Jane Siberry

October
2
Pay What You Want: Siberry Went First

Jane_2 If given a choice on how much to pay for music, as Radiohead will do with their next album, one might wonder how cheap or generous an act's fans might be. Jane  Siberry has an idea.
Siberry, who now goes by the name Issa, is getting $1.18 per song through her "self-determined pricing" system. She gives the listener the option to download music for free as a gift, pay the standard rate of 99 cents, pay now or pay later based on what you think of a tune.
Data from her website states that 19% of the people go for the freebie and 57% opt to pay later. Once they have the music, 80% pay 99 cents,  14% pay above suggested and 6% pay below.
Siberry even breaks down the costs of making music on her own:
STUDIO TIME
* 35-50/hour = 300/day
* So far for 33 songs: about 140 days in brussels/australia/toronto/vancouver
* Studio Patrons to date = $10,099

TOUR CD
disc = $1
sleeves = .25 (100% recycled envelope with window)

SELF-DETERMINED STORE PROTOTYPE
costs directly incurred to create model for other artists to use = $3500

SHEET MUSIC
$150/song

MP3 STORE
Set-up mp3s/artwork 10 songs = 3 hours@ $65

Sheeba, the name of the Siberry store and site, explains its philosophy:

"the principles of music are also principles for good living. expansive, generous and harmony-seeking.
goodness is a core human quality.
we are treating others as we wish be treated."


About

The Set List is written and compiled by Variety associate editor Phil Gallo. Gallo, based in Los Angeles, writes about the music business for Daily Variety and reviews concerts, television shows and theater.



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