Happy 10th Birthday to CD Baby — and an announcement
I started CD Baby 10 years ago this week — in March 1998.
I’m just a musician-geek, not a business-man. Never meant to start a company. I was just selling my own CD, then helped some friends do it, then it accidentally turned into CD Baby. (Ooops!)
Now CD Baby has paid over $70 million dollars directly to musicians. And despite the moaning you hear from the major labels, independent artists are selling better than ever. Even physical CD sales are up 30% over last year!
Announcement:
For the past 10 years I’ve spent most waking hours, 7 days a week, doing nothing but CD Baby. Last year I just slept on the couch at the office for 6 months, usually working from 7am to midnight.
So today seems like a good day to tell you that I don’t work at CD Baby anymore, and haven’t in months.
I’m still the owner, but haven’t been to the office since May. The crew there is running things better than I ever could. They know more than I do, and do a better job.
I’ve made that transition from self-employed to business-owner. (You know you’re a true business-owner when you can leave your business for a year, and come back to find it’s doing much better than when you left.)
Why am I telling you this?
Because the reason I freed my time is to find more ways to help you.
Helping you develop, create, promote, and sell your music makes me happier than anything. It’s still why I bounce out of bed in the morning.
I love it even more than making my own music. By helping you get your music out to the world, and helping you make a living doing it, I feel that in a way I’m making more music than ever.
There are many ways I can help you, but I’ll email you about those next week.
Today was just a CD Baby birthday announcement. Still, I wanted to let you know there are exciting things to come.
Happy Birthday! :) I hope everything is going well for you and you are truly amazing to do what you do.
Hi Derek!
Happy birthday to CD Baby, one of the best babies in the world! Thanks for your passion and help. Greets, Aleksz
Happy Birthday, Derek... it's the one day of the year when the rest of the universe revolves around you... DKH
A very happy birthday to CDBaby, and much success to you, Derek, in all your future endeavors! Exciting times ahead, indeed.
Congratulations! Keep fighting the good fight!
Dear Derek!
Happy birthday!!! What you did is much more than just cdbaby. It is an example, a model for new ways of business and more. Work = doing what you love - that's the point. This can change a whole society and bring back joy and dignity into everyday life.
I try to live my life like that for many years.
Take care and have a wonderful time;
Peter Blue;
Blue Star
Thanks for changing the world
We've been having our cake and eating it too ...for a decade now.
Your turn.
All the very best Derek and all CD Babies.
Luc
Derek,
"Happy Birthday to CD Baby!" I am so happy for your success. I also want to let you know how much I appreciate all you and your crew have done for me since I placed my very first album (Bendin' the Blues) online with you in 2001. My, how time flies...
And, I know I have told you this before, but it's your birthday so I'll say it again--you guys are the best! I have never, ever had an issue or problem with CD Baby and have received excellent service from day one, as well as some sound advice on how to make my way in the indie world.
Looking forward to hearing your new ideas on artist promotion and whatever else you may dream up next!
Melanie Mason
www.melaniemason.com
Lead guitarist, vocalist & songwriter
Congrats Derek- and thanks for everything you've done for all of us over the last ten years!
happy birthday and congratulations.
i remember visiting you and the gang at the newish CD Baby offices/warehouse way back in 2000 when our band Ramona the Pest was in Portand. It looked like you were having fun then and obviously you still are.
And you are a damn good business man...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you, Derek and to everyone at CD BABY who makes this service to musicians an inspirational and rewarding experience! Remember, you're not getting older, you're getting "better." Thanks for all you've done.
Happy Birthday Derek, well... you guys have been great for my CD released in 2005. Even greater is the continuing downloads. I have since composed songs for two films and one of your guys forwarded a call to me that got me a major movie trailer. (That's the kinda stuff that MAZLOW scares/excites me)... I am also producing new artists and sending them to CD Baby. Your idea was just the perfect one at the perfect time... and you were the perfect guy (geek) to give it legs and make it walk and and stomp on tokyo. Thank you for the gift... and I look forward to what else you have in mind. How about Downloadbaby? Filebaby? Gigbaby? [ TORRENTbaby!! ] lol... whatever it is... I'm in if it has your name on it.
CONGRATULATIONS, DEREK!
I LOVE THE JOY YOU BRING TO THIS WONDERFUL BUSINESS YOU HAVE CREATED.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU MORE CLOSELY IN THE FUTURE.
MAY YOUR TRANSFORMATIONAL EFFORTS USING MUSIC TO BRING US ALL TOGETHER CONTINUE FAR INTO THE FUTURE.
IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO BREAK CHAMPAGNE
CHEERS!
Happy B-day and more power to you :)
We love CD Baby online store very much. You've help us sell our cds and promote our cd.
Good luck with everything.
Cheers..
Striving in Greater Hopes
Hi Derek,
Happy Birthday CD Baby - Thank you for everything you do for all the Indie artist.
PS: CD Baby DIY Podcast are great!!!
Blessings,
Pedro
Great to see you working 'on' your business rather than 'in' your business to quote Michael Gerber.
Perhaps you can help us do the same (focus on making music while outsourcing other tasks). I still see a huge gap in the marketing area of independent musicians. Other than posting their music to online websites musicians don't do that much marketing and don't want the pay others to do it.
I don't like babies but CDBaby is one of the few exceptions! o;)
Will Kriski, congrats : you are the first one to guess my new company!
Looking forward to see what PromoBaby has to offer!
Hi Mr. Derek!
Audio-Rarities
J.P. van den Wittenboer
Derek, your tireless efforts on behalf of independent musicians all over the world are commendable. Thanks so much for all you have done, and best of luck on the next phase of the journey!
-- Alan
Hey Derek!
I will never forget meeting you in Winnipeg. You said things there that radically affected my perceptions...in a great way! :) I am looking forward to witnessing and perhaps participating in your next steps.
Blessings!
Jaylene Johnson
derek! you know! cd baby has done a great service to so called world music. a lot of african music and other world music get the kind of exposure that it would never ever get otherwise,unless it was paul simon or some other western musician that was cashing in on it.
Derek happy birthday to cd baby! they say 99% of good luck is hard work and your living proof of that,all the hard work will go for nothing if you are not working at it right and that is why you need help, to direct you on the right road to reach your goals and realize your dreams best wishes to cd baby and continued success.
Congratulations! cdbaby. 10 years of growing and helping others is a wonderful way of earning a living. Derek you’ve done a great job, and it was you that hired the team that is now running the business. Without saying, always keeping hands on if not just every now and then will make certain that the staff you’ve placed in charge, continue in the path you set out to conquer. I certainly do not want to sound negative, however there have been many other company’s in the past that had key staff decide they could do it better if they went out on their own. I’m not saying that is going to happen here, but it doesn’t hurt to keep an eye open, does it?
Derrick,
Your the man ! of men and I am very glad to have the opps- to just speak to you on the phone back when it CD Baby started.
APTGJHG
Thanks Derek and CD Baby for including Gospel artist too. Its been times I have been told by other promoters and [supposingly] lovers of indie artist that they do not do the "Gospel Thing". But You did and God Bless you and Jesus smile upon you for that.
Rev Tina Redden
The World Could Use More Like You! Stay Cool! Looking forward to your NEW communiques'! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
M. H.
happy b-day sir-cd.baby
and thank you for the chance
to get my music too the world.
ALTER EGO-INCOGNITO
Thank you Derek for all your work done at CDBaby!
I congratulate you not only for ten years of operation but even more the fact that you have taken the matter of residuals, which sustain and encourage creativity in artists, out of the traditional 'box' and made the program work, much to the dismay of record companies and to the pleasure of musicians.
Carlos Malcolm
Dereck,
You are amazing! I met you 10 years ago at the Los Angeles Convention Center and joined CD Baby on the spot on the way in from the parking structure. I'm so glad that you can finally relax a little, you deserve it bro! Major kudos to you for being so dedicated to the world of music, for there is no sweeter sound on earth than music...tim
CD BABY rocks, You guys have helped me out so much. Thanks for the great idea that has helped me & thousands of other bands, artists, groups, etc- Cheers
GUITARIST,
ROB JOHNSON
Derek Thanks for emailing me. I’m very interested in your new projects. Happy birthday CDBaby congratulation on ten years of hard work and thank Derek for all of your help.
Happy birthday CD Baby, Derek and your "babysitter" team!!!
I wish all the best in your future adventures!
Peace and Love.
Eugênio Matos
happy b-day CdBaby,what a dream come true you are!!!!
Thanks for providing such an awesome service.
KaiAnn Dallas
FELICIDADES!!!!
Ms Blanca.
derek hasalways been totally honest . i started selling my cds in 2003 and still do . i love you derek , all of you at cdbaby has been , and still are beautiful people that truly care about us musicians and believe me , we really , really are thankful.
Congratulations Derek!
I consider myself among the first wave of CD Baby artists. I've been distributing my music via CD Baby since 1999.In fact, we first met in New York City at the Hilton during a music Expo in which CD Baby exhibited. I was struck by your ease and realness.And you seemed genuinely interested in my music. This week I posted my fourth production on CD Baby.I hope to avoid past mistakes made in promotion and advertising.Perhaps your new found and hard earned freedom will allow you to be as accessible as you were during the early days.Your ideas and insights are invaluable to Indies struggling to avoid becoming caught up in the dog eat dog competition we know as the music industry.Thanks for the shot.
ak my heart! Derek's not running CD Baby? Well I guess we need to trust the changing universe. :)
You know, 10 years is not a long time. I guess that means I got in earlier in the process than I realized, 1998? I'm not even sure.
Congratulations!
Dear Derek:
Happy birthday CD Baby.
LONG LIVE CD BABY..............................................................
Pauline Morris "Tell Tel Aviv"
Derek~
I love your insight and the innovative ideas you bring to the music scene.
You and CD Baby make making music fun again~
Feliz Cumpleaños
Rosendo
Happy birthday, CDBaby! We've been with you for half your life, and thanks to you, it's been the best five years of our (and many others') lives!
Happy birthday to you and congratz on the Discmakers hand over. May all us CD Babies continue to enjoy the generosity, insight and facility you have provided us thus far! I cannot wait for the exciting ride of learning and growth your new ventures will take us on! YAY!!! Derek I have you up there as the Mandela and Ghandi to the indie artist!
xoxox - Zola
Derek, you're a legend man! You've proven that you can be successful through selflessness.
Yes I Derek
Happy Birthday...Jah Bless.
U overstand how to run things , seen.
Pa'lante pa'lante Familia!
BLESSINGS.
YES I
CARLOS DE NICARAGUA
RASTAFARI
Hi Derek. Happy Birthday.CD Baby is Truly The Best as You Have Sold MORE of Our Productions Than Pinnacle ever Have thanks to Your Dedication and Passion for the Industry. You are truly Helping all of us in this Difficult and often Frustrating Industry. Thank You.
Dave Energise Records Ltd
THANKS FOR THE INFO THERE AREN'T TO MANY PEOPLE LIKE CD WHO ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT US INDEPEDENT ARTIST THANK CD BABY AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
peace.....................
Sam Dynamyte
Hey Derek,
Let me be #100, here. I found you on the Internet when I wasn't even sure what I was doing, "searching" [for "music"!] and clicking (hyper) "links." I located the cross between Pez and peanut butter; the amalgam of James Brown and the Beatles. So I went to meet you in Astoria, long before CD Baby. I brought a (World Trade Center) (RIP) cap to the "man of many hats."
I knew you were destined to achieve greatness, so I volunteered to schlep "Hit Me" around, especially to PMC and CMJ and NACA. Then came Woodstock, and Portland followed. Glad you're (still) having fun!
Congratulations (so far), and continued best wishes (not that you need them -- you have great karma).
Love, Raymond
Okay--whew! You scared me for a minute when I read the bit about you "quitting" CD Baby. I get it now--you're just not on the front lines anymore. As it should be.
So in your quest to help musicians, could you get on the horn to the people at Sonicbids and tell them that 50 bucks is way too much for any submission for a gig? Why the venues are making money, and the musicians are paying money, is beyond me. But if you wanted to do anything about this kind of stuff I'd be on board to help you. It's one of my biggest pet peeves in life, the way musicians are preyed on as they struggle to get their music out there.
Hi Derek,
I remember back in 98' when you produced, played all the instruments and sang on a number of my demo's in your tiny apartment in Astoria...what you have accomplished in 10 years is absolutely phenomenal...congratulations!!!!
Sincerely,
Dave Swirsky
Hola, Derek, soy musica y estoy desempleada. En estos tres meses de desempleo he logrado montar un repertorio y hacer unas cuantas canciones. He logrado dar mi primer concierto que pienso repetir cada mes, en una galeria, en la calle 8 de Miami. Pero la eterna disyuntiva del dinero y la supervivencia. Como salir adelante si no tengo como comer, como seguir haciendo musica si no tengo un techo sobre mi cabeza. Este ano enfrente un foreclosure y dos despidos. Leyendo tu blog me confirmo que debo seguir haciendo musica, que no debo traicionar lo que amo, pero ....no encuentro la salida a como seguir sobreviviendo si para eso necesito tiempo y dinero y no lo hay. Ahora me ofrecieron un trabajo y aunque me pagan bien, es algo que no quisiera hacer. El lunes proximo tendre que aceptarlo o seguir en la miseria y en peligro de quedarme sin donde vivir, pues la casa me la estan al quitar el banco. Aceptando este trabajo siento que me traiciono. Que hacer? Despues de leer todos tus articulos se que las decisiones mas importantes, como esta de seguir en la miseria haciendo lo que me gusta o aceptar ser una asalariada y que todo quizas se tarde indefiniditamente. Solo quiero tiempo para componer y tener listas mis canciones, pero la vida no da un respiro. Se que este tipo de decisiones determinan nuestro futuro .....Hoy me siento desesperada. Me gustaria mucho hablar contigo.
Saludos
(Hi Derek, it's me again)
Folks, Derek loves metaphors.
Never mind CD Baby, for me the metaphor is that ten "years go by and still my light is on."
As I see it, it's better to have "sweet dreams in pieces on the ground" that to fail to work your dreams.
As Derek notes elsewhere, you can work a dream and also work a day job. Life still passes.
A successful journalist wrote a memoir to track his entire sixtieth year. Called Sixty. (I think) For me the take away, from around January or February of his year, looking back on his life, was (quoted from memory) "Somewhere I lost two decades, and I don't know which two." I can relate—I am also sixty. And also successful. Maybe my life would be less a blur if...
As Captain Jack on the BBC says, "The future is coming, and you've got to be ready."
Wow. (From my time-space of 2022:) Such a blast from the past, of a "part" of your life.
At the time, you had moved on from being in a band to being a capitalist. Later, you moved on from CD Baby. Still later, in Oxford you gave away all your musical instruments, not to burn your bridges but to easily and naturally take up your new life as, I guess, a Family man and Writer...
Some British guy said it first:
All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely Players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts...