💵 HOW TO GET YOUR MONEY BACK (REALISTIC STRATEGY FOR SA ARTISTS)
Here’s where many artists go wrong — they print CDs but don’t have a clear plan to sell them.
Step 1: Know your cost per CD
Using the 50-unit example:
Total cost: R1,521.50
Number of CDs: 50
Cost per CD =
R1,521.50 ÷ 50 = R30.43 per CD
That is your break-even point.
Step 2: Decide your selling price
In South Africa, here’s what works best for upcoming artists:
✅ Recommended retail price:
👉 R100 per CD
This is:
- Reasonable for fans
- Standard at gigs and markets
- High enough to make real profit
Step 3: Your profit per CD
If you sell at R100 per CD:
Selling price: R100
Your cost: R30.43
Profit per CD =
R100 – R30.43 = R69.57 profit per CD
Step 4: How many do you need to sell to make your money back?
You spent R1,521.50 total.
At R100 per CD:
R1,521.50 ÷ 100 ≈ 16 CDs
👉 Sell just 16 CDs and you’ve recovered your entire investment.
Everything after that is pure profit.
Step 5: How much profit can you make?
If you sell all 50 CDs at R100 each:
Total sales = 50 × R100 = R5,000
Your cost = R1,521.50
Your profit =
R5,000 – R1,521.50 = R3,478.50
That’s very good for a first physical release.
💿 HOW MUCH SHOULD YOU SELL YOUR CD FOR IN SOUTH AFRICA?
Here’s a practical pricing guide:
| Artist Level | Suggested CD Price |
| Brand new artist | R80 – R100 |
| Growing local artist | R100 – R150 |
| Known local artist | R150 – R200 |
My recommendation for you as an upcoming artist:
👉 R100 per CD
It’s:
- Easy to explain to fans
- Simple for cash sales
- Fair for what they’re getting
📍 WHERE TO SELL YOUR CDs (SA ARTISTS)
You can make your money back faster by selling in the right places:
🔹 At Live Performances
- Sell after your set
- Bundle with merch (T-shirt + CD for R200, for example)
🔹 Online
- Instagram DMs
- WhatsApp orders
- Your website
- Facebook Marketplace
🔹 To Friends, Family & Supporters
Don’t underestimate this — your first 20 sales often come from people who know you.
🔹 To DJs, Radio, and Media
Even if you give some away, it builds your brand and can lead to paid opportunities.
🎯 Should You Order More Than 50?
If you’re serious about your music career, ordering more can actually save you money in the long run.
For example:
- 50 CDs = R30.43 each
- 300 CDs = R20.00 each
That’s a big saving per unit.
More CDs also mean:
- More merch to sell at shows
- More to send to radio, bloggers, and promoters
- More to give to fans and collaborators
✅ Final Advice for Upcoming Artists in South Africa
If you’re releasing your first album or EP:
- Budget R1,500 – R5,000 for CDs
- Price them at R100 each
- Have a clear plan to sell at shows and online
- Treat CDs as both merch and marketing
A printed CD is not just a product — it’s part of your brand.
