FAQ - IndieKazoo.com

Frequently Asked Questions

About IndieKazoo

What is IndieKazoo?: IndieKazoo is a subscription-based Web application designed for independent musicians who want to sell their own original music as electronic downloads (MP3s), or as deliverable CDs, and accept payment via credit card. IndieKazoo easily integrates with your existing website, or it can be a standalone webpage that is just a music store.
What is unique about IndieKazoo?: With IndieKazoo, all the money from your music sales goes directly and instantly from your fans to you. Unlike many other services, we do not take a percentage of each of your sales.
What does it do?: IndieKazoo automates the process of building and running your own music download store. Your fans buy your music with their credit cards, and IndieKazoo automatically sends a download link once payment is confirmed by your PayPal account.

You can take credit card payments for your CDs, too; you just mail the CD to your fan once you get payment confirmation.

IndieKazoo keeps track of all of your sales, giving you a sophisticated overview of your music sales.
Is it easy?: No. Just kidding—yes, it's very easy. IndieKazoo requires no special technical knowledge, and there's nothing to install. All you need is any computer with a standard web browser. Mac, PC and Linux are all supported.
Why should I use IndieKazoo?: If you are an independent artist with albums, CDs or just loose songs you would like to sell, then IndieKazoo is for you.
How much does it cost?: Only $20/month! We think it's a tremendous value considering that your subscription can pay for itself with just a few sales.
Are there any setup fees?: No, since you actually set up your store yourself. It's easy, and you can be up and running in less than one hour after signing up.
Is there any contract or minimum commitment?: No. Your account is billed monthly, and you can cancel at any time.
Can I sell or distribute someone else's music?: No. IndieKazoo is designed specifically for independent musicians to sell their own music directly to fans. As stated in our Terms of Service, you must be the rightful owner of all music you upload to your IndieKazoo account.
I promote or resell the music of one or more artists. Can I use my IndieKazoo account to sell, resell or distribute music owned or created by someone other than myself?: No. IndieKazoo is designed specifically for independent musicians to sell their own music directly to fans. While artists may of course work with agents, managers and resellers however they choose, we require that a) the artists themselves create and administer their own accounts, and b) each account feature only one artist or band.
Can I sell or resell someone else's music via my IndieKazoo account under any circumstances?: Still no. We're strict about this in order to ensure that artists who use IndieKazoo are always in complete control of their music stores and sales revenue.
Can I sell other merchandise besides CDs?: Not at this time. However, IndieKazoo is designed to work seamlessly with your existing website and any sales you're already making through it.
Is there an age limit for creating an IndieKazoo account?: Yes. You must be at least 18 years old.
How and when do I get paid?: That's the best part. You are paid instantly each time an item is purchased! With IndieKazoo, payment goes directly from your fan to your
PayPal account.
Okay, where do I start?: Sign up here, or take the tour to learn more.

Administrative/Billing

Do I need a credit card to use IndieKazoo?: Yes. You'll need a credit card to sign up for your account and to pay the monthly subscription fee.
My contact information has changed. Where can I update it?: You can update all contact information on the Contact Info page in My Account.
I would like to cancel my account. How can I do that?: You will find a link to the account cancellation page in Account Preferences under My Account.

Creating Your Store

Can I add more tracks to an album after it has been published?: Yes, you can update your albums any time to add new releases, live tracks, and so on. However, please note that tracks can only be removed from an album once all download links for the album have expired.
Is there a maximum filesize for uploaded tracks?: Yes. To ensure compatibility with as many MP3 players as possible, MP3 files may not exceed 50MB.
What if I accidentally upload a virus?: Don't worry - we won't let you get very far if that happens. All uploaded files are scanned and automatically rejected if they contain viruses or other threats.
Is there a maximum size for each album?: Yes. To ensure that all fans are able to conveniently download their purchased albums, the maximum album size is 25 tracks.
Is there a MINIMUM album size?: No - you can even create an album containing just one track! This gives you the flexibility to package your music, album artwork and liner notes in various combinations.
I started the Album Upload Wizard but ran out time to create my album. Can I finish it later?: Yes, you can continue where you left off the next time you sign in.
What are Ungrouped Tracks?: Ungrouped Tracks are "loose" tracks which are not part of any album. To access them, select Ungrouped Tracks from the pulldown menu at the top of your Organize or Sell page. Note: Once an ungrouped track is added to an album, it is by definition no longer an ungrouped track!
How do I remove tracks from my album?: On the Organize page, select the Remove checkboxes for the tracks to be removed, then click Update Album. (This option will be disabled if there are any download links for this album which have not yet expired.) Unless the removed tracks appear in another album, you will now find them in Ungrouped Tracks.
How do I PERMANENTLY DELETE tracks from my account?: First, be aware that only Ungrouped Tracks can be permanently deleted. To do so, choose Ungrouped Tracks from the pulldown menu on the Organize page, select the checkbox next to each track to be deleted, then click Delete Selected.
I prefer not to list a "Release Date" for my album. Is this possible?: Yes. On the Organize page, just set the month, day, and year for Album Date to "–" and click Update Album. You can also set various combinations of month, day, and year, such as "May 19", "September 2007" or just "2008".
I'd like to create a compilation album or "Greatest Hits" collection containing tracks from other albums. Can I do that?: Yes! On the Organize page, use the checkboxes in Other Tracks to select the tracks you want to include. Then click Create New Album (or Add to Album if your new album has already been started).
What are "Liner Notes" and where do they appear?: When you edit an album on the Organize page, the text you enter for Liner Notes will be included as a separate, plain text file inside the album's Zip file for download. You can use Liner Notes to thank your fans, to list your album credits, or for any other message you like.
Can I sell my tracks exclusively as an album, and not as individual tracks?: Yes. On the Sell page for your album, deselect the Active checkbox for each track, then click Update Now. The track titles and audio samples will still appear on your album page, but will no longer be available for individual purchase.
Can I sell just the physical CD for my album, and not offer downloads?: Yes - just deselect the Active checkbox for the MP3 Download Set item at the top of your Sell page.
Can I sell multiple editions of the physical CD for an album?: Not at this time. IndieKazoo currently supports the sale of only one audio CD item per album.
Can I have an ice cream?: Not until you finish your dinner.
Can I sell a physical CD for an album that is not in my IndieKazoo account?: No. To sell an audio CD through IndieKazoo, you must agree that the CD you will ship to your customer contains the same music as the album you have uploaded.
Can I give away my music for free?: Of course! To offer a track or even an album as a free download, just set the item's price to 0.00 on the Sell page. A "Download" button will now appear where the "Buy" button would normally be.
Can I "sell" a FREE audio CD through PayPal?: No. PayPal requires each transaction to be a non-zero amount. But if you like, you can sell any item for as little as $0.01 (or equivalent in another currency).
Can I limit the number of purchases available for each track, download set, or CD item?: Yes. On the Sell page, enter a limit and select the checkbox under Limit Quan for the item, then click Update Now. When the item limit has been reached, the item's "Buy" button will change to "Sold Out".
Can I limit the number of free downloads for a track or an album?: Yes. On the Sell page, first set the item price to 0.00 to make the track or album a free download. Then enter a limit, select the checkbox under Limit Quan, and click Update Now.
How do I change the default price for new tracks or albums I upload?: You'll find these settings on the Store Preferences page in My Account. You can even set the default price to 0.00 if you plan to make many of them free.
My audio sample for a track ends at an awkward spot. Is there a way to change that?: Yes, you can adjust both the start time and the duration for each audio sample on your Sell page.
Can I upload and sell alternate, higher quality versions of my tracks?: Sure. IndieKazoo accepts all standard MP3 file bitrates from 8kbps to 320kbps. We recommend using at least 128kbps for music files if possible.
Can I customize the download filename for each my tracks?: Not directly. To ensure technical compatibility and a consistent download experience for your fans, IndieKazoo automatically generates filenames based on the titles and track numbers you provide on the Organize page.
Can I add a link to my website?: Yes, you can do this on the Store Preferences page in My Account. Just enter your site's address for the Website Return URL, select the checkbox for "Show Artist Website button", and click Save Changes.
What do you think of track 4 on my new album?: It's got a good beat but the lyrics are limp.
I'd like to customize my banner. Can I do that?: Yes. On the Store Preferences page in My Account, you can customize your banner's caption and upload your own image to be used on it. Also, note that the banner changes color scheme when you select a different theme for your store on the Preview page.
Can I add a greeting or make an announcement on my store pages?: Sure can. You can set a Fan Greeting on the Store Preferences page.
If I want to add a track from one album to a second album, do I need to upload it again?: Generally, no. Once uploaded, each track can be added to as many of your albums as you like. However, keep in mind that changing a track's "track tags" (genre, title, album, etc.) affects all occurrences of that track. To create unique tags for a second occurrence, you'd need to upload a second copy.
I've created an album. How do I add the option to purchase it as a CD?: You can do that on the Sell Your CD page. Select your album from the pulldown menu, enter the unit price and initial quantity, and acknowledge the agreement. Then click Add Item to complete the process. You will also need to review and Publish the new item on the Preview page.
Why do I need to Preview and Publish my new items?: We want to be certain that each new purchaseable item appears exactly as you intend before it becomes available in your store. Previewing allows you to view your store as it will be seen by customers, which we find helps store owners spot mistakes - such as a typo or incorrect price - before the item can be sold.
My new track or album has been uploaded but I'm not ready to Publish it yet.: No problem. Just deselect the item's Active checkbox on the Sell page, then click Update Now. You won't be prompted to Publish it until you reactivate the item.
My store is ready for business. Can you help me tell others about it?: Sure can! Use our Email Blaster to announce your latest items, and check back often for new tools to help keep your fans up-to-date.

Setting Up PayPal

Is a PayPal account required?: If you intend to sell your music, a PayPal Premier or Business account is required. However, even without a PayPal account you can use IndieKazoo to showcase your music samples, provide free downloads of tracks and albums, and much more. It's all up to you!
Does IndieKazoo have access to my PayPal account?: Absolutely not. You and only you are responsible for your PayPal account at all times.
How do I set up my PayPal account?: You will find complete instructions on the PayPal Setup page in My Account. The process is easy and just takes a few minutes.
I have a PayPal Personal account. Can I use this?: No - IndieKazoo requires a PayPal Premier or Business account (both free) and will not work with a Personal Account. However, you can upgrade your Personal account to a Premier or Business account for free. Here's how.
How does IndieKazoo know when a customer has sent a payment to my PayPal account?: Once PayPal Setup is complete, IndieKazoo will receive an Instant Payment Notification (IPN) from PayPal to alert us whenever a payment has been received. IndieKazoo uses the information received in the IPN to generate an order confirmation email and (for downloads) a download link for your customer, and to update the statistics you see on your Reports page.
I'm currently using my Instant Payment Notification URL with another order processing system. Will this be a problem?: No. If you prefer to keep your existing Notification URL intact or not set at all, you can use the "Override my Notification URL for IndieKazoo orders only" checkbox on your PayPal Setup page.
Can I set my PayPal Auto Return URL to send my customer to another website upon payment?: Yes, but we generally recommend sending them back to your IndieKazoo confirmation page for best results. Just follow the instructions on your PayPal Setup page in My Account. If you prefer to leave your Return URL intact (or unset) but still wish to direct customers back to your IndieKazoo store, set the "Override my Return URL for IndieKazoo orders only" checkbox.
Can I accept credit card payments?: Yes. Once set up and verified, your PayPal Premier or Business account will allow you to accept credit card payments.
Does my customer have to sign up for a PayPal account to make a purchase?: No. Customers can pay instantly with their credit card, or if they already have or decide to create a PayPal account, they can also pay via direct funds transfer or an eCheck payment from their account to yours.
How does IndieKazoo handle PayPal "eCheck" payments or other "pending" payments?: It's simple. Although IndieKazoo does receive an IPN notification from PayPal indicating when a payment is "pending", we do not process the order or send a download link until PayPal indicates that the payment is complete. However, if you would like us to notify you when a pending payment occurs, you can select this option on the Notification Preferences page in My Account.
Can I sell items in a foreign currency?: Yes, you can set your store currency to any one of the 16 currencies supported by PayPal. To do this, go to Store Preferences in My Account. Note: Please update your prices once you have done this. IndieKazoo does NOT convert them automatically.
Will customers be able to pay using a currency other than the one I set?: Yes. Your Store Currency setting simply tells IndieKazoo which currency should appear in your store. PayPal handles the currency conversion automatically. For more information, visit the PayPal Help Center.
Do I need a bank account to use IndieKazoo?: No, a bank account is not required to receive customer payments through PayPal. Visit the PayPal Help Center for more information about your PayPal account.
How can I add sales tax, or shipping and handling charges?: You are in complete control of your sales tax, shipping, and handling charges through your PayPal account. For more information, visit the PayPal Help Center or the Selling Preferences page in your PayPal account.
I received a "You've Got Cash!" notification email from PayPal, but the order has not appeared on my Reports page. What should I do?: First, make sure you have activated Instant Payment Notification and entered the correct Notification URL on your PayPal account. Complete instructions for this are on the PayPal Setup page in My Account. If orders still are not appearing in your IndieKazoo account, please contact us for assistance.
Can I change to a different PayPal account?: Yes. Once you have created your new PayPal Premier or Business account, please contact us and we will assist you in making this change with minimal disruption to your store's operation.
I want to split my store proceeds with one or more other people. Can this be done?: Sure - that's completely up to you. Since your IndieKazoo account works with one PayPal account (your own), you'll have to decide how to distribute your earnings. PayPal gives you many ways to do this - visit the PayPal Help Center for more info.

Managing Your Orders

Can IndieKazoo email me when I've received an order?: Yes. You can set this option and your email notification address on the Notification Preferences page in My Account.
Can IndieKazoo notify me when an item's quantity limit has been reached?: Yes - you'll find this option on the Notification Preferences page in My Account.
My customer lost or did not receive their download link. What do I do?: You can send a new link by using the Resend button next to each order listed on the Reports page. Or, you can refer your customers to your store's Help page, which includes a form via which they can send a new link on their own. Note: Sending a new link deactivates the original link sent upon payment completion.
How much time does my customer have to download the music they purchase?: By default, the download link is valid for 24 hours after it is first accessed. You can adjust this time limit on the Store Preferences page in My Account.
Why is the Resend button not available on all of my orders?: To minimize the chance of sending a new download link while the original one is in use, the Resend feature is only available under limited conditions. However, the resend form accessible via your store's Help page is always available.
What happens if I click the Resend button on a CD-only order?: For orders which do not contain any downloads, the order confirmation email will be resent.
What happens if my customer orders multiple "copies" of a downloadable item?: This is possible via the Quantity field in the PayPal shopping cart, and may be advantageous to you since it allows a fan to pay for an extra "copy" they intend to share with another person. However, if this happens unintentionally, you can issue a full or partial refund via your PayPal account.
What if I receive an order for a CD which is no longer available, or I need to refund an order for some other reason?: Through your PayPal account, you can issue a full or partial refund for 60 days from the initial payment date. If you issue a full refund, IndieKazoo will account for this and will deactivate any download links associated with the order.
I sell a lot of CDs. Can IndieKazoo prepare my shipping address labels?: Yes! To print labels for your CD orders (or any orders for which a mailing address was provided), use the "Make Labels" button on your Reports page. This generates a PDF file which you can print on Avery 8164 mailing labels, which fit nicely on standard CD mailers.
What if I run out of CDs or just need to stop selling them for a while?: No problem. On the Sell page for your album, just deselect the "Active" checkbox for your CD item and click Update Now. The CD option will no longer appear in your store, but you can turn it back on at any time. Or, set a quantity limit of 0. This way, the CD item still appears but is listed as "Sold Out" until you're ready to start selling it again.
My CD supply is very limited, but my fans don't need to know that. Will the quantity limits I enter on my Sell page appear in my store?: Only if you want them to. You can set this preference on your Store Preferences page in My Account.

Tracking Your Sales

How can I find out how many sales I've made?: Once you've made your first sale, an order summary will appear on your Overview page. Complete sales graphs and order details are available on the Reports page.
Do the sales figures on the Reports page account for PayPal fees, sales tax, shipping and handling, currency conversion charges, and other surcharges calculated via my PayPal account?: No. These reports show gross sales only and are not intended for tax preparation or accounting purposes. For a complete record of all transaction details, please log in to your PayPal account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Artist Login

About IndieKazoo

Administrative/Billing

Creating Your Store

Setting Up PayPal

Managing Your Orders

Tracking Your Sales

About IndieKazoo

Administrative/Billing

Creating Your Store

Setting Up PayPal

Managing Your Orders

Tracking Your Sales