How I knew I was done with my company
I thought I would never sell my company. When National Public Radio did a story about me in 2004, I said I’d stick it out until the end, and I meant it.
In 2007 I did a ground-up rewrite of the website software from scratch. And man, it was beautiful code. The proudest achievement of my life at that time was that software. Wonderfully organized, extensible, and efficient: the culmination of everything I’d learned about programming in ten years.
After a successful relaunch and Christmas rush, I was looking at my plan for 2008 and beyond. All my plans needed a huge effort for little reward, but were required for future growth. I had broken it into about 20 projects, each taking 2 to 12 weeks.
But I wasn’t excited about any of them.
I’d taken it far beyond my goals, and realized I had no big vision for it being much else.
The next week, I got calls from three companies, each asking if I’d be interested in selling. I said no, as usual, since I’d been giving the same answer for ten years.
But just to be open-minded, that weekend I opened my diary and started answering the question, “What if I sold?”
I had done this a few times in previous years, but the answer had always been, “No way! There’s so much more I want to do! This is my baby. There’s no way I could let go.”
This time it was different. I thought how nice it’d be to not have 85 employees and all that responsibility. I wrote about how nice it’d be to get outside a bit and feel free from all that. I got excited about all the cool new projects I could do instead.
I realized the bigger learning and growing challenge for me was letting go, not staying on.
Surprised by this, I asked Seth Godin’s advice. All he said was, “If you care, sell.”
I think his point was that my lack of enthusiastic vision was doing a disservice to my clients. It’d be better for everyone if I put the company in more motivated hands that could help them all grow.
I called a friend and asked him to grill me upside down about this big decision. “What other ways can you achieve the freedom you want, without selling?” After an hour of questions like this, we both came to the conclusion that I was really done.
As with any breakup, graduation, or move, you emotionally disconnect, and it all feels as if it were in the distant past.
I felt like I was already on the highway with a little box of stuff, moving cross-country, with my old home long gone, never to be seen again.
By the end of that day, I was no longer derek@cdbaby.com.
Unfortunately, like a divorce, the paperwork took another seven months. I let two companies bid, and ended up choosing the one with the lower bid, but that I felt understood my clients better.
But it was never about the money. The decision was done in that one introspective day of writing in my diary and talking with friends. I was completely unconflicted, and knew it was the right decision.
I went to bed that night (January 18, 2008) and slept longer than I had in months. Then I woke up full of detailed ideas for my next company, but that’s a different story.
The reason I’m telling all this is because I’ve been asked the question a few times by other entrepreneurs, “How do you know when it’s time to sell?”.
My answer is, “You’ll know”, but I hope this detailed story helps illustrate that feeling.
The risk of not changing is almost always greater than the risk of changing. Leap while you're at the top of the curve, and the next curve builds on the momentum.
The time to sell? Sooner than you think.
THANK YOU for telling this story. It is an important lesson and I know I appreciate you sharing it.
And they took that exquisite backend software - and tossed it right out. Thanks, Discmasters.
I see a lot of artists that need to ask themselves these kinds of questions. It's OK for music to be your hobby. Make your peace with it.
Always wondered, came out of the blue for me. Thanks for Sharing.
I tell this to my overworked friends all the time, "If you let go of what you're doing, what would be two other jobs, the company will have a better idea of what needs to get done."
glad you took the leap, but we still miss your emails! :)
You shoulda chose the other company! The new company never shoulda changed your glorious back-end code! The new CDBaby sux without you!!
I loved reading this. Thank you Derek. I've learned "when you are inspired, your mind sees no limitations, dormant forces come to new life. you discover yourself to be a greater person than you ever thought you could be." from Eckart Tolle "The Power of Now" readings. To let go is to "be come" anew. Thanks for sharing - as it seems to be what a lot of us went through in 2006-2008. And now heading into 2010 we're all inspired again!
From my perspective, what was really nice was the fact you could get input from other persons regarding that move. I wish I have a business coach and a mind like Seth's to give me some more insights over some business issues.
Greetings from Romania,
C.
I'm looking forward to your "muckwork" services. How about a little sneak preview of what you'll be offering?
https://sive.rs/muckwork">sive.rs/muckwork">https://sive.rs/muckwork is the best preview so far. Sorry for the delay. Thought I'd start it right away, then realized I needed to exhale a bit first. — Derek
Derek, thanks for the advice and for the a great invention Baby... It's still the best online distro and so trustworthy....
I can not say thank you enough.
your (theirs) (CDBABY's) reputation is amazing...
@ #3- yeah, I miss the old CDbaby. But i'm READY FOR MUCKWORK!!
I kid of feel this way about a nice little part time job I'm going to leave next week. I've a part of it in some form for 25 years Im just not inspired to do it anymore. I think I'm doing all involved a disservice be hanging on. Certianly not the incredible amount of money you're talking about, but my marching band needs new blood. It's been a prilvilage to do this activity for so long & at such a high level. Love the marching percussion idiom, but love the family time more.
Time to move on, time to get going.
Great piece! Another form of growth and development is moving on. When comfort zones are reached, mediocrity is conceived and your dreams of doing great things are but none.
Lessons can be learned from your story and applied to many projects. Even if it isn't making you money or earning a living, is a given project worth your time? Are you still doing it for the reason you started, or out of obligation? Thanks Derek.
It just shows how none of us should every stop asking ourselves the hard questions!
I just hope we all can benefit from Disc Makers.
DAMN! That's it in a nutshell Derek.
The hard part is parting with something that your so compassionate about!
But as everything you have to know when enough is enough. And you need those positive voices around you to honestly tell you the truth.
'Enthusiasm' in Greek means 'filled with god'. When it's gone, it's gone, and there no use pretending.
Someone once said "a relationship worth ending is a relationship worth having in a new way". Someone else said 'start with the ending; it's the best way to begin'.
There is a life-cycle to individual beings, businesses, relationships; everything. Robert Fritz describes the stages very well in 'The Path of Least Resistance':
http://www.amazon.com/Path-Least-Resistance-Learning-Creative/dp/0449903370
Great post Derek.
In the end, aren't 'our guts' always the most efficient, modern and efficient marketing tool? :-)
There are so many ways to enjoy yourself in this world, if only you have the time. But when you have time, more often than not you don't have the money; and more often than that you get to old!
CD Baby is the greatest independent music website EVER.
God Bless CD Baby!
too old
Great post Derek! I recently closed down my business, so I can certainly relate to the internal dispute regarding making such a decision (albeit, it was on a far smaller scale than CDBaby).
This kind of decision often leaves onlookers dumbfounded, as to the reasoning, but when you see the bigger picture in things, you simply cannot deny it. We must move on and continue to build towards that ultimate goal.
“Quitting while you’re ahead, isn’t the same as quitting.”
98% of business owners entrepreneurs will never have to ask the question "how do I know when to sell" because they will never be put in that situation. You should be congratulated because you had an idea-it worked and you profited.
The question to me is You sold-You made a lot of cash-Now what are you going to do to give something back to what has been generously given to you.
I have a couple of friends who were bought out by large companies and I am impressed how they have lived their lives since.
They got it
Peace, jason
Yeah, I should talk about that some day, too.... — Derek
Derek
Thank you for sharing all you have. Much of the info and personal insights you have shared give me strength and inspiration to follow my dreams as well.
Abel
hi Derek
I am still with CD Baby. I still believe that it is one of the greatest things that you or anyone else could have ever done to aid and promote independent musicians. I understand how you felt when you finally decided to sell. I have been through a divorce and had to let go of a number of other things in life that
I practically took as guaranteed.
when your heart is not inspired to continue something anymore then it's time to move on. when you hold on to something you no longer love, you will die. one way or the other.
A very timely post. :)
That is the day I understood bittersweet!
I know it was a big decision Derek.
But great achievements sometimes become anchors. Grow and fly free Bro. You can do the most good when you are still loving what you do.
Dave
Derek, your reasons sound understandable, logical, even inevitable. Sadly though, the result for a lot of us has been a dramatic downturn in the quality of CDbaby in ways to numerous to mention.
Well, again I'll contribute to this blog business - just to provide you all with a "lunatic's" point of view.
I started an advertising agency with a couple customers who got to know me through the production and sale of commercial music. They all said, "Mary - you should have your own business." I thought, "You should mind your own business... I have enough on my plate."
I had just had my first child... and lost my mom within months of each other. But the more I thought, it became clear that working for this jingle studio wasn't really doing anything that would leave something of meaning for my family.
So I called up the six or so folks who had the bright idea about my starting a business and asked them to fish or cut bait. All of them said yes. Remarkably they all stayed with me for the duration of the time I had my company - which was about 28 years.
Derek, I wasn't smart enough to sell my life's investment... I did try, but couldn't find a fit with another company that had the heart to treat my customers the way they needed to be cared for. So one by one - I found a small ad "this" and another marketing "that" - and gave my account list away.
This is a long way to get to my point, so forgive me - but I now understand that it never was my company. It was a gift from God for me to manage as best as possible - and to use as a platform to minister to the needs of others.
As you know from previous discussions - this time was also the period of transition... my call to lay ministry. I've since founded a non-profit company called "Waters of Life Ministry for Women, Inc." I'm having the time of my life. God is providing for our needs - as He promises.
We just cut a single for Habitat for Humanity. And we're putting the final vocals on a new Christmas CD to be released this December.
I'm writing weekly devotions to a growing number of email subscribers, and for two monthly periodicals.
My song writing got some nice attention in Nashville, TN this past July.
I look forward to your articles. They're inspiring, insightful and encouraging.
Derek your intuitiveness is a gift, as is your strong character and virtue centered rather than value centered living.
I'm expecting huge things from you... by the help of God!
Mary Catterton
Personally, I miss seeing the "hits' (how many people visited my CDBaby site)... I don't have a big selling item, so it was just fun to look at. And I liked the simpler, folky looking design, with the attitude of 'this is simple, just click here'. Thanks for the inside view, hope you don't regret it in years to come, but I understand the motivating factors. I tend to work my art too much, not letting go. My dad used to call it "Gitchying" -- over-working a small place too much and not lookking at the big picture. At least I treat my songs differently -- just get the idea down and move on!! Thanks, you truly are an inspiration.
CD Baby is still the best company I've ever worked with. I posted an email/blog/tweet about looking for a writing job and CD Baby emailed and asked for my resume THE NEXT DAY. Not only does CD Baby care enough to ask me for my resume, someone actually reads my fan communications!
Name one company in the world that responsive. Ain't one. There's nothing wrong with the new CD Baby.
Would be cool to let go of my medical career and do music full time. Practicing medicine really sucks now in the US and I feel it's the main thing stifling my growth as a musician, but as with a lot of things, doctors get screwed into a life you can't readily afford to walk away from. The thing is it's easier to do this sort of "walking away" if you have sufficient back-end support to sustain you while you explore other options. This is certainly unrealistic with the average medical career. Still, as with you Derek, it's worth the exercise to ask the question, "What if I did walk away?". Similar concepts put forth in the "4 hour Work Week" book. Nice to know someone who ACTUALLY lives these concepts. I suppose the only thing stopping me is my own mindset.
As one who also has a history of entrepreneurship and big seemingly sudden big changes in my life (flamenco guitarist to CPA to programmer to software entrepreneur to public company to startup internet company to Yoga writer, etc.)I can really appreciate this story. I'm sure it will be very helpful to many.
Thanks,
Bob Weisenberg
MAN! YOUR HOBBY now your baby! with out pass their is no future thank for all the information that making my hobby a dream come true!
I realize that selling CDBaby was best for you but I wish that you were still there. They are absolutely terrible now.
I'm sure you made the right decision in selling CD Baby, but for the independent artist the changeover has been a big disappointment. No "hits" count, no notice of sale, and a big sales drop-off. Maybe DiscMakers will get it right eventually. Maybe you will even get an urge to lend a hand/advice and save your "Baby." Here's hoping.
Your decision is totally understandable, and I'm always happy for anyone who's doing what they're excited about. But I gotta echo the folks above who miss the old CD Baby, and miss you being there.
The changes to the CD Baby site, and especially the design, are disappointing. Much more corporate looking, much less fun.
On my Gallery page, the 4 most dominant visual elements are all CD Baby links, nothing to do with me. It's almost like they're saying, "We don't care if you buy from this artist, just buy from CD Baby."
Since the changes, my sales there have dropped from a steady $50/week to basically nothing.
Coincidence?
Love to get your feedback on the changes if you wanna email me privately.
On a more positive note, thanks for setting up a cool company/service, and for all your help when you were there.
Greg
Thanks Derek, for sharing your story and words of wisdom. My son was just asking me when I was going to start doing my
"other" music(adult stuff), I told him I was not quite done beating the horse. Still having fun! Dawn
Wow! John'O Groats to Lands End, that's a long bike ride....
Derek;
You always did what you said you would do.I always got my checks on time and your accounting was perfect. And, most of all, you personalized and made me feel recognized even though I was just the little guy,you never forgot those of us who helped you grow. I am forever a friend and a fan. Bruce Maier
Simply put wise choice from a wise man, Wisdom is to know when.
Great info. I have been in the process of setting up a new EP and I must say CDBaby's "sleek new look" is way less functional than the old layout a few years back. I miss it!
Looking forward to hearing more about Muckwork.
This story IS inspiring, but I think it inspires me differently
Every now and again, I have a reality check with myself and I realize I could walk away from my band and lose all the stress. recently I came really close to doing so but I guess that I ultimately realized that I wasn't done.
most business ventures fail. CD BABY didn't and as a result, Derek had money to keep going. It wasn't lack of financing that drove his decision to stop. That's what inspires me.
I realized that it WAS mostly lack of money that made me think I was done.
I say all the time that I'll never leave the band but sometimes I have doubts. Sometimes I lose faith Thinking more objectively now, I see that lack of money isn't an acceptable reason (to me) to call it quits. I see that lack of vision on the part of my partners shouldn't limit mine. I won't be done until I've really gone as far as I want to go creatively.
At the end of the day, we're all still us. Even Derek is still the guy who started CD BABY. In a way, he's still Derek@cdbaby.com to us!
I understand that you deserve a break after founding and growing your company to become one of the most notable independent record distributors in the country, if not the world. That's no small task. However, we, your former customers, are also feeling the pain of separation as you described. I am not very happy with the new owners. Judging from some of the replies on this forum, there's not too many people who are. It took forever for the new folks to get my CD right and what used to take only about a week seems to take almost a month. i have tired to remain open-minded about this, but I think the evidence speaks for itself. The company was an extension of who you are, and while you were there, I felt like I knew you even though we've never actually met. These new people aren't in it for the same reasons as you, or at least they do not appear to be, based on their actions. Sometimes, in order to maintain the conpany's integrity, you have to let it consume you. I think I speak for most all of the CD Baby artists out there when I say that your presence at CD Baby is missed.
Hi Derek,
I've been a big fan of CDBaby and I understand your decision to sell, but I think you should have vetted DiscMakers a little more... You handed your baby to un-fit foster parents. Hopefully it's mature enough to withstand the abuse... I'd like to hope they mean well though...
It's important to understand that disconnect of who you are & what you do. I still look at songs I've written & guitars I've built & smile.
& now I look at my kids & smile.
But every now & then, I look in a mirror, & no matter how tired & wiped out I am, I can still smile & ask myself, what's next?
The journey never ends.
How did I know I was done...
A story of growth.
The hardest thing for me was giving myself
permission to Let Go. Didn't I owe my people who worked with me, to see it through? What about them? This was the hard decision, my heart was the first to let go, but I went through the motions caught between " finish what you started and my hearts there".
Musically/energy, I was being pulled in another direction that I couldn't see.
A keyboard I ordered arrived that I originally want to use for a piece for the old project.
However, when I sat to play it my heart opened and another path was revealed.
Now about the all those other people...
if I'm not being true to myself, how honest
am I being with those around me?
In doing that which is much more challenging but more true to who I am,
am I not doing the best for all those around me?
Your decision was obviously the right one for you and you have had so many wonderful experiences since that I'm sure you don't look back that often or regret your choice.
You gave so much of yourself to all of us when you ran CDbaby and I personally gained so much from your meetings that you held in Portland at CDbaby.
Unfortunately Discmakers doesn't hold a candle to what you achieved,
but everyone has already said that. I'm just so pleased that you are writing and your writing continues to inspire me.
Cat, something else is on its way and I am jumping.
Kathryn
This was great! I did not realize you code as well. I'd like to read about how you learned programming and your journey into the world of coding. Thanks.
Necessity is the best teacher. I started CD Baby knowing nothing but basic HTML, then just learned PHP and SQL as needed, since I couldn't afford to hire a programmer. I just learned from books and online help. Now it's my favorite part. — Derek
My Dad always said, "Leave a party when it's at it's peak". I thought, "ya, right Dad" 40 years later, i see how right he was and how it applies to so many things.
.... you posted this without asking for comment .... thanks anyway.
.... although I sometimes feel like I'm part of a 'hooray for Derek' community, I do understand that THAT is not your motivation...
I've just spent a month working with someone who operates at a far higher energy level than I do ( under normal circumstance).
I could be inspired or discouraged by this approach and it wouldn't alter the way my friend works..... so much depends upon my receptivity.
At the moment,I'm inspired AND a bit exhausted.... thankfully, the inspiration outlasts the exhaustion...... much the same as with your 'posts.'
Having been in several business situations, where I've stayed too long at the party, I've since learned to leave sooner than I might have initially felt ready to. It's tough, but in the long run, getting out can be the best thing. It leaves room for the kind of unexpected growth you couldn't have done in the previous situation.
I knew it was time to stop touring when my wife noticed I was getting cranky before heading out. After ten years, I was kind of on tour auto pilot. Same venues in US and Europe and OK money...Lots of friends, loving the music, but it was as simple as getting cranky and kind of short about live performances. That's when I knew I was done touring in 2008. Still love the writing/recording process, but hanging with my wife and hiking and letting go of the touring has made 2009 my best year!
Derek, I won't use your blog to beat a certain dead horse, except to say: Once you've sold someone your automobile, even with the best of intentions, there is nothing you can do to prevent them from either rebuilding it or wrecking it.
The present and the future are what need attention. Alvin Singleton once said to me: "Don't look back, but always remember." So I'm passing that small bit of wisdom along.
That said: There are some relevant passages related to your core "transition" them in Michael Kaiser's "Strategic Planning in the Arts: A Practical Guide" which deal with an organization in stagnation.
The Guide is free (or at least used to be), but these days it seems you have to go through a couple of small hoops to get it (joining artsmanager.org). The first stop is going to http://www.artsmanager.org and looking for the links in the lower right-hand corner. I got mine in PDF several years ago, before the requirement to join.
You can also find Kaiser's book "The Art of the Turnaround" for sale there.
(FWIW: Kaiser is president of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in DC.)
He makes a good case for how non-profits start up, grow, flourish, but then plateau and often stagnate in a dysfunctional manner; they either the reinvent themselves or die.
Useful reading to have on hand if you run a festival or non-profit arts organization. I gave a copy to a west-coast music festival, along with some other stuff from elsewhere, and they reinvented themselves, going from the edge of shutting down forever to ending the next season $90 grand in the black--and they're still in the black in a bad economy.
i was with you until the image, that's just BS made by guys in suits. your not a guy in a suit so i dont know what your doing paying them so much attention.
i respect your decision to sell. whoever bought CDBaby, it was going to become much more business orientated, and thus go downhill in the eyes of many artists and fans.
Very interesting stuff.
Derek, I'm curious about Seth Godin's advice (“If you care, sell.”)--does it mean that you should sell while you still care about the company? Did you mean to type, "If you don't care, sell"? I'm interested in what he meant and how you interpreted his characterization of the threshold for the decision.
The sentence after that explains it more. I think he meant that if I'm feeling unenthisiastic about it, then I'm doing my clients a disservice by remaining the owner. So if I care about my clients, sell it and let someone else take it to new heights. — Derek
Great timing Derek. I have been thinking about selling our recording studio for a few weeks now. I'm doing broadcast engineering consulting and not having much enjoyment out of or time to get things done in the studio after 15 years. Thank goodness for great employees. Now i have a plan to follow in organizing my thoughts & feelings about this.
It's always great to read your stories Derek but 'Man', even though after many years with cdbaby and only mediocre sales, I really miss the personalized emails advising of a sale and the new layout of cdbaby is a minefield to find your way round...Old saying is,'If It Aint Broke, DONT Fix It'..Somehow I think It's now got bent and the only one to straighten it out is not there..Peace Derek.
Thanks for sharing this, Derek. For me as a CDbaby artist, the change has been a very bad experience. I am not able to sell CD's after the total makeover, and there are obvious glitches in the new code and features. You can't find my artist (Homeless Balloon) when searching for musical genres or similar artists (it seems that the whole search engine isn't working like it should). It took many, many weeks and lots of emails before I was able to sell downloads. And the new owner must get thousands of support requests each day, since they haven't answered a single one of mine. I am seriously thinking about finding a different site where I can sell my music. - Just like you, Derek, I have such great memories of CDbaby like it used to be...
Derek, you know how I feel about you as a businessman. I respect you. I think I was only the 3rd Rap Artist to sign up for cdbaby.com but man selling to Disc Makers has really hurt me personally.
They don't care about us as artists on what is now their site. They just see those $35 sign up fee's coming in and thats what drives them.
It is in no way shape or form as GREAT of a company as it was when you owned it and structured it and ran it. That is the HONEST truth.
Congratulations and Best Wishes in your new endevours and I will always be THANKFUL for what cdbaby.com did for me in the beginning. But man have times changed.
I agree, it's not same after you left, it seems the myspace page is getting me more reviews and there is no way of knowing how your stuff is delivered to inet vendor. dv
CDBaby lost its uniqueness when you sold it. I felt it immediately, in tinny details, hard to pinpoint, but there. But, it all about business, right?
Great piece Derek. Congratulations on building a successful business that was so good for self-releasing musicians like myself.
I understand totally your desire to sell. I did a similar thing a few years back and I wish you every success.
I must say that every musician on CD Baby misses your well designed backend software!
How could they screw up such a brilliant thing? In any other business area heads would roll. They have lost respect for the thing that helped build CD Baby: the artists!
Those of us that have been with CD Baby for years used to feel part of the business and feel the respect you had for them.
We miss you but completely support your motives!
All the best with the new projects!
Derek, I commend you for making a decision and learning to say "no", "no more". It's the hardest words we can learn. I struggle with these notions every day, what with the entities i have built. I always have to make my artistry come first. but yes, it's always a struggle to allow it to be first in my life.
Thanks for sharing :-)
It is too bad that CD Baby sucks so much right now... they never email back, answer their phone, or deal with huge issues with our releases. I will probably switch to another distributor and it pains me to say that after all the love I had for CD Baby.
Yes indeed - time to move on. Derek - Sir, you definitely created a very great thing, ran up the flag-pole and a lot of people saluted it and have benefited from it.
The help you have been to musicians on this planet is off the scale.
It is a shame things are getting twisted around and not as friendly and fun there as they used to be at "the-baby".
Discmakers is very good company too and I have hope that they will get things ironed out soon.
I have a platinum studio partnership with Discmakers. Every product / release of ours for 15 years has been with them.
BUT concerning the "new baby" - ((Just in case someone there is reading ))"The more you over-work the plumbing the easier it is to stop up the drain" - I think that is what is happening. :-)
Derek - GREAT article! Can truly sympathsize & understand about the challenges of letting go you mention, sometimes it's what you have to do...
But, honestly, cdbaby is/will not be the same w/o you. Having met you early on and spoken with you on various occasions through the years, I was most impressed with your brilliant ideas, clarity, (contagious) enthusiasm and things you did that REALLY worked well within the business, and truly helped the artists get their music out and not be ripped off.
All your innovative website things - hit counters, etc. made perfect sense - artists could see statistics and activity. Notice they have since been put back onto the site. Demographic location charts would help as well, so an artist would know where their fans are for future performances.
Without a doubt you always left me feeling safe & secure with things, thanks to your honesty, dedication, watchful eye to ensuring the uptmost in service (even via cdbaby employees), aside from giving a personal air to the company that cannot be matched now, no matter what "improvements" they think they've made.
Looking forward to seeing what Muckwork will be.
In closing, while I do hope Discmakers will not let cdbaby falter, though we noticed a considerable sales decline since they fully took over...
I do hope you didn't sign a non-compete clause - as maybe after taking a break and startup of Muckwork, you'd be open to doing up a new biz akin to cdbaby with yet a new twist. Who knows? =)
So Derek... I'd love to hear how and when you decided to get a business coach.
Not much to say about that. 2005 and I needed some outside perspective. Called up Tony Robbins' company and talked with some of their coaches. Jared and I really hit it off and still talk often. — Derek
great,great article.
CD Baby isn't the same, and will never be the same. However, you did your share, and much more, a great service to musicians. Thank you for that. Enjoy your well-deserved new life. :)
T.
It's a pretty safe bet that I'll never have to ask myself that question.
That aside, I liked the old, Derek-era CD Baby artist pages much better, it was all in one place, no clicking around.
I have to say, the cdbaby site redesign sucks. You are missed.
Derek,
I know the feeling as I went through a similar process with a group I led a while back. I went on a retreat and knew before I even returned that it was time to let go of the group and get back to my path as a solo artist. So glad I did!!
But I too must say that I absolutely miss the way CDBaby was when you were there. Everything was so smooth, customer service was amazing and I always felt good getting a CDBaby email.
As soon as you left, it all went downhill for me.
I can't even get someone on the phone when I call CDBaby, and I'm talking being on hold for over half hour long distance.
To get an email response, I have to email them at least twice, sometimes a lot more, and be extremely , shall we say, "persistent" and "assertive" with my tone.
They screw up orders, don't let me know when anything's done, and yeah, the new layout does NOT work.
It is indeed unbelievable how poor their service and storefront are now.
I also no longer get emails with info about the fans who bought my CDs - and that was very helpful to me.
I honestly won't be using them again after this CD, and I regret using them for this one - doing it myself is just a whole lot better. I just hope they don't screw up with iTunes etc.
Anyway... you are sorely missed in all dealings I've had with CDBaby ever since you left. And at the same time, I totally get it about your decision, having been there myself.
I can sense the freedom you now feel and even with mixed feelings, I sure do wish you the best and will continue to follow your blog etc.
Peace,
Brenda MacIntyre, Medicine Song Woman
It's interesting that CD Baby kept the mark of your personality while it grew so big. Most often a growing company will lose its most personalising features (and a great deal of its creativity, drive and edge) when business processes are introduced as substitutes for the boss's decision-making.
Since we're not yet capable of Artificial Intelligence, business processes can be a kind of Artificial Stupidity instead. Were you aware of having done things differently? Did you have creative business processes, or relatively few of them? Or did you find employees who thought the way you did?
Those same business processes you describe can be used to communicate the boss's vision, if the boss makes the processes. Then yeah the philosophy of the company was deeply understood by everyone who worked there, and they were free to make decisions that fit with the “be cool” philosophy. — Derek
Thanks for sharing this. I've had to leave many things in my life that were "my babies." In retrospect, some of them might have done better without me had I left sooner. People are missing your indelible stamp on CD Baby. It's more a praise of what you contributed than an indictment of the people who must run it now. Anyway, that chart you included pretty much explains the "wave of woe." Thanks for having such a great idea in the first place. And for acting on it with such passion. While I'm still sad that you let go of it--hey, who else answers e-mail from their company on a weekend because they are sleeping on the couch trying to get things working?--I enjoy reading these articles.
Hey man
Good on you for doing what you really want to do.
But CD Baby has become another corporate entity with a bottom line where it's Soul used to be.
Maybe it's good--now I got to get off my ass and promote a bit.
Love, B
Hi Derek,
Not sure if you are still reading comments from thientry, but I find this story to also be relevant to bands. I often see bands living past their lifecycle when they are just holding onto some idea that used to resonate with them that no longer does. You can see it in the band's popularity, live shows, cd sales, etc, as well.
Good lesson.
Best regards,
Joel Laviolette
I was curious about the change. I remember thinking, "He said he would never sell!" Although it felt really strange when you announced the sale, I mean you could feel it like a wave crashing all the artists on CD Baby who have loved what you did, it's even stranger to know that the best thing for you probably really was the best thing for us since your passion was changing. Your story is inspiring, Derek. Thanks for always sharing!
Any business can get to overpowering and time consuming and the grass on the other side looks greener. Just like playing music and songwriting; if it's in your blood, if it's your passion you will find away to incorporate it in to you life. Your Muckwork project will probably be Muchwork
but you'll do good at it. Thanks for being a corresponder.
It ain't over till its over, and then it is.
Love that you found a new road - it's very inspiring - but wow - CD Baby is very different - the payment thing is completely wonky, and the digital sales are completely bogus. I've sold and streamed, and have never received a payment. Selfishly, I wish you were still there.
I say we clone you now while the getting is good!
Everytime I let go it is still a revelation to me, like i didn't learn from the last time I let go, but every new thing you have to let go of is a completely different situation. So as long as you keep learning from it, It has to be good.
I am grateful you founded CD baby. It opened a lot of opps for distribution I would have never had.
I am sorry you left too. I miss the baby logo, the friendliness of the images and am not really digging as a female musician knowing how many females are on cdbaby the image of the hipster dude rockstar the company now chooses to wear as a face for music. To me it seems retro and not in a good way.
As George Carlin says "They always change what you like." Death is inevitable. I wish the new guys had adopted your warmth. The dashboard panels are cold and hard to read = corporate. I have been wanting to say this for a long time since I signed on in 1999. It's how I feel although I understand your decision to move on. I still wonder what you're going to do with the baby...
It's great that you have moved on and are happy, Derek, and you have clearly explained why you had no other choice and it was the right thing for you to do.
But I'd like to add a further voice to the chorus of those of us whose subsequent experience with CDBaby's new owners has been disappointing. It wasn't just that you and the whole company cared about the individual musician as customer's experience, no matter who they were, and that this was pleasant and unusual. It was also the fact that this support for the little guys translated into actual extra sales, somehow.
Back then, I was telling everyone they'd be nuts not to sell their CD there. Those days are gone, the thing is basically broken, and I can't honestly recommend CDBaby any more to my fellow UK artists without a whole bunch of heavy caveats.
All I know is something is missing with CDbaby now. I hope that changes. Bring that little baby logo back or something!!!! I used to average one to two checks a month for two years, now it's like nothing! Maybe it's the economy, but this new 'baby" is NOT hands on at all...
great read, DS
Early this year we finally put our old web design company to rest, as well. So this post meant a lot to me.
In my case, I wanted to do more than the old company could do. And for that I needed partners with vision. My creative team felt caged by the old company. It was definitely a breakup as well, but in our case we were able to buy and still use much of the intellectual property we created under the previous company. Now, 10 months into our rebrand, I'm thrilled and energized again.
Change is never easy. But it's necessary. Good luck, Derek!
Derek, you made the right decision.
Thankfully, I believe I made the right decision when I decided to release my 7th album recently through Catapult Distribution rather than CDBaby (where my other 6 are distributed through).
Catapult has a simple, unable interface and I was on iTunes worldwide within 2 weeks.
Sometimes you've just gotta move on and not look back.
Did you know, you sound like a musician with how you detail your stories?
The world of business is change, and I look forward to seeing Muckwork go through it's unique cycles.
I went through something similar. At first it is so hard to imagine giving up your baby, but when you feel it's to the right person or group...what a relief.
However, I am SO SORRY they changed the website from the way you had it. Yours was much better.
Still, friendly, good people there thoug.
Derek Man,
Love the story, but come on man U MISS C.D. BABY, simply because IT's YOUR BABY !!!
Check This out baby BOI, Ernest Holmes has a book called " CREATIVE MIND & SUCCESS " ,
Read it and then U tell me .........................
what Really Happened when you decided to sell your Co. !!!
This guy talking about make the leap at the top of the curve....... man dude everyone who has a dream..... see's a mountain to Climb, once at the top..... they see an even Taller , Larger mountain, U don't just jump to the top of that mountain, from the one you are on.
You gotta climb BACK into the Valley , wade through the MUCK OF THE MIRE in that Valley, then CLIMB to the Top of the other Mountain, it may be easier than the first time simply cause YOU'VE DONE THIS BEFORE !!!
Quiet as it is kept, it ain't about the TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN............... IT's ABOUT THE VALLEYS & THE CLIMB........ daaaaaaaaaaa !!!!
Derek if you don't miss c.d. baby I understand............ but man dude I miss you at C.D. BABY !!!
Respect, bold as Luv.
You evened the playing field for independent artists. Thank You!
Was it Discmakers who took over ?
I'm shocked, They did so well on my CD.
Yeah, whoever it is just suck on the relaunch and on customer service, No idea how to integrate the two.
You will always be a daily inspiration as an ass-kicker of the highest order. ( Third degree black belt) !!!!
I find it interesting that this blog created far less controversly, discussion, response in general than the one you most recently wrote about love....
...perhaps it is because not many can relate to building, creating, developing and owning their own business or company and then in turn letting go of this "baby". I wonder...
Thanks for sharing. I always wondered a bit.
It all began for me at CDbaby and CDbaby opened me the doors to success.
greetings from germany
I found out about CDBaby from a promoter who told me he loved discovering new acts on there. Cd baby broke the rules in the way a business should be run. Instead of selling a few careful selected artists selling huge amounts of product, they have thousands of artist selling much smaller amounts of cds.
It was just what struggling musicians needed and it was fantastic for everyone.
The thousands have probably now become millions and what once must have been a really fun operation must be a logistical nightmare. Corners have to be cut, hence 30 second snips of songs. So no one goes there to find new music, it is just a point of purchase.
There is no going back. What is needed is a new model.
So how about a sort of Spotify Unsigned, a place where you go to find new stuff. All tracks are streamed and full length, artists pay a small fee to go on but listeners pay nothing (but have to listen to commercial breaks)
wow... awesome read. :) Thx so much for sharing this~
I so appreciate that you've shared the experience of your process with us. Thanks Derek.
I can remember the 1st time I talked to you and you basically had no Country Music on CdBaby. I believe we had to send you 5 cd's and $20.00 and you put everything up for us. I immediatly sent you 5 projects to do, 2 Bob Wills Jr., Jamie Cutler Harper, Woody Wills and Tom Cunningham and later talked Lonnie Ratliff into doing all the CdBaby stuff. One of his Artist which I have always promoted is Erin Hay who has done very well through CdBaby. Checks in the Bank every Tue.
I think from where you started and what you had become and did for 100's of Artist I work with was perhaps the greatest thing that ever happened for the Indie Artist.
The Indie Artist then had distribution.
You were always reachable and answered every question. CdBaby was you,Derek. CdBaby changed the Music Industry for the better. I've said a million times, if I had a Music Business HERO, Derek Sivers would be at the top of my list. Thanks Derek for a great Company, you are missed.
Great story above, thanks for sharing.
Always wondered about the background story on what happened and why.
Cant down you for what you did... was knocked sideways when it happened. Nothing has happened lately to help straighten me out.
We all gotta do what we gotta do... I can only wish you the best Derek.
As well as saying what I've said to you before (which you probably never read as your email was filtered for you) Thanks for the all you've done nonetheless.
It is good to know why you sold, but it's too bad that the people who buy are always the big corporations with no heart.
One example: they promote the well-knowns & bestsellers & have lackadaisical bored employers on the phones.
Question: did discmakers keep your old staff or did they replace them with their own?
Whew! Thanks for solving the mystery. I've been wondering about it ever since you sold your company. CD Baby was a great vision. Thanks for making it happen!
Sorry Derek, but I ain't in support of you on this one; as you already know. It literally was cruel to leave us hanging. Ok, selfish of me I admit, but it was like showing a kid candy, even having them have a lick, then removing the candy and throwing it away.
I've failed to even log into my account on CD Baby for months! Can't even buy music from it as the contact page keeps coming up!! I'm livid :-(@
Derek, you left us in the middle of the storm and bailed, leaving the ship with no Captain and no rudder. That's not cool brother.
I wonder what would happen if all of us directed our complaints and concerns ABOUT cdbaby TO cdbaby rather than to Derek?
Yea a great lesson in life is to learn not to hold ourselves to our own old promises. The hardest thing for most is to let go of what they have at the moment... To move forward you have to accept changes to change... I have had to do this a few times already... One thing one day we die and cant take nothing with us so in the knowledge of this moveing on decisions become a little easier...
I believed in CDBaby when you owned it. Those days are over and I'm glad you moved on, but I sure wish there as another Derek out there with the right platform... I'd jump ship from DiscmakersBaby in a heart beat at this point.
All of that said, thanks for sharing and the initially excellent experience you setup.
I'm about to sell a piece of my "company" which I, too, thought I'd never part with. Every time I thought about it in the past, I couldn't make sense of it, but now, for some reason, it's just the opposite--it makes all the sense in the world to let go of this one piece, and in fact makes no sense whatsoever to try to keep it. I guess that's the "you just know" part.
Timely post, Derek...
#140, brilliant idea! It is like addressing a ghost who is not in a position to do much of anything except haunt.
Derek, I am truly happy for your success at CDBaby and that you are happy after selling it. Way to go. It's the kind of story we all enjoy hearing.
However, it has to bum you out on some level that Discmakers has taken one of the finest companies I've ever dealt with and, seemingly, done its best to destroy it.
They wrecked the site. They wrecked the community. They don't seem to care.
But, that's just my problem, and you don't owe anyone anything. Thanks for what you did!
Thank you for sharing your story, it reminds us who own a music business to give it some thought to sell or just close the doors when we are tired, chronic fatigued, is it worth it sometimes when we give 100% to our clients and most of them judge and be complainants in return and never say thanks.
I agree there have been many problems since you sold CDBaby. Many Independent Artists state that the connection is not there anymore since you have moved on. I do hope that they get it all together:) and have it running the way you did Derek
good luck, go see the world.
Derek, thank you for this post. For offering opportunity to express openly what's been on the 'collective' mind. ;-) I'd been wondering what the deal was... I too have missed you being at CD Baby. Very much so. It's not the same. Not by a long shot. At the same time, it's so important to follow ones heart when it's time to change direction and follow a different course. I applaud you for doing that. (of course, again, you're deeply missed.)
I also didn't know it was DiscMakers who'd bought CD Baby... though it kinda makes sense now -- the setup of the site, the corporate, all-business bent, the unanwered e-mails, etc... (and, honestly can't count the number of times, always puzzled, I've thought to myself that above-mentioned old saying when logging out -- 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it...')
My sentiments are reflected in many of the comments others are leaving... and also in the gratitude to you for all you've given each and every one of us in your absolute support of, belief in and commitment to the independent music community... Thank you, Derek. I remain hopeful...
Wendy
misdirected...
mislead...
not your 'fault'
let it go
tragedy...parody...allegorical
Things have changed since you've left and not for the best as I see it.
I hear you, but I still wish you hadn't sold!!!! It's not the same without you.
When I was in High School, I was in a cover band named “Combustion”.
Even though I was the loner type, not in with the jocks or the heads, being the lead singer of a rock band put me in a category all of my own!
We played at many of the dances… we even won the big High School Battle of the Bands contest!
After graduation, instead of continuing with the band, I left and joined the Army.
I volunteered for the draft at the tail end of the Vietnam War.
I’ve spent from then until now trying to regain the “glory” I had in those days.
I left the love of my creative life and have been playing catch-up ever since!
But there’s a happy ending. The last couple of years have been very rewarding, thanks in no small part to you.
But it took a while… so be prepared for the long haul… just in case.
It is an easier decision to sell when you hold the cards.
How do you exit when you have a partner?
Have you had a business partner?
Good for you! Since you left it feels like it is missing something and I guess that is what you brought to the table. Thanks for getting us this far!
Very interesting insight. Love the image!
I'm glad for all you information sharing and all you've done over these years. CD baby isn't as good without you.
Sorry about that.
bjd
Thanks, Derek. Your insights are always timely and helpful. Your writing style is so readable, too. Frequently I print out a column of yours and post it near my desk as a reminder.
I hope you're not too bummed over people's disappointment with what your company became after you left. Just take it as a compliment of how well you did when it was yours. There's no way you can control the outcome after you've let go. Can't have it both ways.
That's an amazing article. The decision in all it's comlexity/simplicity is explained with such clarity that even I understand it, and the implications. Thank God.
Hi Derek,
I know it is very difficult to know what will be the best things to do for the future when you are facing a dilemma to keep your current company as it is or to sell it and to start all over again hoping for the best.
Sometimes you get it right other time you get it wrong, but end of the day as long as you carry on doing what you love the most, who cares what is the name or type of the company.
wow. fascinating - especially as I've just gone thru this process myself. I've come to the conclusion to give up my place and move on to bigger and better things.
The hardest part is that I want to already be doing the other stuff!
I see companies that have been around for over 100 years, with generations of families still running them. If I had run out of ideas for growth, then I would have brought in a competent consultation firm that could share your vision and be able to foster growth based on that vision. I would have established a trustworthy management team years before the burnout stage, so that you'd be freed up to take an extended leave of absence and let them run the company. That way you would still be the owner and your dream would never die. Your biz is your baby, in your case your cdbaby, and you never run out on your babies! That's like investing all your time into your family and then getting burned out because in the process you didn't put time aside for yourself. Is the solution divorce so you can now have time to yourself, when it was your fault for not scheduling time for yourself. Is that fair to your family? You had the passion for CDbaby, will your successors, or will they use it just to generate profit margin?
Thanks for all your hard work at CDbaby. You made it possible to share my music in ways that I couldn't do it myself.
I look forward to your next projects, esp. muckwork.
I have been contemplating the same this week!
"Let go, or you'll be dragged"
- been chewing on it all week, wish I could decide in one day like you D. I have rushes of lingering joy.
#140, #144 - Do you really think people are not also addressing their concerns directly to CDBaby? Of course we are. It's just that there isn't much of a response from over there any more.
Derek seriously, most of us know where the real blame lies an it's not with you.
You did a great thing and I applaud you... it's your life, do what you've got to do an live it.
Thanks for sharing your story. It very much mirrored mine. I had a website devoted to the promotion of performing artists of the Catholic faith called GrapeVine and after 10 years, I put it in the hands of a new owner. I was surprised how easy it was, but you're right, when it's time, it's time. I've felt less than enthusiastic about GrapeVine for about a year and the minute I let it go, the new owner got right to work! He is infusing fresh blood into GrapeVine and making it so much more vibrant. It's the best decision I've made in a long time.
Your story validated mine. Thanks!
Glad you've moved on. Change is good. For people who haven't run their own business, I think it's hard to understand that you're not doing anyone any favors by staying when the passion has petered out.
I was cracking up at how much "How do you know when it's time to sell" sounds like, "How do you know if this is the right person to marry?"
Exhale, inhale, exhale some more and do what you feel like when you feel like it. You're an entrepreneur, so you don't have to answer to anybody.
Great story! I am happy for you, but sad you are no longer at CD Baby. It's just not the same. The new owner does not display the kind of energy you do. CD Baby for you was truly your baby; for him, it's a business.
I enjoy your posts, and I am glad to still have you be a part of my life!
All the best,
Frank
Derek, thanks for sharing. By the way, you've done more than most peoples' fair share of giving to the music community, so anything you do here-on-in is bonus candy. I kind of wish people would stop suggesting that you owe anyone anything just because you've been successful. Come on friends, people don't owe more just because they're rich or have been successful!
Anyway, thanks for your good work. I'm among those who look forward to your other projects. Your track record is great - so you can count on a few enthusiasts who already trust you.
peace,
Serina
there's the chance they will sell it back to you for a buck and a quarter.
Thanks for this post Derek. I have always been in awe of your passion and energy, and how much you have done for independent artists. I was very sad when you sold CD Baby, but even sadder now to hear that you rewrote the whole back-end just 2 years ago, and were so proud of your accomplishment. It all worked great was indeed a glorious thing!
But that all came to a big crashing end in July when they abandonded your Linux-based system in fabor a Windows-based one, and completely hosed the website in the process. Sales are down, hits are down, accounting is screwed up, customer service is hanging on by a thread, and on and on...
The BBS that used to be full of your frequent nice surprises and announcments along with a ton of excited and grateful musicians has turned into a wasteland of unhappy campers, bug reports, and customer service nightmares.
Certainly not blaming you for moving on - you gave your left nut for us DIY musicians for years.
Just had to say something here though, because losing what CD Baby was has been like having a death in the family.
So I'd say another key takeaway from all this is that the old adage is true: if you want something done right you have to do it yourself :)
Probably wouldn't have mattered who you sold it too, 'cause no one else could ever have the passion and energy that you put into it.
Cheers,
-Steve
I love reading these discussions. I once had a call in the last year from someone interested in 'buying' my business. I ignored it. What could I sell, anyway, my contacts, my music, my instrument, my soul? The name? There isn't anything I really wanted to sell. My business isn't that busy, which is actually just the right thing because if it were too busy I think I'd get bored or annoyed with it. As it is, we just get some of the best gigs possible in my home region of the US and now in Shanghai, and love the hell out of it when we do. For me when it isn't fun anymore is when I will sell ... something, maybe an instrument or two that I don't use very much, or just take a break and give stuff away. I just realized that the money really is not the measure for me; it's more about how I'm magnetized toward playing string quartets with great players, making events extra special with our music and personalities, just making this happen. It's not an easy thing to be a string quartet player. I would imagine it's one of the hardest ensembles to make work, after suffering with some difficult situations in the first few quartets I ever played in my life. But for me now it's kind of like breathing. I just have to do it and it feels pretty good. I think our enthusiasm and love for the clients always carries us along. Luckily I also really enjoy teaching which pays more bills than the quartet playing. It would be great if Muckwork could help manage some of the difficulties of logistics in the future!
I really loved reading this post and how you came to your final decision. The "Is it time to quit?" question applies to so many different things in life.
Derek,
I fully understand. I have changed professions several times. You have to be true to yourself. The new system will work out and no transition can be expected to flow perfectly. You made the decision that you need to make to take care of you and yours. You've gotta do that in life.
Although I am happy for you I have not been happy with CD baby or FILM baby since you left. I have received 2 miniscule payments from on line distribution from CD baby from an album that had quite a bit of airplay, and film baby cant get it together to keep or send back my dvds and sends me an email every week and still never returned the merchandise. I dont know that the company you sold CD baby to actually audits itunes and such to see if the payouts are even correct. I really wish I did tune core and now I cant switch.
Cheers for that post Derek. I also wondered why you sold up and funnily enough its a good lesson for more than just selling a company-leaving a project or a band or a country for that matter.
As for the matter of quality service from the people you sold CD baby to, I'd have to agree with the previous comment. Though my wee cd isn't a huge money maker, I was informed that the five copies sold out and dutyfully sent more but have yet to see any returns.
Great insight on a really tough question from someone who has been there. Thanks Derek.
I wonder if the other bidder could have done a better job than the current operator? They don't respond to emails! To me that shows no concern for their suppliers at all. I am sorry they didn't keep the code you so carefully created. The new site sucks
Dear Derek, The secret of your success seems to be that you're a musician/artist 1st and a business person 2nd. Your employees,clients and customers felt heard.Your aesthetic,clear web design gave an excellent presentation. I wondered if you counseled with any women when you were making your cd baby decision? It's not necessarily that the opinions would have been different or have lead you to a another conclusion-just a chance perhaps to create more balance. Thank you for your well-run,cared for company. It really did set a high standard. All the best to you! K. Osgood
— Derek
All my best friends are women, so I get lots of that perspective.
Like most of us who have come to know and admire you, we are happy for you and you are missed being Mr. CDBABY. From what I read of the disappointments of the new owners you are a great loss to what we all were proud to be apart of....derek@cdbaby.com
Well Derek, it seems to me that you are happy with your decision, and in the end thats what matters. Muckworks looks like fun! So go to it...
What will I do if someone offer to buy my business? I would not sell my company, the main reason i started the company was to have the freedom to do what I want and to have something I could pass on to my kids. I do not want someone coming behind me a change what I started which have happen to CD Baby.
Brilliant. Right now I'm wondering whether I should stick with my PhD program or quit, and I think it's a similar sort of situation...
When I found CDBaby, I was thrilled. It had everything I wanted. Derek, you were such a father hen to us budding CD Artists. I miss that family feeling, but I am glad you are still here keeping us feeling cared about. You have taken on a guru role to me! I am sorry CDBaby has not lived up to your vision, but all good things must come to an end. Any suggestions for other outlets? I've been trying to find one but have been unsuccessful..Thanks for being there!!
Life is an artist who paints us with experience..
When the day finally comes that you decide to sell Muckwork... please make it a condition of sale that they keep your "back end"... ;o)
I always love to hear about your journey and choices you make. Thank you for sharing Derek!
:)
Jen Vazquez
I've always enjoyed freelancing, but I need a stable job so I like my company regardless.
I'll be honest I was shoked when I found out. I was hoping the person that took over would not be a nut. A nut about money only, because I was going to leave cdbaby. Later, I realized the company that purchased cdbaby was a company I was dealing with. I love their service and I decided to stay. Derek I am happy that you are doing what you want. I remembered asking you years ago about doing your own music again. Your music is what you are doing.
Paula
wise decision. difficult and wise!
Love the comparisons to breakups and moving, reminded me of the example one of my mentors used to describe the feeling of actually letting go (she's from Italy):
"When you take me to the airport, we will hug and say goodbye, and even though we know we'll meet again, we'll be sad as I walk away and you walk back to your car. And then, you will turn the key in the ignition, and there will come the moment when you drive away and won't look back. You know that I am on my way and you are on yours."
I know what you mean Derek, I have a music publishing company, and do not have employees, the responsibilities are enormous. I fully agree with the final chart, things are so, not only for companies but it's life that is so ... Bye.
Absolutely fascinating and inspiring. I wondered where the "CD Baby loves...." went, but didn't put two and two together. Now, the story told, it makes sense and shows change and insight in many ways. Having personally left a six figure income to take a position at half the income, it became very apparent that neither enthusiasm nor motivation are linearly related to what you receive financially for your effort. Burn out? Not a chance. Re-birth? Perhaps. Spiritual expansion? Definitely. Although I cannot say that I don't miss the personalized format you exuded at CD Baby, I can say that you have expanded your horizons at a time when most have watched theirs diminish to an almost unbearable twilight. Thank you for taking the time to write and share this thought provoking experience, one which will give pause to the vast majority who read it.
Well I just learned today that CDBaby changed hands two years ago. I'm a little shocked, but now at least I know what was behind some of the changes. I don't visit as much, but I still find some awesome music there from time to time. I must say when I found CDBaby for the first time I really thought it was a website/service that I should have developed. Happy Trails ... it must be nice to roam again.
When I bought CD's from CD Baby I received nice mail saying: the CD was carefully taken from the shelf put on a linen pillow and packed for deliver to me in Sweden. It was a very nice way to meet me as a customer, I haven't met anything like that before. You did a good job - relax & enjoy life. Gunnar
It was always a nice experience dealing with CDBaby and Derek, enjoy life instead of looking back my friend, Gunnar edholm.
I didn't follow this story as it was happening, but it seems you really grew personally when you were able to let go and re-align yourself with your passions. The NPR bit makes it all sound so easy!
Still, this is insanely incredible. And encouraging.
I listened to your audio book. It taught me a lot. Thanks Derek.
Hi Derek, the life cycle diagram reminds me of the book "Crossing the chasm" by Geoffrey Moore. When we started our company reading it was an eye opener. One point Geoffrey makes is that there is a deep chasm between the early adapters and the mainstream. He describes how small companies struggle with crossing it and gives inspiration how to do this succesfully. Great Book. Best regards, Frank
Derek, this article is very interesting because I have shared the exact same feeling before. A total loss of interest in a career I so passionately dedicated my life too. The rough economic times have provided the stimulus I needed in being laid off to just move on.
I believe sometimes God gives us these changes in feelings because it is in fact "time to move on". He has so much that He would like us to accomplish in life. Cheers to your being able to let go. I am still in the process of entirely moving on emotionally. Detachment takes time! :)
Derek,
I found your site because I did a search on Jared Rose. Jared was my coach, too, and I've been trying to reach him for months. Do you have any contact information on Jared?
Thanks!
Donna
Yep! See twitter and LinkedIn — Derek
It's pretty rare for an entrepreneur to be the best person to lead a company at all stages of the life cycle in the diagram shown above.
It's even rarer for an entrepreneur to realise that and step aside. Good stuff.
Great lesson from an entrepreneur!
And the latest insult from the new jerk management at CDBABY .... an "Overstock Notification" from these jackasses! Sounds like Discmakers has really Romneyized the company ... I am pulling all my CDs and contracts out ...
I was a fan of CD Baby, but when you left it fell down bigtime. In 2013, musicians are seeking an alternative to CD Baby which suffers from many issues now including:
-pop ups at log-in, slow and insulting, basically just another ad
-engineering ability to apply credits efficiently, require customer input at every action if not primary domain
-engineering ability to update groups
-ability to provide full clips so folks know what they're buying, duh
-rising cost, too expensive in relationship to industry economy
-seeking to ship CDs back to customer, and at customer's expense, double penalty, holding only 1 cd? no sense
-incomplete uploads, follow-ups to ensure upload at partner sites
-off-shoot Hostbaby is too expensive, inflexible
We need a new digital portal to get music out, because CD Baby is steady failing.
Thanks Derek
Here's an update: Afer several attemps via email, I spoke with customer service in-person, horrible. It's old school, get-your-money BS, wait, speak, get passed, speak again, get insulted, get lied to, get advertised to in insulting ways, etc. None of the issues folks are worried about have been corrected. Later a supervisor of some kind called "Tyler" e-mailed me from the clouds their head is stuck in. None of my concerns, new/old, had been passed along to this person accurately and all I got back is basically a money grab. They want money and that's it, bottom line. As much as we make, they want it and more. They don't give a hoot about artists, and only so much about PR. They try to justify their positions with weak rhetoric BS that's see-thru. They're pulling crap at YouTube, on their site, everywhere there's dirty money to tap and take. CD Baby is rotten to the core now. Ten years ago, I never thought I'd say this, but CD Baby Sucks! My list has grown to double when including the new things I've seen and learned since last post. I discussed this with music folks last night. It may be time to pull everything from CD Baby and leave. It mirrors the US justice system now, corrupt, too big for its own britches, anything but just. Dude, they've done worse than kill your baby, they've given it to Obama/Bush INC.
It's done. The 4 projects I work with are now deleted from CD Baby. They trashed our CDs, our music and our faith. They refuse to refund anything. CD Baby went from great to scum in a decade. They've got too many crooks and not enough chef's in their kitchen. We'll send them an invoice though. Thanks Derek for the good times before Greedy Baby.
After CD Baby morphed into Greedy Baby and sold it's soul, we tried MondoTunes....BAD MOVE! We went from the land of lame to just plain lost. Horrible. Just horrible. What's with all of these crap "distributors"? It doesn't seem like there is an honest outfit anywhere to be found. We can only hope that the retailers will open avenues for the artists to directly sell thru and lose these corrupt middlemen. thanks for the rant-time.
Great article as usual. Thanks, Derek.
Thanks for sharing your story.. I have just started reading your blog and will be buying few of your book titles., can you pls. suggest me with which titles to start with, it would help ., thanks , keep up the good work, Derek ! ., cheers, Ashwin
The books at the top of the list are my top recommendations. They're sorted in order of my rating. See my “RATING” under the title. Start here: sive.rs/book">sive.rs/book">sive.rs/book — Derek
Thnx a lot ...
I thought it was very interesting that you weren't interested in the projects that you started. I see why you sold your business.
Hello everybody,
I dislike the comment right above, #225 by Kyra W.
Unlike Kyra., some good folks merely lack the self-discipline to read. Like the ones who failed to note the word "stop" in Derek's post " how to stop being rich and successful," or the innocents who failed to read his CD Baby mail outs and would enthusiastically respond asking about something that was in the tenth sentence of the mail out.
But just like Kyra, some bad folks will lack self-responsibility. They fabricate. Web essayist Paul Graham said it is as if they look at the title and author, imagine what the author wrote, and then respond to the essay in their head.
Folks, Graham says to avoid this by crazy hurtful horror (my words) by quoting the parts you disagree with, as this at least forces you to face reality and read.
I say: You may praise what you have merely skimmed, but you may not censor or censure until you have taken the trouble to read honestly and properly.
The sin is not just hurting the writer, but in harming the community of readers.
kyra, or should I say Mr. W., writes "projects," plural. I see no past projects in the post but one, CD Baby. He writes not interested but "very interested" yet I can't help but sense this is a lie, a "sarcasm lie," as I detect from him no sign of interest.
I only sense malice.
You have followed your heart !
I RECORDED USING MY PEN NAME JAGUAR ELIJAH NEWTON A 19 SONG CD TITLED “WHERE THE GATORS GROWL” AND PAID TO PUBLISHED THEM THROUGH YOUR CD BABY COMPANY AND NOW I SEE IT ( MY ALBUM) BEING SOLD TO SEVERAL SOURCES LIKE AMAZON APPLE SPOTIFY ECT ECT… SO WHO OWNS MY BEAUTIFUL SONGS NOW??? ME OR THEM… IM NOTHING BUT THE SINGER AND WRITER TO MY SONGS WHICH TO ME ARE MY PRECIOUS BABIES AS CD BABY WAS ONCE YOUR PRECIOUS BABY… YOU WROTE YOU ALWAYS REPLY TO EVERY EMAIL… WELL HERE I AM IN LINE FOR YOUR REPLY… THANKS LOYLE NEWTON ALIAS JAGUAR ELIJAH NEWTON… MAY 03/2025…*~