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Endcaps and Listening Posts:

In retail, getting your disc to stand out isn't always that easy. Certain key stores offer endcaps and/or listening posts that are vital tools in getting noticed by customers. Endcaps are placed in high traffic areas and display selected titles and posters. Listening stations give the customers a chance to sample your disc before buying. Often this is the best way to introduce yourself to a potential fan. Both endcaps and listening posts are usually accompanied with a product buy-in to be displayed prominently in the store.

Soundscan:

Soundscan is a New York based company which tracks retail sales from approximately 17,000 stores in the United States. The compiled data is used to create charts of the industry's top-selling artists. Billboard charts, for example, are calculated using Soundscan data. Major and independent labels also use Soundscan reports to help scout out top-selling artists in particular regions or genres.

New Artist Direct is able to register independent releases with Soundscan so that any sale from a Soundscan reporting retailer is credited to the artist. Using Soundscan, New Artist Direct is able to monitor artists' sales nationwide.

EAN.UCC Barcode:

In order to be considered for distribution in major retail outlets, all items must carry a barcode following EAN.UCC standards. EAN.UCC barcodes consist of eleven digits plus a check digit. The first six digits establish the manufacturer's identification. Digits seven through eleven indicate the individual product number. The eleventh digit for sound recordings also indicates the item's format (for example, all CD barcodes have an eleventh digit of 2). The final digit of the code is a check digit and is used to determine if a scanning device read the barcode correctly or not.

New Artist Direct is capable of generating and assigning EAN.UCC barcodes for releases by independent artists and labels. The assigned barcode will be supplied in the form of a .pdf and/or .gif file on a PC formatted disc compatible with most graphic designers and disc manufacturers. New Artist Direct is also capable of printing barcode stickers to be applied directly on the completed CD.