Dying giraffe Faq

Dying Giraffe Recordings is an online promotion and distribution platform for independent bands, national and international, as well as a record label that actively scouts bands and puts music on the market.

Dying Giraffe Recordings is especially there for the so-called ‘Do It Yourself’ bands. Instead of focusing on the commercial side, which often interferes with artistic freedom, we focus on supporting the creative process and freedom.

The bands are offered a free artist’s page in our online platform, which they can use to advertise themselves, possibly in addition to their own website. In this page all relevant information is given about the band, including contact information and a discography. Besides, a number of free MP3s can be played and downloaded for publicity reasons.

This platform is non-exclusive, so bands are also allowed to promote and sell their music elsewhere. There is no transfer of rights to us and the proceeds of the each CD sold are divided in all reasonableness (see also below).

As already said, we distinguish between the promotion and distribution platforms, which were set up to offer bands an opportunity to promote and sell their music via a central place, and our record label. As a record label, we actively look for bands to release their music. Often it concerns DIY bands, but with sufficient potential for us to be interested in it as a label. The form of the investment depends on the possibilities and mutual wishes. Releasing the music under the Dying Giraffe Recordings label is elaborated for each project individually. It goes without saying that we listen carefully to all the music that is submitted. In addition, we give free web space to all bands to promote their band, which from our perspective is also an investment.

All bands interested can send their material to us, in first instance an up-to-date biography and some representative music, preferably 3 songs, so that we can get a good impression. Submission can be done via e-mail or post. After we have assessed the music we contact the band to include the band in the platform in case of a positive assessment or to discuss other possibilities.

For the band page on our website we need:

- an English-language biography (brief but clear)
- contact information (website and e-mail address of the band)
- survey of the discography
- CD cover image (200 x 200 pixels)
- at least 2 tracks for publicity purposes (minimum 192 kbps)*

* The band agrees that the tracks submitted are offered for downloading free of charge. The rights of ownership and exploitation may not be transferred to any third parties such as producers, record labels and copyright organisations. The work submitted must be original; if not, the explicit permission of the original composer of the music is required.

Dying Giraffe Recordings works according to the “try before you buy” principle. From experience we know that visitors often click to other bands on our platform. In order to offer our visitors, our potential customers, a good impression of the music, we offer them a number of tracks so that they are aware what kind of music a band plays so that they can make the right choice when deciding to buy the CD.

Internet is an open medium, which makes it easy and efficient for most bands and small labels to use the internet for the presentation, promotion and distribution of their music, in contrast to the traditional music industry which is mostly closed off, which implies that a lot of music is never released and thus never reaches the public’s ears.

Ever since the start of the internet there has been a large group of music lovers that use the internet to find new music. Mostly this is music that is much more interesting and creative than the (very) commercial work. This is the audience that is of interest to DIY bands to become better known and to develop further.

First of all Dying Giraffe Recordings respect and accept all kinds of Creative Commons licenses. We are not the one to tell musicians which license they should choose. It's their decision, not ours. But a lot of musicians want to earn some money with their music. And if they want to distribute and sell it through Dying Giraffe Recordings, we recommend musicians to choose a "non-commercial" license. According to the license no one but the artist himself is allowed to use the music for commercial purposes. Based on this license and a license agreement between Dying Giraffe Recordings and the musician, he/she allows us to use and sell his/her work.

As a record label, we are in favour of Creative Commons licences, precisely because we are mostly focused on the promotion and distribution of music through the internet, which because of the copyright organisation is very hard to realize.

For us the creativity and freedom of bands come first, in contrast to the big and powerful media companies and affiliated companies which have commercial interests and nonsensical regulations as their first priority, which impedes creativity and culture.

In principle, culture is accessible to everyone, but as a result of the dominance and arrogant attitude of this type of companies it becomes something exclusive if we don’t watch out. The interests of these companies extend so far that they even define the rules for the culture makers and consumers, therefore also for those that wish to work and function outside that system.

Many bands working with Dying Giraffe Recordings are aware of this problem, since it is the non-commercial acts that suffer most from this situation. Therefore, they opt consciously for Dying Giraffe Recordings and a Creative Commons licence, enabling them their freedom, control and distribution of their music, without being bothered by interests and regulations. Indeed, a musician primarily wants to make music, enjoy it and interest other music lovers in it.

There are some things you should be aware of. Creative Commons licences are of unlimited duration, so once a work that is licensed here it can no longer be changed. Registering this work with a copyright organisation is not possible either, as a result of which, as is currently the case, no royalties can be received for airplay.

However, the advantage is that this licence form is a legal way of free distribution through the internet, which is interesting to many acts for promotion reasons. The internet offers many promotion possibilities, for instance through podcasts or internet radio stations, in contrast to the “physical” world where radio stations hardly play music that is not sufficiently commercial or hyped.

Although Creative Commons is becoming better known all the time and is used more often, many musicians and record labels still have some problems with this licence form, which is understandable.

Therefore we suggest in any case either not to license 2 or 3 songs (including with a copyright organisations) or to license them under Creative Commons so that we can use these songs for promotional purposes. Of course, these songs do not have to come from the album or EP, they can be b-sides or representative work. This makes it possible to license the album or the EP with a particular copyright organisation.

By the way, the copyrights always stay with the composer if you choose for Creative Commons. More information about Creative Commons can be found at Creativecommons.org and for the Dutch branch at Creativecommons.nl

Dying Giraffe Recordings likes working with independent bands and with record labels. The online platform is non-exclusive and any rights of ownership and copyright are not transferred to us. However, the promotional tracks must not be placed with a copyright organisation. A solution here could be the so-called b-sides or work that has not been released before.

In case a record label is also interested in physical distribution in the Benelux, exclusivity does apply, providing that no other distributor is active in the same market where that particular is being distributed. It is important that the music is sufficiently and effectively promoted so that it becomes interesting for the record to be sold in record shops, etc.

Sales prices are inclusive of VAT and administrative and shipping costs. In order to make CDs as attractive as possible for the consumers, we try to offer them at sharp prices, without the proceeds becoming too low for the bands. On the contrary, the compensation is higher in comparison to other parties.

We offer albums for € 8.50, of which the band receives € 3. Dying Giraffe Recordings receives € 2. The remaining amount is administrative, shipping costs and VAT.

We offer EPs for € 6.55, of which the band receives € 2. Dying Giraffe Recordings receives € 1.50. The remaining amount is administrative shipping costs and VAT.

In principle, good music sells itself. However, the higher the price, the more picky and uncertain consumers become. If the price is attractive, the consumer will be sooner inclined to purchase a CD, thus generating higher sales and total proceeds.

Besides, the public at large is not familiar with many bands (the internet is a worldwide medium). High sales prices will chase away consumers. On the other hand, low prices will make it worthwhile to purchase a CD and get to know a band.

No, the available downloads are only intended for promotional purposes and not for sale. Our distribution takes places through the mail order system. Consumers buying the CD are sent the CD by post.

We supply directly from the Netherlands to the consumer, irrespective of the country that they live in. In the end, the time of delivery is dependent on the structure of the postal services in the country in question, so the delivery times listed below should be regarded as guidelines. Our experience is that orders arrive more quickly than is stated.

within the Netherlands	1 - 3 working days
within Europe	2 – 5 working days
outside Europe	3 – 21 working days

* this information was provided by third parties.