Selling Independent MP3s Direct to Customer?

jetsetsc asks: "I am not a programmer but I am a musician. My band's recordings belong to the band, and we'd like to skip the middlemen — labels, iTunes, Amazon, CDBaby, etc — and setup a way to sell MP3's cheaply, and directly to fans. I have searched quite a bit and found nothing that fits the bill. Snocap is sort of similar, but they are more about a central store with a MySpace tie in. We don't need a fancy search, or a complicated 'if you liked this try...' feature. I figure potential fans can find our webpage on their own, referred by Pandora, a music blog, internet radio, or even (gasp!) a print article. When they get there it'd be great if they could listen to samples, check off the songs they want, pay 39 cents (or however much) through PayPal, and get a secure non-transferable download just like iTunes. DRM not required. I can't believe in this day and age that a service or software package like this doesn't exist. Any ideas?"

Comments

Secure, non-transferable... no DRM?

[beavis88]

and get a secure non-transferable download just like iTunes. DRM not required.

How would you go about making it "secure" and "non-transferable" without the DRM part? (Ignoring, for a moment, that DRM is neither secure nor does it necessarily make music non-transferable)

Re:Secure, non-transferable... no DRM?

[foniksonik]

I think submitter meant to say that they want the download over SSL (secure transaction) and from a non-public repository and non-transferrable as in you can't post a link that just anyone can use to download it... ie: a unique download uri.

To answer the submitter's question... there are software packages like this... and open source / free. Go to Sourceforge or it's work-a-likes out there and look for software download shopping carts.... actually I think that OS Commerce has a plugin for setting up 'intangible' products so that you can keep people from direct linking to the download.

Also you may want to contact Kagi, a very popular shareware commerce provider and ask about rates... they already have a good 'intangible' product commerce offering.

You're selling software

[petard]

Since you don't need any of the music-specific features, look for a package that helps you sell software. It's the same problem you're trying to solve and there are many options. This one was near the top of my google search results, and looks to meet your needs. There appeared to be numerous similar apps.

You mean Spamclick?

[krell]

"What's wrong with Sounclick [soundclick.com]?"

I signed up for them once and got a lot of spam. They even make you sign up for the spam lists to download their FREE mp3's.

Mindawn

[Tepar]

Sounds like http://www.mindawn.com/ is what you're looking for. They sell lossless (flac) and lossy (ogg) sound files. No DRM. Their catalog is growing steadily, and they work with a lot of independents.

Another idea - tip jar

[richieb]

Put your files on your website for free and set up a Paypal link for donations. If your fans like your music they will tip you. Forcing them to pay will only decrease your audience.

Assuming you REALLY are set on going it alone...

[camusflage]

First, a preface. There are sites out there that will do what you want, and as part of their fees, will handle the site development, order processing, and fulfillment. If you really want to do it yourself, remember that there are typically per-transaction as well as percentage fees for card processing, which is why micropayments have yet to really take off.

Now, that being said, OSCommerce will do what you want. It will provide a pretty interface, allow you to create time and/or number of download limited links, and has plugins to handle billing with pretty much anyone you'd ever want (and some you wouldn't touch) to handle your billing.