Originally Posted by Jody Whitesides

Talking about the UPC thing for a moment. Now, there's an issue. One cannot take the UPC code they get from a 3rd party company like CD Baby and then go make up another barcode number based on the prefix. Why? Because that prefix is registered to CD Baby (the RIAA does not create UPC codes). If an artist or Wa-Tunes reused that prefix with another number for another release without checking with the company they got it from, to know if the new barcode was in use already, there would become an issue with products carrying the same barcode. MAJOR problem, it would be fraudulent use of a barcode.

Each prefix is good for 9999 releases of a particular product category. I know as I have my own UPC setup from the UCC. Those setups/prefixes cost money, big money compared to when I purchased mine - the price has gone up considerably. Each setup/prefix is registered to the person/company that bought the prefix. Then there's the 9999 variants to use per prefix. I highly doubt CD Baby or any third party reseller is spending over $750 for a UPC setup/prefix to give to an artist for $20 (that would be bad business). Thus if this is how Wa-Tunes is doing things in terms of 3rd party barcodes, reusing a 3rd party prefix and creating a new product number - I wouldn't go advertising that. Here is CD Baby's FAQ on barcodes: http://cdbaby.net/barcode


You're getting prefixes confused with the manufacturer code. The prefix number is the first digit which is assigned to CD Baby. However, the first 6 digits is assigned to the manufacturer (or the artist) and is not assigned nor is it recorded to CD Baby in SoundScan. The next 5 digits is the product number followed by the last check digit.

However you are right, this does present a problem if CD Baby users were use to the prefix (or even the manufacturer code) using our system. In WaTunes case, we don't advertise our ability to do that for we provide our customers with our own prefixes/manufacturer codes free of charge. Our UPC system is designed for anyone who has their own unique code to simply place the product code and generate their own UPCs easily.

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As for speed of a service, I'm probably a bad example, usually happens within 2 weeks for me (for iTunes). And I mistyped. CD Baby declares a minimum of 3 weeks to a max of 4 months - but they're referring to all the companies they deal with.

I realize that CD Baby is the recognized leader of sales in the non-signed music world. I realize they are the company to shoot down when another company competing in the non-signed music business is working on comeuppance. They didn't get to that position by screwing people or being misleading. I applaud you Kevin for working on being upfront and clarifying about things.


Places like CD Baby, the Orchard, IODA, and TuneCore are big-ups to compete in the digital-music market. However, I have bigger plans regarding them that may actually benefit them and WaTunes in one go.


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