Finally, somebody had the brains and the balls to utilize the worldwide web in order to support independent music.  That somebody is Don Kimenker, who has been in the industry for over 20 years as an artist and in business (formerly signed to Epic).

This formula may sound familiar; we have the illustrious itunes and CDbaby.  Unfortunately, until earbuzz.com came along there were music sites (named above) driven by big business for money, not the artist.  Earbuzz, however, is driven by the artist, therefore they (the music makers themselves) reap the benefits.  All the other sites take a percentage of everything that an artist sells, whether singles or LPs.  Now, managers take percentages, but they work to develop their clients.  What do these sites do for artists, other than post their music for sale?  Frankly, I would rather spend my money knowing the artist is going to benefit directly, especially if we are talking about an independent singer/songwriter who is attempting to support themselves by their art alone.  Here are the Facts:

Understand this: No other site returns a true 100% of the price of all music sales back to artists except earBuzz.com. There are large corporate engines behind sites that claim "100%" of revenue, but the devil is in the details.  They are actually giving artists 100% after their affiliate businesses take their share (up to 80% of the purchase price).

The term "100%" and high percentage return terms like "91%" are being used by sites that are referring to an 'after contracted purchase price, minus 3rd party cut and gross revenue/commission', where artists on a 99 cent song sale receive around 52 cents - but the site claims it is at or near 100%!  Earbuzz does not agree, and nor should you. 

EarBuzz returns 100% of the purchase price - a 'true 100%'.  Think about it this way. It's your music. It was your recording session to finance.  No company, even earBuzz, helped you pay for the recording.   Sure, itunes has the name recognition, and CDbaby has the catalog, but earbuzz is not exclusive!  Artists can join and sell their music where ever they prefer.  However, linking to earbuzz first will create more income, and, hopefully, more records! Why should artists advertise these other sites, when Earbuzz will earn them more money?  The Eames Era are members.  Their song "I Could Be Anything" exploded after being featured on Greys Anatomy.  If you go to their own webpage and click on "buy" for any of the releases, it links you directlyto earbuzz.com.

The site has created a unique and cost effective way to keep this promise to artists.  Earbuzz is membership based.  I know, you're saying: Ha, there's the rub!  But no: Membership is 2, 3, or 5 bucks a month!  Artists choose their own level of involvement.  Artists get their own page, and an earbuzz player (akin to the myspace player, but with more advantages, like putting the player on the artists own website).  When you wish to post an album for sale, you pay a one-time fee of $25.00.  The site digitizes the music (they are actually concerned with sonic integrity) and all albums are reviewed by  professionals with major label credentials.  After yo've paid the one-time $25.00 fee, you can sell 10,000 records at $14.95 and receive ALL of the money from those sales.

This seems like a no brainer to me, and I have worked for one of the most prolific major labels, Atlantic Records.  The time is now, with artists like Radiohead and Smashing Pumpkins leaving their labels, it's time for artists to get what they themselves deserve: The financial rewards that have resulted from their own dedication to their chosen craft.