| Today, there's a new trend among independent | | | | choices, retail finish quality, quick turnaround and no |
| musicians. They have started using new technologies | | | | minimum orders. The entire process of ordering, |
| including On Demand Short Run CD/DVD Production. | | | | production, packaging and shipping is automated with |
| This enables them to order smaller batches (one at a | | | | an on demand engine, enabling the management of |
| time) of CDs and DVDs online, 24/7, and then ship to | | | | thousands of unique orders. |
| customers. | | | | Jazz musician, Alaadeen said, "In order to get a good |
| The Internet has always held promise of being a new | | | | rate to manufacture CDs, I had to manufacture large |
| outlet for independent musicians, and today there are | | | | quantities. In the past, this led to excessive inventories. |
| new technologies that can help musicians get ahead. In | | | | Then, there was the distribution problem. CD On |
| addition to social media platforms like YouTube and | | | | Demand is appealing for artists." |
| Google Video among many others that allow posting | | | | With traditional CD/DVD replication services, significant |
| music clips online, some independent musicians have | | | | quantity orders are required at one time and |
| started using something called On Demand Short Run | | | | customers need a method to distribute them to the |
| CD/DVD Production, enabling them to order smaller | | | | end user. There are many situations when this does |
| batches of CDs and DVDs in real time online 24/7 and | | | | not work. The new on demand production technology |
| ship to promoters and customers, one at a time. | | | | helps people avoid the hassle of inventory, packaging |
| This platform allows artists to retain ownership of their | | | | and fulfillment; delivers custom content how, when and |
| music and all rights to any content. The on demand | | | | where a customer wants it; and automates and tracks |
| platform makes it possible for artists to sell their music | | | | order processing. |
| without manufacturing a thousand discs, so a lack of | | | | Kristin Gabriel is the marketing communications director |
| financial resources is not a determining factor as to | | | | for Acutrack, Inc. Established in 1992, Acutrack, Inc. |
| whether an artist's music is heard by the public. | | | | enables customers to create, publish and deliver |
| For example, a musician can send a finished product | | | | custom content for DVD and CD distribution |
| directly to a radio station without having to produce | | | | worldwide. Acutrack's proprietary On Demand |
| thousands of copies. Artists can provide graphics and | | | | production gives customers the ability to produce and |
| the master and CD, or the DVD orders can be filled on | | | | ship custom packaged CDs or DVDs one at a time. |
| an as needed basis. Orders can be filled for the artists, | | | | Ideal for customers who are selling downloadable |
| their distributors or for cosnumers. This makes it | | | | content and are not sure how many units to produce, |
| possible for artists to put their music out to the public | | | | On Demand takes care of inventory, packaging and |
| with little expense and no inventory. | | | | fulfillment. |
| On demand technology offers multiple packaging | | | | |