CD Alternatives

In the midst of the digital music revolution, society isn’t satisfied until things are faster, more powerful and more efficient. And we want it all to fit in the palms of our hot little hands. Catering to this cultural trend is the concept of CD alternatives. Eliminating the bulky items has become a cause of concern, and companies are coming to the rescue of musicians who want to promote their music sans jewel case.

DiscRevolt.com, a download card service that is working to bring fans and artists together without the cumbersome hassle of physical CDs, allows both fans and artists to register for accounts. Through the site, artists are able to create custom pages that can feature songs, bios, photos and more. They are also provided with online templates for designing their own personalized cards. Artists can allow fans to purchase download cards from their DiscRevolt.com artist page or can decide to order physical cards that they can then make available for purchase at live performances. Of course, artists have complete control over what they want to do with the cards after they’ve been purchased — even if they want to pass them out for free after a show in order to generate buzz. For fans, they can use their accounts to redeem download cards from their favorite artists. DiscRevolt.com’s smallest order size is 100 cards for $99, at $0.99 per card, but as the order sizes increase, the price per card decreases. For example, artists can purchase 250 cards for $162.50, at $0.65 per card. Cards ship in 1-2 business weeks, depending on order backlog.

DropCards.com, a similar service, also allows artists to create custom pages and cards. After an initial set-up fee of $50, the cards start at $0.50 per card for 100 cards. FizzKicks.com, another option for download cards, offers monthly or yearly memberships. Through the FizzKicks website, artists can purchase a Music Card Kit that will allow them to create their own download cards, either on paper of their choice or on cards available on the site.

In addition to the download cards route, bands should also consider iPodadvertising.net. This online store sells reduced-price iPods pre-loaded with music from independent and unsigned artists. For instance, a 30GB iPod Video containing 1,500 hip-hop and alternative rock tracks retails for only $50. Artists simply pay $1/song per iPod, which is then loaded with music and artwork and sold from the website. The site offers a variety of advertising plans for placing up to 100 songs on 100 iPods. Bands simply need to fill out an order form on the website, submit payment, and deliver their files. At just a dollar per iPod, it is a low-risk way to get music to the masses.

Another alternative distribution possibility that has become quite popular is selling music on a flash drive. Bob Marley did it — his most recent work, a re-release of Exodus commemorating the album’s 30-year anniversary, was sold on a flash drive. Cfgear.com allows artists to customize flash sticks with a logo or saying. Simply load mp3s onto the drives, and you’re good to go. While this might be a slightly pricier route to go, people may be slightly more inclined to buy the drives considering they will have the use of a flash drive afterwards.

In the world of technology, smaller is better, and for the touring artist, this definitely holds true. So if you’re looking to save some space in your van, it might be worth it to consider these options.