Independent artists can now retain complete control of their music and their money through the digital sale of their songs via a new service called TuneCore. Using TuneCore, artists can directly upload their songs, liner notes, and album art directly onto iTunes (as well as RealNetworks' Rhapsody service) for a nominal fee: A yearly maintenance charge of $7.95 per album and a one-time delivery charge of 99 cents per song. After getting their music posted, bands can monitor sales of their music and get money without losing a cut to the middleman.

Pixies frontman Frank Black is the first relatively big name to sign up for the TuneCore service. Black's manager, Ken Goes, raves about the TuneCore service in a press release: "The great thing about TuneCore is that anyone can now have their music distributed; just like Frank Black, or, for that matter, any other artist," he said. "Thanks to TuneCore, there's no need for record companies anymore. Where the hell were you 20 years ago?" Egalite, Fraternite, TuneCore.

TuneCore official site
Frank Black label site

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