Hi,
In the end, what I say is not as important as your dedication to the work itself, and you must remember that.
That said, the "major" bands in the history of music have always associated themselves with the arts in one way or another, so it helps support the art and the art helps support the music ... and too much of the material done today is about an imaginary something or other that is supposed to be represented by the lyrics in the material ... like you give a damn about that guy with an accoustic guitar and case on the street corner, hoping to make enough coins to buy a McDonald's meal!
If your work is more than just a song and lyric, you will add a film, and a lot more ... but too many peopl ejust take the MTV idea of a scantily clad woman and all the kids go gagagoogoo over her parts and sexy dress ... that your own girlfriend would never wear of show, anyway!
IF, in the end, you have a story, and music to do with it, I would run down to the nearest film school and find a couple of kids ... and have them help you ... they have the cameras and lack the ideas ... and you have the music but lack the visual-ness to make it come alive ... you can only "translate" your part into notes to make the music!
These combinations do not always work right, but they make for interesting stuff ... for example, no one cares or remembers that 2 10CC members did almost all the videos for The Police ... and as it turns out, they were also musicians ... with VERY visual music ... but it did not detract from The Police's own work.
Go to an art school ... you might find a couple of kids that can paint your story ... and voila ... you have the cover and the booklet! ...
The rest? ... it's about your willingness to share and do more ... and ... you will never regret it! And learn more from it than you can imagine.
Distribution? ... a lot of things sell themselves by just being ... ! Worry about the art itself first! I sincerely doubt that will ever change in the history of any art and artist. ... but you can bet me all day long that if you are selling 200 CD's a day, that someone is going to show up at the door with a major contract! ... hint ... don't sign it, or at least don't sign away your rights ... !!!
Edited by moshkito - December 24 2010 at 12:43