CD Baby launches artist development programme for indie musicians

The programme was announced by CD Baby, which is now part of Virgin Music Group under the Downtown Music umbrella.

According to the company, Stages Selects will provide selected self-releasing artists with services including priority distribution, digital streaming platform marketing, paid digital campaign support and release planning. The initiative is being led by CD Baby president Molly Neuman.

Singer-songwriter Morgan Nagler is the first artist to receive support through the programme. Her debut solo album, I’ve Got Nothing to Lose, and I’m Losing It, will be promoted under the new initiative. CD Baby said it plans to support 10 artists during 2026 across different genres and regions.

“Morgan Nagler’s debut album is a testament to the power and passion of human creativity in this complicated time,” Neuman said. “The purity of her voice, musicianship, and songwriting make this album the perfect way for us to launch Stages Selects. CD Baby has always stood for artistry and providing direct access for the musicians we work with.”

Neuman, who became president of CD Baby in 2024, previously held leadership positions at companies and organisations including eMusic, Rhapsody, A2IM, Kickstarter and Songtrust. She was also a member of the band Bratmobile, associated with the Riot Grrrl movement in the 1990s.

Reflecting on her early experiences in the music industry, Neuman said: “Labels were the only way you could get distribution. It was basically DIY, but it was our community. Being a business person wasn’t the big incentive there.”

CD Baby was founded in the late 1990s by Derek Sivers as a distribution platform for independent musicians.

Since joining the company, Neuman has overseen the migration of CD Baby’s distribution infrastructure to FUGA, a move aimed at improving operational efficiency and customer support.

“We’ve really spent most of this time trying to figure out what was working and what wasn’t,” Neuman said. “We’re really trying to build quality control into the platform. If we are a more credible place for artists who believe in success and quality, that should help us market to them because it’s actually genuine.”

She added that the company aims to provide broader support for artists navigating the digital music industry.

“Artists have so much more leverage and capability now,” Neuman said. “And we want to be in a position to support that transformation. That’s part of our values and what we are trying to reposition; we’re here to offer flexibility and give artists the space to grow on their own terms.”