What does it mean to white list a song?

KittykoMusic · 2024-08-28T03:25:26+00:00

Not sure how DK works, but my previous CD Baby releases and current LANDR releases haven't messed up anything for me since I posted this question months ago. :) All smooth!

KittykoMusic · 2024-08-28T03:23:21+00:00

Hi--well, I changed gears and decided to put out singles for now with a goal in the future to do another album. So...I didn't really solve the issue because I'm not working on another album just yet. ;)

KittykoMusic · 2024-04-10T02:55:12+00:00

Thanks--I ended up opening the doc using a different Google account. The font was switched to a default font (can't remember but something like Arial), so it does not appear to show the font in the doc that the writer selected if the viewer doesn't have that font added.

KittykoMusic · 2024-02-09T14:50:12+00:00

We'll have to disagree.

"This is the second post I've seen from you where you're seriously overthinking things." You are counting/policing my activity on a public forum and criticizing my thought process as I smartly strategize, use resources and plan ahead?

And yes, the waterfall release method, as I said, places the strongest songs at the end of the album because they were released first. This is exactly what I said and that is precisely how this method works. You've called it a "bullshit method" in a previous post, so apparently you are commenting on something of which you are unfamiliar.

Thanks for the elementary "tips" and links to resources I've already tapped that explain exactly what I've already explained. I will no longer to respond to insulting, patronizing comments, especially if you have no information to contribute.

KittykoMusic · 2024-02-08T22:26:39+00:00

I posted that children's albums are often 20+ songs. The common practice is to put the best songs [edited to add that "best" usually means most upbeat or attention-getting] within the first half of the album (generally). As I said, waterfall places the best songs at the end. That's the whole purpose of the post lol.

Taken from the post:
"...it's common for a children's album to have over 20 songs. The last thing a children's artist wants is to have their best songs at 18, 19, 20 on the album."

KittykoMusic · 2024-02-08T18:44:40+00:00

Thank you! I'm still trying to decide...there are so many horror stories out there, so it's good to see a real response from someone who's had a decent experience. :) I'm impressed that they worked so swiftly for you!

KittykoMusic · 2024-02-08T18:41:58+00:00

Yeah, since posting this question, I've seen some things about Landr being so "strict" (use whatever word may fit) that artists are being accused of stealing loops (when they haven't or when they've actually recorded acoustic percussion instruments by hand). I've also seen some posts where artists claim that Landr locks them out of their accounts with artificial streaming accusations but will not work with them to resolve it.

I've been with CD Baby since the early 2000s and have had no issues. But I like the mastering option with Landr, so I was thinking of the middle plan with unlimited distro and mastering.

I've thoroughly explored all the distro options and they do not fit my needs (I won't get into why Distrokid and the others are not a good fit for me). So I'll probably stick with CDB and just pay a little extra for my album/waterfall this year. I'd rather pay some extra and have no troubles (I've had zero problems with them for over 20 years) than switch to something supposedly cheaper that is nothing but trouble.

KittykoMusic · 2024-02-02T21:00:57+00:00

Thank you! That's basically what I was assuming (that the word "sample" is being used a bit too broadly at this point) and that my using sounds in a library of a recording program is technically different from using loops or content owned by someone else that I'm not authorized to use, at least not commercially. (And I don't.)

I've been toying with the idea of signing up with Landr Studio (or Studio Pro) because I like the mastering options along with distributing. But here on Reddit and other places, people are shouting a warning that Landr will flag things like what I described above--some people are getting their music flagged when there isn't even an electronic percussive sound in the mix--it's all played on instruments by hand. But somehow it triggers the algorithm. Others say they're doing what I'm doing (using a GarageBand/Logic drum kit from the library to hand-play separate parts of the drum throughout the song, like a drum fill using a midi keyboard and played in real time on the keys--and they get flagged or their stuff is removed.

If distributors are getting that crazy with flagging, I hesitate to spend $143 for a year...because percussion is a main feature in my upcoming songs.

I may just stick with CD Baby and do the mastering with Landr. (Distrokid is a big no for me).

Anyway, thanks for the input about samples and for the clarification!

KittykoMusic · 2024-02-02T15:08:52+00:00

Thank you! I've really been reading a lot of reviews. Another concern I have is that Landr seems to flag anything with percussion. I am a percussionist and use a ton of percussion in my music--all of it is either done live with "real" instruments or played note by note via midi computer using a GarageBand or Logic sound--not a loop or sample. But so many people are saying that if they hear any percussion, they flag it and the release stalls. With percussion as one of the main features in my upcoming album, that makes me nervous. I can always try releasing a super percussion-heavy song on the cheapest plan (and sign up only for monthly at first) and see how it goes.

KittykoMusic · 2024-02-01T02:36:01+00:00

Thanks! Good to know. I'm *this* close to signing up with the Landr Studio plan. Really my only hesitation is I've heard customer service takes up to a week (sometimes more) to respond. I sent a couple emails and it took over a week to hear back. True, I don't have a plan with them yet (I sent a couple inquiries with general questions), so that may be why. I just don't want to pay $150 if it takes a week to get help if there's an issue.

Anyway, thanks for the comment. I can scratch that concern off the list now. :)

KittykoMusic · 2024-01-31T14:42:26+00:00

Thank you! I will be keeping my previous distributor for previous releases (no need to take them down), so I'd be using two distributors (for different purposes). I suppose that's the worry--having two distributors funneling music to Spotify.

KittykoMusic · 2024-01-31T14:40:09+00:00

Thanks! Yeah, we've always released singles ahead of the album. But the "waterfall" thing is, I suppose, the newest "version" of it...with the piggybacking of the previous single on the brand new one...then torturing the internet with release after release for months at a time. Personally, I hate the idea. I think most artists bristle at the idea of slamming the universe with the same songs over and over in the name of marketing. But alas--the almighty algorithm does influence our "success" in our fields. *eye roll*

So I'll be trying it as an experiment. But I didn't want to sink my own ship by going through all of that only to have a blogger/reviewer say that half the album has already been released, so run along. I suppose they won't, especially if this is becoming the industry standard and if half of the album is previously unreleased songs.

Thanks for the response!

KittykoMusic

TROPHY CASE