mp3 distributors

[SlavikSvensk]

exactly :)

a non-established artist can't bust in by giving tracks away for free on his or her website. needs institutionalized channels to gain credibility. i.e. labels. different climate from before, but still important.

[Jay Pace]

a non-established artist can't bust in by giving tracks away for free on his or her website.

I think its a mix of both though.
The first noise network release we did has done over 1000 downloads. Thats infinitely more than most new artists could expect to sell, unless they get picked up by a huge label.

I think the "netlabel first, established label later" model has got some legs to it. Build up profile and develop your sound on free labels, migrate to established labels once you've developed your sound. Maybe launch your own label once you've built enough of a profile to pull it off.

Rushing to sell releases can limit your success. Starting out the big thing is to get heard and respected, not get paid. No point having music sit on a distribution server if nobody is buying it or hearing it.