[HANASHIR:14824] RE: business questions

[Blank, Emily Celia <eblank...>]

Mazel tov on the album Shira!  I'm looking forward to purchasing it.
Emily Blank
 
Economics Department, Howard University
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Shira Kline [mailto:shirlalala (at) earthlink(dot)net] 
Sent: Wednesday, July 09, 2003 11:35 AM
To: hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
Subject: [HANASHIR:14823] business questions
 
Hey everybody,
I'm gearing up to put out my first album (I'll send out more information
later!)
 
I'm producing this independently, not with a record label.
My designer and printer have requested my UPC number.  I checked on line
about how to do this and discovered the whole world of UPC numbers, bar
codes.  I know many of you out there have tons of experience with this.  
 
Is it true that:
A UPC bar code is required if you want to sell the CDs through a distributor
or at a store?
The only way to acquire a UPC number is through the Uniform Code Council?
 
Its a pretty steep cost, minimum $750 membership and then a smaller anual
fee.
I see that everyone has a bar code on your CD, did you all go through the
UCC and become a member and pay this big fee?  I know that if you are on a
label the label takes care of all that, but what about you independent
recording people?
 
Also, do you know if it is required to have a sales tax when you sell the
CD?  I understand that distributors and retailers take care of that for
themselves, but what about when I sell the CDs to individuals?
 
What is a catalog number?  The designer asked about this, didn't know what
to tell him...
 
This is my first time and my intro to the business world, any help, advice,
comments would be a tremondous help for me.  Thank you!!!!
You can email me privately if you like at shirlalala (at) earthlink(dot)net
<mailto:shirlalala (at) earthlink(dot)net> 
 
Shira Kline
shirlalala (at) earthlink(dot)net <mailto:shirlalala (at) earthlink(dot)net> 
Why Wait? Move to EarthLink.