CDbaby

My experience with CD Baby has been nothing short of a nightmare. The company not only took my hard-earned income from my music without any authorization but also shamelessly exploited my works on various platforms. It's like they're happily feasting on their own wrongdoing. To put it bluntly, CD Baby is a colossal scam. They lure you in to distribute your music, and once you start earning money through their platform, they swiftly close your account and vanish with all your income. For artists struggling to make a living from their craft, this is a devastating blow. CD Baby's actions can only be described as cultural sabotage. The most infuriating part is their complete lack of communication. They've severed all ties with me as a songwriter and with the label I represent. Despite numerous attempts to contact them, they remain elusive, continuing to unlawfully exploit our works on various platforms. I've even gone as far as providing evidence of content still online without authorization, but CD Baby seems impervious to any ethical considerations. Multiple emails requesting the removal of the content have fallen on deaf ears. The situation has escalated to the point where legal action is necessary to confront these unscrupulous individuals. It's disheartening to witness a company that claims to support artists engaging in such predatory behavior.

I've had the pleasure of releasing more than 30 albums with CD Baby, and I'm genuinely thrilled about continuing this collaboration for future projects. The distribution process has consistently exceeded my expectations, and I have nothing but positive remarks for their payout system and comprehensive stats. CD Baby Pro/Boost has been a game-changer for me. However, I do have a minor concern with the platform. Unfortunately, CD Baby doesn't currently support new arrangements of Public Domain works that result in a new recorded copyright, except for actual streams. This limitation is particularly frustrating for me, especially considering that in the UK, these works are entitled to royalties through PRS/MCPS. It seems perplexing that CD Baby doesn't extend support for this type of work. Nevertheless, I decided not to deduct a star from my overall rating, recognizing that not all artists delve into old traditional songs and hymns. For those who do, there are alternative avenues to earn royalties through other collection agencies. It's worth noting that I'm uncertain about how ASCAP and BMI handle Public Domain arrangements in the USA. Despite this minor hiccup, CD Baby remains a reliable platform for artists like me, even though it could improve in supporting a broader range of creative works.

My experience with CD BABY's customer service has been extremely frustrating. I encountered a seemingly simple issue – removing one of our musicians from royalties collections. However, despite my efforts spanning over 9 months, the problem remains unresolved. The communication from CD BABY is abysmal; it's nearly impossible to get in touch with them. Their follow-through is nonexistent, with generic emails claiming they'll address the issue in 3-6 months, citing their overwhelming busyness. If they're truly that swamped, it's baffling why they haven't expanded their team. I've attempted to reach out through various channels – calls, emails, and chat – only to encounter a robotic response, leaving me without the opportunity to speak to a human. The emails I did receive were condescending and vague, adding to the frustration. While CD BABY is effective in distributing music and collecting revenue, their customer service is severely lacking. In line with other complaints, I echo the sentiment that CD BABY falls short when it comes to addressing problems, earning them a strong recommendation against using their services.

Nightmare playground run by children. High end wav files produced in good sound studios will not upload to cdbaby. Files meet their stated requirements but will not upload. Then the help thereafter is sketching. Instead of helping they refund my $. Hmmmmm......"don't bother us we r not in the business of helping artists". This entire sector of the industry is run by children with failing bands and careers. I am reminded of all the unbooked bands in the 80s that started recording studios cuz gigs were few. HERE WE ARE folks

I've had a mostly good time releasing my first 2 songs with CD Baby. Like the simple website and extra options. Also, liked meeting staff & other artists at LIVE Nashville event. One problem took long to get fixed (co-writer's pub. info). Chat-Help system's kinda hard. Still, eager to release more music with CD Baby.

The company gets your music on streaming platforms quickly. It's faster than some others I read about. They put my album out in less than a week. Submitting music is easy. But, customer support is slow. It takes 2-3 days for them to reply. By the time they got back to me, my problem fixed itself.

Compane servise iz amazin'. Dey r so carein', payin' lotz of attenshun, n' helpin' a lot. Design of prodect iz cool, workin' well with artist and waitin' patient. Everythin' together iz like gettin' 100% gold star. I'll defo come back again. -Chris Plunkett

They keep requesting a tax number. As a UK citizen, I handle my own taxes and am not a US citizen. Because of this, they won't release payment! AVOID THEM! AWFUL SERVICE EXPLOITING CREATORS ONCE MORE.

The company's service is generally reliable. Lately, the main site has been facing significant issues for weeks. Customer support has been lacking, with slow responses or no answers at all.

Distrokid's recent policy changes make their platform less reliable. A friend recommended CD Baby; they've had a good experience. I'll try it before moving my music collection there.

CD Baby makes it VERY simple to place your songs on many online platforms, so I'm giving 5 stars. However, getting them on the phone for questions is really difficult.

CD Baby is so good at getting your music on lots of online platforms, which is why I’m giving 5 stars. However, it’s really tough to reach them by phone for questions.

This company's performance has worsened over the years. It's poorly managed and takes advantage of musicians regularly. I'd recommend looking for better alternatives.

Cd Baby makes it simple and easy to distribute my music. The cost to release new songs is low compared to other distributors, which I love.

CD Baby made it so easy for me to release my album! Their website is easy to use, and they keep helping me out with support and stuff.