October 14, 2008

By By Antony Bruno, Denver

ReverbNation is getting into the digital distribution business. The online music service that, to date, has limited itself to providing artists with online marketing, promotion and measurement tools is now taking on TuneCore, by offering to post members' music on various digital retail sites.

The service provides access to ten digital retailers - including iTunes, Amazon, Rhapsody, Napster and eMusic - for a flat fee of $35 per album (up to 50 songs maximum). The company partnered with digital distribution firm INgrooves to facilitate the service.

ReverbNation has about 250,000 members-mostly unsigned artists, but also smaller labels and venues looking to book touring acts. For a breakdown of what artists receive for the sale of their music through these services, see the following chart:

Retailer - Payment:

Amazon - $0.70/Track & $6.50/album.

eMusic - 60% of net.

iTunes - US & CDN: Single Track - $0.70; Album - $7.00; iPhone Ring Tone Service (US only) - $1/ring tone.

iTunes AUSSIE & NZ - Single Track - $0.99 AUD & $1.17 NZD; Single Video - $1.98 AUD & $2.33 NZD; Album - $9.99 AUD & $11.75 NZD.

iTunes EU (S.a.r.l.) - Single Track - GBP _.47 & Euro ?.68; Album - GBP _4.60 & Euro ?6.70.

iTunes Japan - Single Track - Int'l & Standard Domestic - ?89 & Premium Domestic - ?118; Album - ?890 (IS) &?1186 (PD).

Napster, LLC - US - $0.70/track; $7.00/album; UK - _0.48/track; _4.80/album; Canada - C$0.65/track; C$6.50/album; Germany & other EU countries - ?0.65/track; ?6.50/album; Japan - Permanent Downloads: 60% of retail (net of taxes).

Rhapsody (Real) US - $0.70 for singles; $0.70 x # of tracks or $7.00 (whichever is less) for albums; $0.01 for streams; outside US subtract mechanicals for all permanent downloads.

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