How do iTunes sales work?

[El_Mero_Mero]

I see that most singles are sold at $1.29.

Lets say if a "truly independent" rapper records a song in his home-studio and puts a song on iTunes and somehow manages to sell 50,000 digital copies (through word-of-mouth and marketing).

50,000 x 1.29 = $64,500

Since he did it on his own, and the marketing was a separate expense, how much of that $64,500 can he expect to get paid after iTunes and whoever else takes a cut?

 

[SleezyBigSlim]

I see that most singles are sold at $1.29.

Lets say if a "truly independent" rapper records a song in his home-studio and puts a song on iTunes and somehow manages to sell 50,000 digital copies (through word-of-mouth and marketing).

50,000 x 1.29 = $64,500

Since he did it on his own, and the marketing was a separate expense, how much of that $64,500 can he expect to get paid after iTunes and whoever else takes a cut?

Apple takes 30% of every sale made on there app store, I'm pretty sure it's the same way with itunes. An independent artist will only have to split the profit with Apple, a signed artist ain't really eating off that unless they sell alot. The label only get 70% then everybody velse and there mama gets in on that before the artist does. Apple is the wealthiest company in the world worth nearly 3 quarters of a trillion $$$$ and one of the reasons why is music. They beat the music industry at their own game brehs.

 

[Optimus Prime]

an artist makes 70 cents per song before label/publishing take their cut. If he's independent i guess he/she would take all of that 70 cents...

 

[Nomadum]

http://www.quora.com/How-much-does-an-independent-artist-make-on-a-0-99-iTunes-track-sale

$0.70

If you submit the track to iTunes yourself, you make $0.70 and apple
keeps the rest. But you have to be a registered distributor.

If you go through a company like Tunecore (http://www.tunecore.com/
)
you pay an up-front fee (usually ~$40) and get to keep all the
royalties ($0.70 for US sales and different amounts for other
territories).

Edited to include;
Try researching bandcamp, as they have a service that allows indie artists to sell their music to the public. I am not sure of the percentage they'll take.

you could also look into setting up a personal website and paypal payment to remove the middle man even more, but then you run into the situation of "How to promote your track to a wide audience".

 

[El_Mero_Mero]

Thanks, I feel as if though people would more readily buy something off iTunes rather than off a new artist's website though. They probably feel more comfortable with it

 

[Nomadum]

Thanks, I feel as if though people would more readily buy something off iTunes rather than off a new artist's website though. They probably feel more comfortable with it

that's true, was just tossing out other options in case you felt Apple took too much of a percentage off sales.

 

[El_Mero_Mero]

Props for the info.

What other forums are out there where they discuss more about the world of independent artists and such?

The Coli got too many Young Thug and Drake threads (And I don't even hate those rappers)

 

[Nomadum]

Props for the info.

What other forums are out there where they discuss more about the world of independent artists and such?

The Coli got too many Young Thug and Drake threads (And I don't even hate those rappers)

to be honest homie I can't tell you off the top of my head. most my indie knowledge comes from hitting google, reading articles and books.