Why have a bar code on your CD?

Nerus Records will register your CD, cassette, vinyl release, video, and any other musical item on our label. But, this does not mean we acquire the rights to it! You keep all rights to your product. We generate and assign a bar code for you to put on your release. The bar code can be mailed to you on diskette or printed on plain paper, or it can be e-mailed to you as a GIF or JPEG.

Despite what you've seen offered by some CD manufacturers, it is actually illegal to sell or rent a bar code. That's why we register your release as part of the Nerus Records catalog, just like major labels do. But, unlike major labels, we don't take your rights away. We merely put our bar code on your product, meaning that you don't own the code but you still own the product itself. This is the way it must be done in order to abide by the terms of the agreement we signed when we purchased our bar codes. If you get picked up by a major, or decide to no longer use the code for any (or no) reason, you merely inform us that you no longer wish to be listed in our catalog, and we remove your product and retire the code number.

Scanning, Captain...

Soundscan needs your product to have a bar code in order to track sales. Why would you want them to do this? Because both major and indie labels subscribe to Soundscan, and if they see your product is moving there is no better way to get their attention. On top of that, Billboard Magazine uses data from Soundscan to create their famous charts. Your release will be credited for every purchase from a Soundscan retailer (which is most of the ones you'll want to carry your product.) After we receive the finished, retail-ready copy of your release, we'll register it with Soundscan for you. We have to wait until you provide us with a copy of it, or else we can be accused of submitting "phantom" releases.

So, what's the catch?

Well, you'll have to pay us to register with Nerus Records, and we will then send you the bar code. Note that we're not selling you the bar code - the fee is to register your releases with our company. This is done in order to not violate the agreement we signed with UCC, those nice people who sell the bar codes (known as UPC, or Universal Product Codes). Some manufacturers who sell you a bar code as part of a package are violating their agreement with the UCC, and you may find their codes invalid in the near future. You'll have to sign our agreement that will allow us to add you to our roster (it's in plain English, and we'll be happy to answer any questions.)

Also, you'll have to put the Nerus Records logo on your release, along with whatever other label names you'll be using.

Say What?

Take a look at a commercial CD. On most of them, you'll see two, three, or even more labels listed. You don't have to list them all on the front, or the spine. Just put it somewhere on the back, in an inconspicuous spot. We've made the Nerus logo unobtrusive for this purpose (or, you could just list Nerus Records in text on the back, if you prefer.) Your label will be listed on the Soundscan form as the sub-label, so you'll still get the proper credit.

Obviously, the best time to take advantage of this service is before you get your covers printed. But what if you've already got your product sitting there in your basement, laughing at you in their comfy cardboard boxes?

STICKERS! You can print them up using standard Avery stickers, and slap 'em right onto the back covers. Want us to do it for you?

We will, but we'd rather not. Here's why:
We'll have to charge you a lot of money - $60 plus shipping for 1000 labels. If you know how to use a word processor, and have a printer, you can do it yourself. If not, you can ask a friend and buy them a nice case of imported beer. Teach a man to fish...

But if you're really, really stuck, send us an e-mail and we'll print 'em out for you.