Happy 10th Birthday to CD Baby - and an announcement
2008-03-24
You probably know that 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 accidently 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:
Friends will tell you that 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-up 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. (Weird, huh?) 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
Im pretty new to CDBaby but have great feeling about it..And you are truly inspirational..the power of manifestation is in doing what you love and serving the greater good...all power to you Derek and congratulations to CDBaby...love and peace...kavi
This sounds really great. Best wishes, Good luck and now lookin´ forward to your announcement. What better help needed, as from someone with many years of experiences. I´m glad to hear from you in future. Have a nice day.
Vein Bionemis
Congratulations! CD Baby is awesome, discovered lots of great artists through it, and by now, my band is selling cds there as well. Keep up the good work and thanks for bouncing out of bed to help people like me
Cheers from Germany
Happy Birthday, Derek... it's the one day of the year when the rest of the universe revolves around you... DKH
Happy Wonderful Birthday! This company has provided a wonderful yellow brick road to journey on. It has been a gracious walk. Thank You!
Yours In Music - APACHULA
Well done man.. You are a huge source of inspiration to me and most conscious, independent creative musicians. Congratulations on your incredible life's journey and harvest. Here's a post I made yesterday at CDBaby.org:
However the ability to connect my own weird musical DNA with those who enjoy it and want to patronize it will remain a lifetime pursuit and soul mission.
"Congratulations Derek, the CD Baby staff, and fellow artists
I've been watching CD Baby grow since 2000 when I was employed a TheMusic.com in Hollywood. We had pretty decent site traffic and we used to throw up free Ads and links for CD Baby because we believed in CD Baby's mission and were genuinely touched by Derek's sincerity and human decency.
I remain grateful for CD Baby and the portal it provides. At 39, efforts to be a rock star per se seem quite futile
When I started out in the music business over 20 years ago, media access, means of production and physical distribution were steep barriers to overcome.
The internet changed all that and Derek made a cozy epicenter that those of us from the musical road less traveled could call home.."
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 Derek! Here's to many more.
Congrats on Ten Years man, that's a great achievement. I got to hear you speak at the 2007 East Coast Music Awards in Halifax, Nova Scotia and you are an inspiration for the Modern Music Industry. I'm a proud client of CD Baby and have been for almost 2 years now.
Cheers,
Josh Hogan | Diminished Fifth Records
www.DiminishedFifthRecords.com
www.d5r.blogspot.com
Congrats Derek and everyone at CD Baby! The news even compelled me to write about it here:
http://musicmarketing.typepad.com/music_marketing_for_indie/2008/03/cd-baby-turns-1.html
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
Congrats Derek and crew. Your site has been an inspiration for all independent musicians. We may not have made zillions of dollars, but we have certainly networked all over the planet. Some people are real philanthropists, and you are one of them.
May CD BABY grow and grow, and eventually swallow the greedy big boys. Graham from "the marimba belles"
Derek!
You are awesome. whatever it is you're doing I'm hoping to stay in the loop because you've helped so many artists including myself.
hearts,
mz.
Mazel tov, friend. It's been a pleasure doing business with you so far, can't wait to see what you have up your sleeve!
7AM to midnight? Slackin' man, slackin'. Coffee actually starts singing and dancing around the brown stained cup on 16 little feet about 2AM...and functions will start writing themselves starting about 3AM ....
Happy Birthday to a source of honest sweat inspiration for Whole Wheat Radio...
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...
Congrats and thanks, Derek!
Congratulation Derek, CDbaby is awesome. All of you at CDbaby go overboard to make sure everything is perfect for independent artist like me. I really wouldn't be sucessful in the industry if is was not for CDbaby. I thank you, I wish you and the company many more years. Stay successful and blessed.
Sharif Rashad
(Detroit Techno recording artist)
http://www.myspace.com/sharifrashad
http://www.myspace.com/rhythmicalalliance
http://www.myspace.com/sabadudetroit
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.
Derek,
I dont have many words, but all I want to say (and echo many others you have helped) is a very big thankyou! Onwards and upwards..
:oP
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, for finding your true calling and helping so many of us along the way!
congratulations and happy birthday!
thanks so much for all you do, as an independent musician i am very grateful for your passion and hard work for the collective good. you're a great role model and i've taken many of your writings to heart, and learnt a lot from you.
i'd be happy to hear you announce that you're taking a vacation though... if anyone deserved it, it'd be you!
Happy Birthday, Derek!
Thanks again for all you do for us. Thanks to the whole staff. You guys are the best, and always a pleasure to do business with.
CD baby has revolutionized the music business!
All the best,
Willie T & Doctor X
Happy Birthday CDBaby! I've bought more random albums from more random artists here than anywhere in life. I'm sure I'll continue to support the indies and perhaps others will do the same in return. Cheers Derek continue to inspire us all!
Congratulations Derek! You transformed your thoughts into actions that have created a positive ripple throughout the musical universe, and we are all better off as a result.
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 Birthday cdbaby!
Thank you for selling my songs!
Peace and love Derek!
Eddie Wells
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
happy birthday CdBaby - this is how business should be done ! Thank you for the fairness and helpfullness that is helping to break the stifling non artistic commercial domination of the music corporations.
cheers -
Roge
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!
Happy Birthday CD Baby and congratulations on your "new" endeavor Derek! Your insightful decisions have opened up opportunities for independent musicians that we otherwise may not have been privey to. You will always be appreciated! By the way...it was great to talk with you at the NYC Meet-up. Continued Success and the Best of Blessings.
Hi Mr. Derek!
Audio-Rarities
J.P. van den Wittenboer
Happy Birthday CD Baby!
Right now, I'm drinking one for you!
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 am looking forward to witnessing and perhaps participating in your next steps.
I will never forget meeting you in Winnipeg. You said things there that radically affected my perceptions...in a great way!
Blessings!
Jaylene Johnson
Thanks for all, Derek. You are a worthy person and your advice is always very helpful!!
Best of blessings from Italy,
pier
Gabriel, Mikael, Haniel, Raphael, Camael, Tsadkiel, Tsaphkiel, Haziel, Metraton, good music makes the angels to vibrate in the sky, BE HAPPY!
I wish a planet better for everyone, thank you for try it .
HAPPY 10th Birthaday to CD Baby by Robson dos Santos, brazilian contemporary classic music composer.
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.
Derek,
as a participant of a workshop with http:/www.ElisabethKublerRoss.com I comment:
You did the "art of dying" letting active working for CDBaby.com go and delegate it to your team.
Good to be prepared for new challenges!
God bless you work even more.
Wolfgang
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?
Hi Derek,
I'm glad you're there to help us indies,...it can get pretty lonesome sometimes.
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
Pretty darn great service you do..;thanx
when can I catch the green flash?..JD
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!
Your inspiration really comes through everything you do. I feel it and so, it's no great surprise that you've grown such an amazing service to the world. I am just in the spoken word area of your field, but you've totally taken audio books out of the hands of the monopolies and back into the arms of the people who really have a non commercial message. Thanks and Congrats mate.
Derek,
Thanks for emailing me. I'm very interested in your new projects.
Keep me posted!
Kephas
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
Happy Birthday & congrates, thanks for helping us indie artists/labels. I look forward to hearing more about your projects/ business venues...
Detroit City Ballas Presents 57 Doe Boyz coming soon! www.myspace.com/dcbrecords07
Your Vision Has given Me HOPE... BE BLESSED and Please don't stop.....Basil.....
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.
Good for you, Derek! A good business owner hires the people who can do the job then gets the heck out of the way! I love CDBaby and I'm sure I'll love your new venture too. As a director of a songwriters association I understand the thrill you get when you can help another musician reach their dream. If I could make a living doing it I'd consider my life most excellent!
Linda
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!!!!
Derek,
Congrats on all of your success! Also, thanks for all of your hard work and committment to all of the indie artists...
Much Respect~
Jay-Bone & Raggamobb
Derek,
You are a prime example of what can happen when a person has a passion for some, it can become a reality.Good luck and God bless your endeaver.
Doc Scott
Sol-Man Records
Thanks for providing such an awesome service.
KaiAnn Dallas
From the time I met you at the Indie Music Forum in 1999 to now I can only say
WWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUUUUWWWWWWWW
Happy Belated Birthday! And how inspiring that you are now truly able to own a business without having to be there! You are a rare gem of a human being for indie artist. I can't tell you how many "sheisters" we run into that are just out to make a fast buck off of struggling indie artists. CDbaby has been great to us.
Best wishes in your new endeavors!
Hi Derek
From France
***** Happy Birthday CDBABY *****
Greetings.
Hey Derek, Happy 'belated' Birhtday, and I applaud your efforts and vision. Even more so for your attitude and example.
God bless
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 CD Baby,continue to help indy artist sale there music Derek thanks for reaching out nuff praises
Mr Cool
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.
Hi Derek,
Happy 10th Birthday for CdBaby & best wishes for the future!
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
Hey Derek,
Happy Birthday! Just wanted to say thanks for all you do for the working musician. CDBABY and its networks have greatly helped me get my music out there. Thanks again and best wishes for the future.
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
Hi derek men you must feel so god hahahahahahah .I'm so happy for you enjoy it men relax and relax that's the best in life if you don't believe this just watch the animals hahahaha .Have a greate one my friend and thank's a lot for your brillant idea and to put it in the manifest world.Peace
I appreciate the sugestions and all of the help you gave out. It was a personal aproach.
Suzanne
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
Derek,
congrats! I remember when you started and I was one of your first hostbaby accounts, u got me on the craze to help musicians share their music worldwide via the internet which motivated me to start http://monkfunk.com shortly after, however, you turned your baby into a million dollar company, mine barely made it out of my parents basement, but I am still kickin and helping musicians everyday, let me know if you wanna get together for coffee and share ideas when ur in Chi-Town!! ~ Eric
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