Current radio airplay is a strong negotiating factor in securing the services of a record distributor, and makes their job of working with retailers much easier. An artist or band that is currently on tour in support of their record helps a distributor sell records to their retail accounts. The most important selling point a record label has when talking to a distributor is that they have a recording artist that makes really good music. Without a back catalog of consistent sellers, a start-up label will have a difficult time convincing distributors and stores to carry their product. Getting paid by a distributor is the easiest part of dealing with a distributor.
Distributors help retail accounts get advertising in the print and broadcast media.
Music Sales Answers False. Nothing could be farther from the truth. At the mid-point of the 1990's, there has never been a time in music business history when there has been such a glut of CD's and Tapes feeding into the food chain of music distributing and retailing. It is the job of the artist and their record label to convince the distributors and the stores that there is a viable market for their music. Return to questions False.