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Q. Why should I release by recording through Catalpa instead of creating my own label? Q. How much does it cost me to work with Catalpa Classics? Q. What’s the list price for Catalpa Classics releases in the stores? Q. How much does the distributor pay per CD sold? Q. What kind of marketing does Catalpa Classics do for its releases? Q. How much can I charge if I sell my CDs at concerts? Q. What legal rights do I have when I release a recording through Catalpa? Q. How do I get my project considered by Catalpa Classics?
Q. Why should I release by recording through Catalpa instead of creating my own label? A. Catalpa offers the advantages of a private label without the disadvantages. You can sell CDs at performances at whatever price you choose, and you can keep all the proceeds, just as if you released the CDs on your own label. In addition, you have the benefit of Catalpa’s distributor, which will make your recording available to retailers all over the United States, and to on-line companies such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders, and CD Now. It’s the best of both worlds.
Q. Why shouldn’t I simply offer my recordings over the Internet for downloading, instead of issuing CDs? A. You should! And, unlike most record labels, Catalpa Classics encourages you to do so. Catalpa offers you traditional distribution through retail stores, and additional distribution through the leading on-line retailers. If you want to make your recording available as a sound file through the Internet as well, that’s up to you.
Q. How much does it cost me to work with Catalpa Classics? A. You are responsible for all the costs of preparing a master tape, and all the costs of manufacturing the CDs and printing the CD booklets. Additionally, you are obliged to pay Catalpa $3.50 per CD manufactured for the use of its logo, bar code, distributor, etc. If you make an initial pressing of 1000 units the cost is $3,500, which is less than you’d pay most labels. What’s more, you receive all the income Catalpa receives from its distributor–not a royalty, but the full amount paid to Catalpa once a copy of your recording is sold at retail.
Q. What’s the list price for Catalpa Classics releases in the stores? A. The suggested list price is $12.99. That makes Catalpa Classics releases competitive with recordings from most labels, which charge $16.99 or $17.99 for a new release.
Q. How much does the distributor pay per CD sold? A. The retailer pays the distributor about 55% of the suggested retail price, which is about $7.10. The distributor pays Catalpa Classics–and you–about 55% of that figure, which works out to about $3.75 per CD sold.
Q. Who is the distributor? A. The Empire Music Group of New York City, which specializes in the distribution of classical-music labels, as well as nostalgia.
Q. What kind of marketing does Catalpa Classics do for its releases? A. Catalpa Classics sends out promotional copies of its releases to a select list of about 75 music critics and record reviewers all over the country. Each artist ("Associate") is otherwise responsible for the marketing of its own releases, though Catalpa assists its Associates by offering opportunities to share in the cost of joint advertising in print publications.
Q. How much can I charge if I sell my CDs at concerts? A. Whatever you like! You’re not restricted to the suggested retail price. In fact, Catalpa Classics encourages you to charge whatever you think is reasonable, so that you can recoup your investment more quickly. If you charge $15.00 per disc, you get to keep the whole amount. If you sell 350 at that price, your revenue is over $5000–enough to pay Catalpa’s licensing fee and cover other costs besides.
Q. What legal rights do I have when I release a recording through Catalpa? A. You continue to own your recording, and you retain the right to sell CDs directly. Catalpa asks only that each Associate license the rights necessary for Catalpa to sell its CDs.
Q. How do I get my project considered by Catalpa Classics? A. Simply send an email outlining your ideas to either or both of these contacts: bob@catalpaclassics.com Bob
Goldfarb, General Manager Nancy
Baun, President and Artistic Director
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