes it easy to release collections of demos, live performances, etc.

Currently, Google only allows basic control over artist pages. You can add an artist bio, one picture, and links to your Google+ page (of course!) and other websites, but that's about it. At the album level, there's no ability to add descriptive text, press quotes or reviews, or album credit information.

Overall, the process was relatively straightforward and reasonably fast. I uploaded audio tracks and the artwork for the Layaways 2009 holiday album late Monday afternoon and it was available in the Android Music Market by Wednesday morning.

Labels: Bandcamp, Google Play, The Layaways

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THE LAYAWAYS

Out Now -- "Maybe Next Year" -- The New Holiday Album:

"This is a sweet treat, deliciously musical without being overbaked for mass media consumption." -- Hyperbolium

"Perfect listening to accompany whatever holiday preparations you may be making today." -- Bag of Songs

O Christmas Tree - free mp3 lyrics and song details
Away In A Manger - free mp3

Download from eMusic, iTunes, Amazon MP3, or Bandcamp. Listen to free streams at Last.fm.

"...about as melodic and hooky as indie pop can get." -- Absolute Powerpop

"Their laid-back, '60s era sounds are absolutely delightening." -- 3hive

"...melodic, garage-influenced shoegaze." -- RCRD LBL

Where The Conversation Ends - free mp3
January - free mp3
Keep It To Yourself - free mp3

Download from eMusic, iTunes, Amazon MP3, or CD Baby, stream it at Last.fm or 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

"Catchy Guided by Voices-like rockers who lay it on sweetly and sincerely, just like Lionel Richie." -- WRUV Radio

Silence - free mp3 lyrics and song details
The Long Night - free mp3

Download from eMusic, Amazon MP3, or iTunes, stream it 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, stream it at Last.fm, Napster, or Rhapsody.

More Layaways downloads:

the layaways website