As The World Tunes

Don't Press That CD!

by Steve Bussey
GeoSynchronous Records

At least not yet, not until you are sure you are ready. Almost every band has a CD these days, and I think almost all of them have sent me a copy in hopes of signing a record deal . A lot of them are really bad, and a few are actually really good. So here are some of my opinions on pressing your own CD. As with all issues of AS THE WORLD TUNES, it is only my opinion, and a suggested way of doing things. Think about it, and decide for yourself what will work for your situation.

Industry sources say there are around 60,000 new titles released every year. Do you really need to release another one? I know every musician wants to be on a compact disc, but the hard fact is there is a lot of time, hard work, and money involved in recording and pressing a CD, and 90% or more of them lose money. Be sure you really have a need to do one, and be sure you can afford to do it before you start. Decide on your marketing plan and budget before you start, and be sure everyone in the band agrees to it.

A CD can hold up to 74 minutes of music, but do you need to fill it up? Usually you will find forty to fifty minutes of music on a CD. Sometimes you will see CD singles, with only a song or two on it. From the manufacturing standpoint, the cost to make the CD is the same regardless of the length of music on it. However, studio time will cost you more for each extra song, and the buying public expects to pay less for a CD single.

Listen to all of your possible songs. Listen to each part. Is the playing up to par? Are the songs too long? Do the lyrics really say what you want them to? Is the playing too loose, or maybe too sterile from too much time in the studio? Pick only your absolute best songs. Write, re-write, and re-write again if you have to.

Some of the CD s sent to me get too broad in styles. Many musicians love to show their talent by playing a lot of different styles, but I think a CD should stick to one particular style, and the buying public seems to agree. You can do another CD later if you want to showcase something totally different.

And speaking of styles, write it on the CD! This used to be used a lot in the 1960 s, and it is making a comeback. Put a description of what the music sounds like right on the back of the CD packaging. This may coax someone who has not heard you into buying your CD. If you have a good review from the newspaper, quote it. If not, write a description yourself. Be careful how you do this so you do not sound boastful and turn some one off. Describe the music, not how great the band thinks they are. If you get a review after release of the CD, print a quote from it on a sticker and put it on the shrink-wrap, on the front.

The overall look of your CD will project an image, so be sure it agrees with your style of music. At the start, people are judging your CD by the cover, so be sure that it looks good, and that it reflects you and your bands image and style.

If you want to sell your CD s in retail stores, you will need a bar code. Many CD replicators can provide one for you.

After you get all the songs determined, decide on the order on the CD. Put your best songs first, otherwise an industry professional may never make it past the first song. Is the album cohesive, does it sound like the same band? Are the levels balanced from song to song. Listen to the entire collection of songs to see if it goes together well. Just because you recorded the song does not mean it has to be put on the CD.

Be sure to put your contact info on the rear of the packaging, Also put a phone number on it where people can call to order the CD. Ron Wallace, of Creative Musicians Coalition, handles the 800 order line for GeoSynchronous Records. He gets lots of orders from people who hear a song on the radio, call the station to ask about it, and the DJ gives out the order line number from the back of the CD. This is also good when a fan plays the CD for his or her friends, and they like it and want to buy one for themselves.

Hopefully this will give you something to think about before you release your own CD. Don t be afraid to release one, but don t be afraid to wait until it is ready!

About the author: Steve Bussey is a singer/songwriter/guitarist and is currently the owner and general manager of GeoSynchronous Records (http://www.pan.com/geosync, Listening Line 800 235 9193, ask for a free catalog), an indie label handling artists such as Les Dudek, Mike Pachelli, Bong Water Taffy, and Big Red & The Bus. Prior to this, Steve earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Electrical Engineering and Acoustics from Georgia Tech, designed sound equipment and guitar amps for Fender, and supervised design of communication systems for the Space Shuttle at Kennedy Space Center.