Music Business: How To Get Your CDs In Store

Last Updated on September 15, 2022 by Josh McKenzie

When trying to make it in the music business, there is no full-proof, completely guaranteed plan of success. But getting your music in store is an entirely achievable goal. But how hard is it really? Below we’ve laid out some steps on how to maximise the potential of getting your CDs in store.

So how to get my CDs in store? First you will need demonstrable fan interest in your music, a physical copy of your material, an eye-catching CD display case, determination, and the legal ability to sell your CD. From here, you can then get your material in store by touring successfully, liaising with radio promoters or store officials, get signed to a label, or sell your own material online in your own store.

Blondie, T-Rex, Wu-Tang Clan, and you? Your CD could be setting on the shelves of a vinyl store, but do you know what steps to take to make that happen? We do, and if you read on, we will tell you

What do you need to get your CDs in store?

Before getting your music in store there are several things that you will need:

Credibility – your material won’t be put on a shelf if it will not be sold. Therefore, you have to demonstrate that the material can, and will, sell. This comes from credibility, demonstrating public interest in your musical product. This can be done by having an influential social media presence, or proof of playing at several local gigs and garnering public attention
Have a CDs already – sometimes it’s better to have the CD made, rather than waiting on others to make (it’s a lot easier to stock the disk if you have it in hand). This can be done independently, but remember, you want the material to be as high quality as possible. Therefore, get your material mastered. and press your CDs with a reputable CD manufacturer. You don’t want it standing out against other CDs for the wrong reason.
Get the design of your CD packaging right! – customers buy with their eyes. If you have mastered your CD (which you should), maintain that professional standard, and invest in a cover image for your CD’s case. Again, don’t have your CD looking amateur in contrast to the others on the shelf.
Make sure the store you’re aiming for takes submissions – speak to shop workers, local indie artists, and the manager themselves – find out what is being bought and played, and why. Then you can figure out how you line up against the competition and get your material in store.
Legal issues – I know it’s not very rock and roll, but neither is going to jail for copyright infringement. Double and triple check that your material can be bought and sold legally, and that any financial rewards do not belong to a third party who you have sampled for your track.
Barcode – to keep a track of the stock in store your CD needs EAN barcode. The barcode simple tells the sellers (shop) how many copies of your CD were sold and how many is still in stock. .

How to get CDs in store

Getting your CDs in store is a bit like skinning a cat; there’s quite a few ways to do it. To help, we’ve laid out the most popular methods below:

Add a shopping cart to your website – we would strongly suggest you add an online marketplace of some fashion so that your fans can buy your material. The safest way to do this is probably to add a PayPal shopping cart to your site, which can be added onto any reputable website design. In this way, you create the store for your CDs to be sold in. Plus, it further one-to-one interaction between you and your fans.
Touring – the age-old way of driving attention in your music, tour anywhere and often! This will help create interest in your music, offer interaction time for your fans, and let them hear the music – which they can then buy at your merchandise stand
Speak to local radio promoters – find out what kind of music they want on your show, and if your sound doesn’t fit that requirement, ask if there any shows that it may suit. Radio success goes hand in hand with CD distribution, if you’re big on the radio, your music will be sold in store. And remember as soon as your song is played on-air you can contact local stores to take advantage of your growing credibility and get your music in store.
Label links – If you’re already signed to a label, there’s a good chance that the company has links with a store which sells CDs. Use your connections within your label to the pursue getting physical copies into associated stores.