Service Requirements for Labels and Producers

For US Record Companies and Producers

CDs

DDK accepts and will distribute promotional CDs from both Indy and Major labels in the following categories and amounts without prior clearance:

  • All High Energy Formats including Top 40 / Dance / Techno / House etc. - 60 CDs required.
  • Urban / Rap / Hip Hop / Reggae etc. - 30 CDs required.

WE DO NOT ACCEPT QUANTITIES LESS THAN THOSE LISTED ABOVE. We accept only high quality duplicated or replicated CDs. No PC burns. All CDs must be properly labeled with Artist / Title information, label name and copyright info. If you do not have CD product we can have the duplications and labeling done for you for a minimal fee.

MP3s

Due to the huge volume of material being sent our way via e-mail and download services (20 to 30 per day) we have found that we no longer have the time to download and listen to all of the material that is sent to us. We have also found that keeping track of the material we do download is very time consuming if the files are not named properly.

After a year or so of “e-blasts” we have found that they simply don’t work very well unless they are coordinated with a physical service of product.

We have found that simply passing on every MP3 we are sent is a waste of our time. People just don’t have the time to download and listen to the volume of music that is coming in. That said, we will distribute MP3s on what we deem to be worthwhile projects but we will screen all product we send out.

To have your track considered:

  • E-mail a download link or send via YouSendIt.com or Sendspace.com etc. (we prefer these because we can use the links to pass them on) to mp3s@dancekings.com.
  • MP3 attachments will be deleted unless we are contacted first. We do not respond to ‘e-blasts’ or spam. Period.
  • Any MP3 sent to any other address will be deleted.
  • Include ALL of your contact information (name, address, phone, e-mail address, etc.) along with artist, title and mix information in the body of your e-mail.
  • TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS: The lowest quality we will accept for service to our members is an encoding bitrate of 192kbps . We recommend 320kbps.
  • Include in the file name "Artist" - "Title" ("Mix").mp3.
    e.g., 'Artist - Title (Radio Edit).mp3'
  • MOST IMPORTANTLY: You must include specific language stating that you are or represent the copyright owner, and that you give DDK specific permission to distribute the MP3 to our list of DJs and in fact request that we do so. See "Domestic MP3 Release Form" below.

If we feel that the track has value to our members we will pass on a YouSendIt or Sendspace type link. We will NOT send our members directly to your website and we will not send an MP3 attachment to our list.

Other options include posting on our download site (we only upload 3 to 5 tracks a week) or inclusion on our bi-weekly MP3 disc. There is a small fee associated with these two options. Please contact (link to contact page) us for details.

In all circumstances we must have explicit permission from the copyright holder to distribute the MP3. Click here for our Domestic MP3 release form. It can be faxed, scanned or cut and pasted into your e-mail.

Side note: In every MP3 file, there is a feature (ID3 tags, v1 or v2) to include the Artist, Title, Mix, BPM, Genre, and many other attributes and info on the song that is encoded. We suggest that you put as much information there as you can.

If you are serious about your project, we strongly suggest servicing a CD single. If you need help with that we may be able to assist you with manufacturing and distribution of singles to DDK and to other pools around the country. If you’d like to see a brief analysis of CD vs MP3 promotion, click here.

For International Record Companies and Producers

We will gladly service our members with import product as a test at no charge. If you would like your material serviced to our list please contact us.

We service high energy dance product from labels around the world via MP3 or CD. CD material can be shipped directly to us. We require 60 pieces. Paper sleeves are fine. If you would like to send a single CD and have us duplicate the 60 copies on the end for a small fee, we would need a single copy to use as your master, your label copy as a text file, your logo as a JPEG, and our International release form filled out, signed and returned by fax or scanned and e-mailed.

To have your track considered:

  • E-mail a download link or send via YouSendIt.com, Sendspace.com etc. to mp3s@dancekings.com. Please put "Attention DDK" in the subject to differentiate your product from the spam.
  • MP3 attachments will be deleted unless we are contacted first. We do not respond to ‘e-blasts’ or spam. Period.
  • Any MP3 sent to any other address will be deleted.
  • Include ALL of your contact information (name, address, phone, e-mail address, etc.) along with artist, title and mix information in the body of your e-mail.
  • TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS: The lowest quality we will accept for service to our members is an encoding bitrate of 192kbps . We recommend 320kbps.
  • Include in the file name "Artist" - "Title" ("Mix").mp3.
    e.g., 'Artist - Title (Radio Edit).mp3';

If we feel that the track has value to our members we will pass on a YouSendIt or Sendspace type link. We will NOT send our members directly to your website and we will not send an MP3 attachment to our list.

Other options include posting on our download site (we only upload 3 to 5 tracks a week) or inclusion on our bi-weekly MP3 disc. There is a small fee associated with these two options. Please contact (link to contact page) us for details.

In all circumstances we must have explicit permission from the copyright holder to distribute the MP3. Click here for our International MP3 release form. It can be faxed, scanned or cut and pasted into your e-mail.

Side note: In every MP3 file, there is a feature (ID3 tags, v1 or v2) to include the Artist, Title, Mix, BPM, Genre, and many other attributes and info on the song that is encoded. We suggest that you put as much information there as you can.

If you are serious about promoting your project in the US, we strongly suggest servicing a CD single. If you wish to avoid shipping hassles and expenses, we can assist you with manufacturing and distribution of singles to the DDK members, the entire roster of pools that report to the DJ Times National Crossover Dance Chart, The Billboard reporting panel and Radio and Satellite mixers across the USA.

If you'd like to see a brief analysis of CD vs MP3 promotion, click here.

DDK will distribute import product to our key clubs and DJs including XM and Sirius Satellite, DMX, Music Choice, AOL Music and many others and will provide the labels with a brief evaluation regarding the products potential in the US market. Please note that is note an in depth analysis, but it does give us a good idea of the tracks potential in the US.

Our sister company DSW also provides servicing to the DJ Times and FMQB reporting record pools as well as the Billboard Dance Club Play chart reporters. Click here for more information.