Stuff We Sell

Dischord Website Maintenance

There is a logical progression that needs be followed when adding new items to the web-store that goes like so:
Labels > Artists > Releases > MP3s > Products. For instance, you can't enter a new Artist without first being able to attach the Artist to an existing Label. A Release is a collection of information with Products and Tracks attached to it. In other words, we don't sell Releases, we the Products and Tracks that are attached to them.

In order to maintain the 'Dischord' tone and styling, all Dischord Releases should be entered by only one person. Dischord Releases show up on the official band pages as well as the store pages and should always follow very consistent styling rules (i.e. Try to use the same phrasing when possible, enter the same info in the same order for each release, etc. ). When in doubt take a look at a classic Dischord release and copy the appropriate text and styling.

Other label stuff shows up only in the store (and searches) and does not need to follow the same strict rules as Dischord stuff.

Adding a New Label

  1. Go into Admin > Content > Labels
  2. Enter > Label Name (without "the") > enter > Website > leave the Bio blank, Label Type (n/a) , Label Bio text is optional

Adding a New Dischord Artist

  1. Go into Admin > Content > Artists
  2. Enter > Band Name (without "the")
  3. Check > Active (for Dischord Artists only) - this will make the band's name appear on the Dischord Bands page.
  4. Check > Touring (only if it is a band that will have tour dates)
  5. Select > Label (Dischord - from the drop-down list)
  6. Enter the band photo jpeg (72 dpi, 350 pixels on its longest side)
  7. Enter > Bio text (use html tags only for links and line breaks).
  8. Enter > Band Members following this example html code:
    (Fall 1980 – Fall 1983)<br/>
    <br/>
    <strong>Ian MacKaye</strong> – vocals<br />
    <strong>Lyle Preslar</strong> – guitar<br />
    <strong>Brian Baker</strong> – bass, guitar on #10<br />
    <strong>Jeff Nelson</strong> – drums<br />
  9. Enter > Email address
  10. Enter > Booking email address
  11. Enter > Website Address (if none, enter http://www.dischord.com)

Adding a New Dischord Release

  1. Go into Admin > Store > Release > and then click > Create New Release
  2. Select from the drop-down menus: Artist > Label > Partner Label (only if there is one, otherwise leave blank)
  3. Enter > Title of the Release
  4. Enter > Catalog Number (three digits without the DIS, i.e. 007 not DIS007)
  5. Enter a jpeg of the Release Image (250 x 250 pixels at 72dpi)
  6. Check > Compilation (only if this is a compilation)
  7. Check > Active
  8. Enter > Description text into the field using the following html format: <p class="release-comments">This is where you can add some comments about the release</p>
  9. Enter > Intro text into the field using the same html format as Description. These comments appear above the Description text and are generally either temporary or generic, such as, "The 12"LP includes a free MP3 download"
  10. Enter > Lineup for the band-members featured on this release using the following html tags:
    <dl class="release-lineup">
    <dt>Ian MacKaye</dt><dd>vocals</dd>
    <dt>Lyle Preslar</dt><dd>guitar</dd>
    <dt>Brian Baker</dt><dd>bass</dd>
    <dt>Jeff Nelson</dt><dd>drums</dd>
    </dl>
  11. Enter whatever recording info is available into proper fields. Only Fields that have text will show up on the site so leave blank any that do not apply
  12. Project and UPC codes are mandatory for digital royalty accounting. You will find this info on the newest digital metadata sheets that you can get from Brain or Michael
  13. Enter > Track-list with this html format (they will be automatically numbered):
    <ol class="release-track-listing">
    <li>Filler</li>
    <li>I Don't Wanna Hear It</li>
    <li>Seeing Red</li>
    <li>Straight Edge</li>
    <li>Small Man, Big Mouth</li>
    <li>Screaming At A Wall</li>
    <li>Bottled Violence</li>
    <li>Minor Threat</li>
    </ol>
    Note: If digital tracks are added to a release they will overwrite this track-list
  14. Click > Save

Adding a New Non-Dischord Release

  1. Go into Admin > Store > Release > and click > Create New Release
  2. Select from the drop-down menus: Artist, Label, Partner Label (only if there is one)
  3. Enter > Title of the Release
  4. Enter > Catalog Number (add the label prefix and number, i.e. trx001 -- use a minimum 3 digits for numbers)
  5. Enter > Release Image a jpeg of the album cover (250 x 250 pixels at 72dpi)
  6. Check > Compilation (only if this is a compilation)
  7. Check > Active
  8. Enter > Description text into the field using the following html format:
    <p class="release-comments">This is where you can add some comments about the release</p>
  9. Enter > Intro text into the field using the same html format as Description. These comments appear above the Description text and are generally either temporary or generic, such as, "The 12"LP includes a free MP3 download"
  10. There is no need to add the band Lineup --leave this blank.
  11. Adding recording info is optional -- leave these blank
  12. Enter track list with this html format (they will be automatically numbered):
    <ol class="release-track-listing">
    <li>Filler</li>
    <li>I Don't Wanna Hear It</li>
    <li>Seeing Red</li>
    <li>Straight Edge</li>
    <li>Small Man, Big Mouth</li>
    <li>Screaming At A Wall</li>
    <li>Bottled Violence</li>v <li>Minor Threat</li>
    </ol>
  13. Click > Save

Adding Digital Tracks To A Release (CDs, LPs, Digital, etc)

  1. Open Release (edit) > scroll down and click > Add Digital Track
  2. The release should already be selected from the pull down list.
  3. Enter > Project Code (this may be different than the release project code for split releases and other special cases)
  4. Enter > UPC Code
  5. Enter > ISRC Code (this is the unique track code)
  6. Enter > Song Title
  7. Enter > Track Position
  8. Upload the MP3
  9. By default the 'Active' box is selected, de-select if you prefer the track to be hidden for any reason.
  10. Click > Save

NOTE: Once Digital Tracks are uploaded they become available for sale with Digital Credits (even if the Digital Album has not yet been activated).

Creating MP3 Download Codes for a Release

A Download Code is basically the last 12-digits of a single-use link that when clicked-on and redeemed activates a set of download links on a customer's personal account page. When a Release is created, or re-pressed, we generate 1000-2000 unique codes which are then downloaded to a CSV file. That file is sent to a printer, along with art-work for a new Download Coupon. The un-edited CSV file will contain every code associated with that release so you will need to edit the file to only contains the newest codes. The newest codes will always appear at the bottom of the CSV file, so if this is the third pressing of this album and there are 3000 codes (2000 present from the previous two pressings and 1000 new codes) you will delete the first 2000 codes and then save the document. Only send the latest 1000 codes to the printer.

  1. Open a Release (edit)in the admin
  2. Scroll down and click on > Add Promo Codes
  3. Enter > Quantity (1000) and then Select > Vinyl (for vinyl coupons) from the drop-down menu > Save Changes
  4. Once the codes have been created Click > Get PromoCode CSV and a CSV file will download to your computer

Adding a New Product (CDs, LPs, Digital, etc)

  1. Go into Admin > Store > Release > click edit on the Release you want to add a Product to
  2. Scroll down the Release detail page and click > New Product
  3. Select > Format
  4. Click > Status (checked = on)
  5. Leave Track Stock un-checked (unless there is a specific amount in stock dedicated only to mail-order)
  6. Leave Quantity blank (unless Track Stock is checked)
  7. Enter > Price [CD($10) LP($11) 7"($4) Album MP3($7) EP MP3($3)]
  8. Leave Weight blank UNLESS this is a book. We have entered default weights for all formats except books so if you are entering a book you'll need to enter the weight of the book plus packaging.
  9. Click > Digital Only if this is an MP3 Only product, otherwise leave unchecked
  10. Click > Physical with Digital Tracks if this is vinyl with a free download - otherwise leave unchecked
  11. Click > Save

Trac Stock: Use the Trac Stock selector only when you have a limited number of a Product. Enter the amount of stock and click on Trac Stock and when the number reaches zero the store will automatically put up a "CD is out of stock" message.

Out of Stock: If you want to disable an item, go to it's Product page and uncheck the Status box. This will enable a message that says, "CD is out of stock" and will disable the "Buy" button in the store. If you know that a Dischord item will be out of stock for weeks or months but will be coming back you should write a short note in the Intro section on the Release Page:
<p class="release-comments">The CD is out of stock but should be back in November.</p>

Product Weights: Each format has a weight assigned to it automatically. If there is an item that weighs more than usual you add only the extra weight to the release detail page in the admin. Books and Postcards do not have an automatic weight so you have to add the full weight to the release detail page.

Delete Stock: Do not ever delete digital products or releases! If you want to delete a PHYSICAL?products from store you can click Destroy on the Release page in the admin. HOWEVER -- this should only be done after that item has been accounted for in all sales reports, etc. and you won't ever be bringing it back. Don't delete anything without consulting with DDI and the web dept.

Dischord Site Image Specs

  1. All images (except press images) should be scanned at 72 dpi and optimized for the web (jpeg).
  2. All album cover images should be 250 x 250 pixels
  3. Dischord band images should be horizontal (if possible) and 350 pixels on the longest side
  4. Dischord Front Page Images should be horizontal and exactly 250 x 165 pixels
  5. Dischord Press Images should scanned at full-size at 300dpi and saved as jepgs at level 8 or 9 (mid-level)

Dischord Press Pages

Each band that has a current release can also have a press page at: www.dischord.com/press
These pages are automatically created when a Press Image is uploaded and tagged. Only fill in the fields listed below, leave others blank.

To upload a Press Photos:

  1. Go to Phoenix > Media > Photos
  2. Click on > Upload a Photo
  3. Select > Photo Type (PressArtistPhoto - for band photos) or (PressReleasePhoto - for album cover)
  4. Select > Band > Release
  5. Enter > Caption (Band members or band-name), Credits (Photo by John Doe), and DPI (300dpi)
  6. Upload > Image (browse to the jpeg and upload)

To upload a Press Release:

  1. Go to Phoenix > Media > Press Releases
  2. Select > Band > Release
  3. Enter > Title (DIS000-Album name-one-sheet.pdf)
  4. Browse > find and upload a PDF of the one-sheet

Dischord News Blog Stuff

Other than having large new releases, consistently adding and sharing blog enteries is the single best way to keep customers and visitors engaged to the site on a regular basis. A single blog entry may not generate a specific sale, but keeping the content fresh encourages people to check in often, and regular traffic will generally translate into regular sales. And although we do share our news content on facebook and twitter, the goal should always be to being people back to the website so make sure to link directly to release pages and blog entries.

Blog enteries are split between the front page of the website and the front page of the store. Front Page enteries should be written in the official 'voice' of the label, and will include Dischord announcements, Dischord news items, and general goings on from Dischord albumi and/or the dc punk community.

Store Blog items should reflect the voice of the mail-order person. Enteries should include, but not be limited to, new additions to the site (both Dischord and not), stock updates, and non-dischord label news.

In both cases, once an item is written it should be 'shared' to facebook or twitter via the 'share' button.