E-commerce and selling music

[Nikolas]

Well...

As you might know, I'm doing music for two-three freeware games.
As you might also know I have a family to feed.
As you should know, I'm not getting paid for writing the music for the freeware games (as no one does...)
As you might've guessed I would like to earn some money from it.

So what i've though is this:

Why not make the sountrack of the game(s) I'm working on, and have it sold. By anyone who wants to buy it. Like Geoffkhan want(ed) to do with the Apprentice music CD.

Questions: Is it worth it?
Risks? Financing (is there any financing, as the mp3s will already be there, so all I need is a secure site and done!)
The hows? I would very much like to have the soundtracks sold over my site and not soundclick or something simmilar. It makes things seems much more detrmined and profeassional. Plus I get to make the art I want.
The hows? Mp3 or Ogg (Ogg, definately as mp3s are not free above 5000!!!!). Download or CD? Both?

I know that my music is worth it! Definately! And I know that I oculd use the money!

So?

IDEAS? PEOPLE IDEAS!

[PsychicHeart]

It sounds like a good idea to earn some extra money, because i've heard some of your samples and a lot of people would buy it, especially if you put it on a mainstream auction/sale site.
And I'd probably say CD, due to the fact that it will provide a hardcopy for those who buy it, but then have their computer wiped.
Again, i think it's a good idea, but i'm not the one with a Degree in Piano, Harmony, Counterpoint, Master of Music and a PhD in compositionÃ, 

[biothlebop]

If you put an effort into it, it could certainly sell. My personal opinion is that (usually orchestrated) film/game music needs video/other elements to lean on. The only soundtracks I own are Forrest Gump and some movie with Phillip Glass, but I have downloaded some movie tunes, however mostly for camp effect/humour. If it stands on it's own, the soundtrack will sell, it's that simple. Just like Requiem for a Dream was completely elevated to another level because of the music.

Then again, if the games turn out bad, your good music won't reach the audience it deservers.
In my case, I would just speedcompose the music.

[Toefur]

Well...

As you might know, I'm doing music for two-three freeware games.
As you might also know I have a family to feed.
As you should know, I'm not getting paid for writing the music for the freeware games (as no one does...)
As you might've guessed I would like to earn some money from it.

So what i've though is this:

Why not make the sountrack of the game(s) I'm working on, and have it sold. By anyone who wants to buy it. Like Geoffkhan want(ed) to do with the Apprentice music CD.

Questions: Is it worth it?
Risks? Financing (is there any financing, as the mp3s will already be there, so all I need is a secure site and done!)
The hows? I would very much like to have the soundtracks sold over my site and not soundclick or something simmilar. It makes things seems much more detrmined and profeassional. Plus I get to make the art I want.
The hows? Mp3 or Ogg (Ogg, definately as mp3s are not free above 5000!!!!). Download or CD? Both?

I know that my music is worth it! Definately! And I know that I oculd use the money!

So?

IDEAS? PEOPLE IDEAS!

I think it will depend on the game as to whether it is worth it or not. Depending on the quality of the game, the length of the game, and the popularity (both how many people play it, and how many people liked it) of the game will determine how much chance you have of pulling a sale out of it.

You would have a lot more chance of selling copies of a related soundtrack if it was a paid-for-game, even a cheap one, as with freeware games people are already there in the position of getting something for free and aren't as likely to want to pay for something (ie: in this case, only converted to a sale if they're reeeeally impressed... well, which they will be

I think that you would be a lot better served by finding a small indie project that is going to charge for their game (not to get paid for that aspect) but to be able to market your soundtrack after the fact. I know you certainly have the talent for that...

Still, if such isn't the case, here is more: I think that all this will only really be worth the effort if it's a really popular and successful and well known freeware game, otherwise I just don't think you will sell much.

You have, have to do a CD version as well if you do it at all. A lot of people still hold some ineffable value in holding some physical product in their hands. Otherwise they feel like they didn't actually buy anything. There is more work involved, but it's also easier to get away with a higher markup, and if you don't provide CD option... then you've already halved your potential sales.

CD: There are two ways to go here. Do it yourself, one by one as orders come in. Print CD labels onto inkjet printable CD's, get the paper inserts printed on high quality glossy paper, almost looks as good as the real thing... but a bit more expensive.

Otherwise, you can get things professionally pressed which is really only going to work if you expect to sell a few hundred copies. It's super cheap (if you print 500 copies) and it's real quality.

Data tracks: Offer in all tracks: MP3, WMV, OGG. All you need is some kind of script (either find a free one, or get a cheap one custom made) to interact with your ordering and payment system, all easily setup in one day.

To accept payments: easy enough to go with Paypal, and their fees are good compared to others as well (such as 2checkout.com, authorize.net etc)

With digital audio it is obviously a lot less work as once it's setup it's all entirely automated (Except the marketing!) just sit back and let the money roll in... but CD's will add more sales and also give that extra aura of professionalism!

The main expense here is time, and I'm not convinced that any payoff would be big enough to compensate for that...

Of course, if you could demonstrate that you could 100% definately sell 200 copies, give me your details, and we can sort out a nice deal thats win-win for both of us and doesnt involve you forking out any upfront money!  8)

[ManicMatt]

Hey Nikolas, personally I wouldn't purchase your CD with money, but it would be cool if we were to swap for each other's albums! (When they're made, natch.)

[Darth Mandarb]

Keep in mind that if you sell them from your own website you'll have to pay for a secure server ID (about 150 USD/year) and you'll also need a merchant account to process credit cards (can be up to 300 USD / year and they take a percentage of each sale as well).

There is PayPal which, in the end, will save you some money.  But unless your familiar with their API putting it on your website is tricky.  In the end, you'd probably end up sending your visitors to PayPal's site to process the check-out which most people aren't comfortable with and kills the "professional" feel.

I'm not trying to discourage you ... just present the realities of eCommerce   If you think you could sell enough of the CDs to make it worth while with all the costs involved I'd say go for it!

You can expect to spend roughly 300 - 400 USD / year just to maintain an eCommerce website.

This isn't to say you couldn't have something like "send me a check ..." but most people (myself included) probably wouldn't be too comfortable with that either.

[nihilyst]

Have you thought about selling the CDs on eBay?

[Nikolas]

Thanks for the replies... More replies are most welcome.

nijilyst: No I haven't actually, but I'm not sure that an auction site is good for selling CDs, done by yourself. I will never the less research into that option. Thanks

Darth: Good point and as it is coming from you, I take it that you've done your homework, so there is no need for me to research further on the prices really. I personalyl don't like Pay Pal, and I do believe that the most profesisonal way is to have it in my own site! But again more research is needed.

Matt: I will PM you for further info. And of course I would gladly exchange albums !

Toefur: I did PM you. Thank you for your thoughts and info. Actually I do hope that the games I'm working on will go well and be downloaded many times. You are right of course that freeware games will not bring in lots of cash, but even some limited ammount would be good, I think anyway. Dunno.

Bio: Thanks. I'm not acutlaly thinking of only orchestral stuff, which IMO also, would sell rather badly, but something more contemprary.

Fluke: Thanks for the supprot mate!

Now, I'm not planning on releasing the ATOTK soundtrack in CD, or to buy anyway. I haven't done all the oundtrack for that game, to be able to do that. I'm thinking of doing it for other games that I'm working on (3 in total from AGS), to be released in 2006. And I am also discussing other projects outside AGS as well, so I'm looking into the chances of actually making money from this who story. Of course if the games are not freeware (2 of which are not), I will get paid and have % from profits, but still, I would like someone who enjoyed the music to be able to download/buy the soundtrack.

And as a bonus I think that a couple of tracks/songs should be in the soundtrack and not the game, juts to make it more appealing. And sure if it is the case of a CD and not download, then I want to make it look as good as humanly possible . Heck if things go so well, that I don't have time to do all this on my own, I will certainly have enough money to hire someone to do it for me (<-Yeah, right...) 

Comments?

[biothlebop]

You could do it like Trapezoid. His music appears in other context as well, but since he has some kind of paypal buy thing on his website, it must sell enough to cover the costs darth mentioned. One alternative (if your music recieves a smaller audience) would be to share the expenses with another artist and use the same song purchase system. Then when things are set in motion you might have a fanbase of your own and go solo.
Personally, I dont care much for cd's in a material way, and have transferred most of my purchases to mp3 so I can use a Creative player that fits several times an album in the smallest size possible. Actually, the only cd's i am glad to own are by artists that have sold their music after live gigs or just when I happened to meet them and they had time to chat. All are basic homeburned audio cds that have handwriting on them. I also own C-tapes with demos that have usually titles and bandname written by one of the members.
These will differ though from the ones you'll sell since mine were all directly connected with at least a handshake and the cds and tapes with handwritings are like memories. I don't think it is neccessarily a bad idea to just write something with a marker on a cd and post it. Like on one cd, there is not even any text, just a flower. Somehow it is really cool.

[rharpe]

It will definitely take some cash to make much more cash. But Nikolas, you have a talent and an ear for music that cannot be set aside. Start looking into building your "network" of people that are in this music business. I for one would love to go to the next Indiana Jones or StarWars movie and see your name in the credits!

[SSH]

osCommerce is a popular free Open Source ecommerce system for a website and can use paypal or your own CC handling, so it needn't be too hard if you know a bit of PHP.