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Originally posted by Kismet7 For those of you who released tracks on digital download sites. How do you know how much you've sold? How does the label know? Is it purely on trust? How do you feel about the current system?

Some tracks earned me a couple of 100 some only a couple of 10s. An average release would make you about 100-150 Euro or so in it's first couple of months. After that only little to nothing.

Labels get quarterly or semi-annually reports from the portals or their distributor. This is based on law and trust. Changing numbers would be fraud. You have the rights to inspect the labels finances in case you don't trust what is going on. But you would need a lawyer and a good accountant to get there.

I trust the guys I currently deal with. Some labels have been slow on statements and I don't feel like working them with anymore. I could actually break the contracts because they did not fullfil their duties but that wouldn't be much help either. By far the most annoying thing is labels that only send statements if you ask them (a thousand times). Even though the contract obligates them to send out statements.

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Storyteller Website | Storyteller @ Facebook | Storyteller @ Beatport | Storyteller @ Soundcloud | Stephen J. Kroos - Europa (Storyteller Remix)
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If less is more think about how much more more would be. -Frasier

Last edited by Storyteller on Apr-03-2009 at 10:18

^^^ right on the money

A lot centers around the contract you signed. For instance, in ours we have a stipulation that says the artist must come to Colorado to file any complaints etc.

It really comes down to trust. If you've got a track that charted high and you get 50$ from it when payment time rolls around then there is obviously a problem.

Things also depend on the distributors. Some will allow me to go in and check downloads at any time. So I could in theory check every night. Others will only give out the numbers at certain frequencies.

Just make sure you deal with people you trust. Make sure they're not lazy and make sure they have a passion for what they're doing. I personally can sniff out what I terms "losers" pretty easily just through email. I guess that is stereotyping and I'm probably not always right, but I go with my gut and I would suggest you do the same.


And this is off topic, but never be afraid (I don't care if it's Armada) to ask for explanation or change in a contract. If the label really wants the tune (and you want them to) they will not have a problem explaining things and working with you. To give you an example, I recently signed a track that had a stipulation in it that said if the label isn't distributing through Beatport by a certain date then all rights to the intellectual property are returned to the artist.

Don't be afraid to ask for anything. Obviously don't push it, but don't sign something if you're hesitant about it.

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commercial and underground electronic music (house/techno/trance/other) will surpass today's hip hop/pop/rock/country in worldwide interest...if it has'nt already.