As I get ready to release Speed Limit's new CD, "Loud, Fast....Fun" on Sept. 21 so I thought I would reveiw many of the strategies that go in to releasing your own CD.  

I first want to compliment Discmakers( www.discmakers.com ) for all of their effort in helping artists get their product to market, They have many different options at many levels to help the artists get their product to CD! They offer smaller runs in full packaged product ready to go with bar code, nice packaging options and quick turnaround. They also offer great merchandise package deals so the artist can promote the release, as well as sell them at their gigs to make more revenue (including providing a Visa/Mastercard swiper with only a $30 refundable deposit!). Discmakers also provides cover song liscensing help, Online distribution packages, t-shirts, posters, postcards and everything you need to make your music available to the public. I used many of the options to help promote our new album.

Now with a Web site, a social media presence (Facebook, MySpace, Twitter), local gigs and some press coverage, you can really create a buzz for a much smaller investment than you could in years past! I have invested in almost all of the services above and I am also hiring a PR firm and a radio promotion company to launch this CD at a time when the local artists can really generate a buzz right up against some well-known artists. Below is just a sample of the artwork created for the CD cover and our t-shirts, which are critical in presenting your release.

Discmakers is a great resource for any artist who wants to get their product out at a great price with some help in promoting and distributing their music online. Go on the Web site and request one of the catalogues, as they have so many ways to help an artist get started. I dealt with Ted over there and he was absolutely great to work with and responded very quickly with all of my needs.You can also upload almost everything to get your CDs made. You may order as few as 200 CDs fully ready to market at a very fair price.So get those CDs pressed and start selling........

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