Complaints

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:07/22/2024

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  ResolvedMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Five of the albums we have distributed through CD Baby disappeared from AppleMusic earlier this year. We have contacted Apple directly about the situation and they responded in less that 24 hours stating they researched the situation and we need to talk with our distributor (CDBaby) regarding issues with content availability. I have subsequently filed three (3) support tickets with CDBaby for assistance with this; the earliest on March 20th 2024, and then again on June 14th and July 18th. None of these tickets have received any response from CDBaby except for a bot stating the support team is working hard to respond to the request.

  Business Response

  Date: 07/23/2024

  Hello,

  I have re routed your requests to the correct team. They will look into the issue with Apple Music and get back to you ASAP!

  Thank you and take care!
  

  Customer Answer

  Date: 07/29/2024

   
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.   Thank you for your assistance with this.  
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ************************

• Initial Complaint

  Date:07/21/2024

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  My music distributor is a place called cd baby. The distribute my music to places like apple music and spotify. They removed my music from spotify without any notification. I paid them to distribute it to them. The removed some of my most popular songs. When I contacted spotify they said cd baby does this when they suspect fraudulent streams. Spotify said their policy is to remove the suspicious streams or to withhold payment for the suspicious streams. Spotify should have contacted me or followed spotifys process. I contacted cd baby and they have not replied. I used spotifys in app promotion services and nothing else. The removal of my music has impacted my revenue. I want my music restored back on spotify. Other major musicians whos music is suspected of having fake streams do not have their music removed from spotify. There is a musician named ***** the stallion who is suspected to have over ********** fake streams and spotify did not remove he music they just removed the ********** streams and my songs have no where close to that many streams

  Business Response

  Date: 07/22/2024

  Hi ******. 

  I will be reaching out to you directly via email to ***************************

  I was not able to locate your account in our system so I will need more information from you in order to assist with this issue. 

  Talk to you soon. 

  Customer Answer

  Date: 07/25/2024

   
  Complaint: 22022012
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  they did not offer any resolution. They in fact found my account and said this:

  "We were recently notified by a digital partner of irregular streaming patterns associated with your release. This has been identified as unusual, artificial or manipulated streaming activity, which violates the terms of most digital music services and has resulted in the removal of your release.
  
  Such issues often arise when artists use marketing companies that employ misleading techniques, such as fake accounts, playlists, or bots, to inflate streaming numbers. To prevent further complaints or financial penalties, the release was removed after detecting a significant number of artificial streams. This also makes the release ineligible for redelivery.
  
  While we cannot confirm it definitively, it is likely that the promotional services you used caused these artificial streams, leading to the release's removal. Continued use of such services could jeopardize your entire catalog.
  
  You may also incur an artificial streams penalty fee. This fee is charged to CD Baby for distributing content that was fraudulently streamed. This fee is then passed on to you per section 4(c) of our Artist Agreement.
  
  We urge you to work only with promotional agencies that use genuine methods and avoid companies that offer guaranteed streams or playlist placements for money, as these practices violate most music platforms' terms and conditions.
  
  If you have additional questions or want to learn more about artificial streaming, check out this help center article: What happens if I use a service that promises more streams, or I play my own music on repeat?
  
  Thank you.
   
  ****************
  CD Baby  HearNow
  Visit our Help Center
  Get Paid to Improve CD Baby!"

  They did not give me any warning or offer the option of accepting the penalty fee instead of having my music taken down. If some one went and sent fake streams to drake or *********************** they would not take down their music or people could just go around and extort musicians and if they dont pay, then send fake streams to their music and get it taken down. cd baby is bias in their enforcement of rules.

   

  
  *********************

• Initial Complaint

  Date:07/11/2024

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  June 13, 2024 my last two musical releases disappeared from Apple Music. My followers were not able to access these two albums. I reached out to CD baby and asked them to advise on what the problem was. CD baby informed me that Apple Music had removed my last two releases from its streaming platform, without notice or explanation. They claimed it was for "excessive irregular streaming". The report on my analytics page of Apple music for artists showed no such increase, neither did my revenue from CD Baby. I contacted Apple Music and after much back and forth, with each company blaming the other, out of the blue CD Baby said they would restore my release. I had TWO releases that needed to be restored. They have only restored one. I have contacted them several times again, and this issue has STILL not been resolved completely. That they can even remove releases we paid to have distributed, then claim they have no control over it, then change their mind and say, oh OK we will restore it is COMPLETELY unprofessional.

  Business Response

  Date: 07/15/2024

   Ticket #******* We replied to the client on June 24th informing them that there is nothing further we can do on our end to get their content back on Apple. Once a partner has chosen to remove content from their platform we do not have a way to override that decision. 

• Initial Complaint

  Date:07/05/2024

  Type:Order Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  CD baby says they are doing site updates for 4 weeks and not allowing Artists access to their sales etc. Also I have not been paid my quarterly PRO Royalties that would be due to me in June. They have all artists locked out where we cannot view sales and they say this will last 4 + weeks. This is totally unacceptable. They also do nothing to answer support via chat, they also do not even have a phone support number anymore. They are totally dire! This is not what I signed up for and I've been using them for several years since 2015 or so. I want access to my royalty payments and I want to be paid on time especially since they are taking a 15% cut of my royalties which is outrageous.

  Business Response

  Date: 07/09/2024

  A ticket (*******) was submitted on 6/27/24. We will be following up with the customer directly to address these issues.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:07/02/2024

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  ResolvedMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  On June 15, our group (www.morrisonsisters.com) noticed our latest 2 projects had been removed from Apple Music. After contacting Apple, they assured us the distributor (CD Baby) was at fault and instructed us to contact them. After multiple attempts to contact CD Baby through their support portal and email, they have yet to respond. We paid CD Baby to have our music distributed to all major streaming platforms. They are now failing to provide this service and refuse to offer an explanation as to why.

  Business Response

  Date: 07/03/2024

  Hello,

  We are currently in the process of restoring your release to any platforms involved in prior removals.
  This may take up to 5 days, depending on the platform.

  I apologize for any inconvenience.

  Thank you and take care!
  

  Customer Answer

  Date: 07/04/2024

   
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *****************************

• Initial Complaint

  Date:06/24/2024

  Type:Billing Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Why is my balance currently unavailable for CD Baby?

  Business Response

  Date: 07/02/2024

  Hello,

  I am not able to find an account with the information provided.

  I am going to follow up directly at ************************ to gather more information.

  Thank you.
  

• Initial Complaint

  Date:06/03/2024

  Type:Sales and Advertising Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  CD Baby is a fraudulent company. They post multiple artists music under other artists accounts! They have no system to make sure each artist is paid due to their music being posted under artists with similar names! They also sent a 1099 statement showing they had paid me for music when it turns out they had sent the money to a closed account and had been refunded the money by PayPal. In other words i was never paid! Four years later im fighting for my music money still! They also will keep your money balance if its under ten dollars even if you cancel the account and service. They are thieves!

  Business Response

  Date: 06/04/2024

  Hi, ******.

  We investigated the payment that you mentioned. The funds that we paid to your PayPal account were not returned to us. You will receive a follow-up email with a document of the transaction details. 

  Have a wonderful day, 

• Initial Complaint

  Date:03/01/2024

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Ok. My Name is *********************. I am the founder and CEO of One People Production. I joined CD baby in 2005. I released my album "The Entry" I was selling lots of CDs making tons of money. CD baby took my music off the internet. I tried suing but no lawyer worked take make case I became discouraged.I spent thousands of dollars recording and promoting my work. I ended up taking CD baby to court I sued and I won a measly settlement of $3,000. They put my music back up. A few years letter I started getting leasing royalties. When CD baby realized I was getting checks from rumble fish I noticed my royalties started dwindling right away. Plus I just released a new project. I was seeing 3000 views a week average. CD baby skewed my views and streams to make sure I don't receive streaming royalties. I called to explain this isn't fair. I invest alot into myself and my music. They started taunting and talking crazy and removed my music again. This time I took them to court. It was a different setting. The judge violated her Oath of office big time. She did not hear the case for more than one hour, then without looking at any evidence or giving any opportunity to defend myself she dismiss my case. The dismissal was on the grounds of jurisdictions and arbitration. Which if I was given one more day I would have been able to present case law that shows, arbitration and jurisdictions does not take president over crimes, crimes of fraud and cons or breaking the law. For any contract or jurisdictions to be valididated in court the business practices and contracts must be legal. What CD baby is doing is illegal. Years after leaving CD baby a not even thinking about these people I find out they are still like a monkey on my back. They are still claiming my royalties and messing with my music. That's crazy. I'm literally being stalked and harassed by CD baby and I don't know what to do about it!Senator *********************** tried to help me the removed him of office later.

  Business Response

  Date: 03/04/2024

  Hello,

  This account has been deactivated.

  For further assistance please reach out to  [email protected] .

  Thank you.
  

• Initial Complaint

  Date:01/16/2024

  Type:Customer Service Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I am a paying member of CD Baby and released my cd "This Girl" with them in May of 2022. I had to contact them about having 0 sales reports for November 6, 2023, October 9, 2023 and September 12, 2023. I contacted Spotify and was assured they sent sales reports and that my music was live and their numbers on my page showed plays. At CD Baby, I was dealing with **************** (or **************, it showed both ways in emails) and she said she couldn't help me. I have my cd copyrighted. My songs were playing all year, all over the world on Spotify. Those sales numbers should be shown, whether they were enough for me to be paid or not. The poor customer service is disheartening. These are my songs, I own them and I paid for the service that CD Baby provides, no customer deserves to be treated this way.

  Business Response

  Date: 01/17/2024

  Hello,

  Spotify has determined that some of your streams are Artificial Streams. For more information please read: What happens if I use a service that promises more streams or I play my own music on repeat?
   
  We cannot appeal this determination on your behalf, but this determination by Spotify does not mean you can't earn money for your legitimate streams in the future.

  I apologize for any inconvenience.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 01/19/2024

   
  Complaint: 21153991
  
  I am rejecting this response because:  I have provided five screen shots from Spotify customer service telling me that there wasn't any problem, that my sales reports were submitted and that as long as my music is LIVE, that means there is no problem.  I have researched this...when Spotify tags someone with this issue, they are sent a Notification email telling them that their music will be suspended.  I Never got an email from Spotify notifying me of any suspension, nor was my music suspended due to this issue.  It would make logical sense since I have my copyright for my cd that it isn't playing without pay for three months.  I saw the numbers, it was live all three months and playing in other countries and none of my numbers are higher than average.  Spotify has told me many times over the past few months that this is not a problem with them, but a problem with my distributor and they even tried to resend one of the sales report information.  I am providing proof of what I am saying and have seen no other proof supporting any other idea.  Why was my music LIVE for these three months and where did the money go from those streams?  If I can have my questions finally answered and a reason for why I didn't get an email from Spotify notifying me as they do all other customers and a clear reason of why my music stayed LIVE if there were no intentions to pay me for my copyrighted songs to be freely played during that time, I would appreciate it.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *******************

  Business Response

  Date: 02/13/2024

  Hello,

  I apologize for any frustration.

  I assure you that we go based on the reports that we receive from Spotify. However, in case you decide to seek legal council, here are several links that you might find helpful. 
   
  **********************************************
  **********************************************
   
  I hope you have a great day.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 02/14/2024

   
  Complaint: 21153991
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  Spotify suspends music when there is an issue and my music was not suspended.  If you acted on information from Spotify, they would have suspended my account for three months and notified me (CD Baby should also have notified me of a problem in my opinion).  CD Baby allowed my music to play without pay and I have provided proof that Spotify didn't have an issue and said as long as my music was Live, there wasn't an issue.  Knowing that CD Baby has no issues collecting money and not paying out for plays on copyrighted music is disturbing.  It would make sense to me that a business would consider how situations like this could be done in the best interests of everyone.  I accept that you found something wrong, yet have never been shown proof.  I am trying to understand that you won't pay for something you won't prove and that Spotify denies....yet won't explain why the music wasn't suspended and the artist notified of the rules and length of that suspension.  Also, why won't you refer to the agreement I signed on with CD Baby when I paid for services that clearly states that CD Baby's allowed to play copyrighted music without intention to pay.  Why can't you clear this up and tell me how this situation might be dealt with better in the future.  I have more CD's to post, why can't I be treated like a paying customer and future customer in this matter?

  
  Sincerely,
  
  *******************

• Initial Complaint

  Date:12/20/2023

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  UnresolvedMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I manage REDFLAGRECORDS which may be hijacked by Redflagrecords. An unexplained change in username. I am Bunny 2. At face value we have been done wrong with UPC codes for both of our works added that should not have been and paid someone else. We both have been complaining for years and have never gotten any response but that our calls felt like they were being redirecting to the people that are being paid from those UPC codes amounting to theft. At one time I gave the ones given to me for my products by Amazon, I was met with blatant disregard and brush offs. In fact when it looked like someone stole redflagrecords and suddenly we became REDFLAGRECORDS. You see our music. The sales are known at large, where are those sales going? We have sent emails to help us part in writing how and where to send and have gotten the worst none responses. Of your problem must have been resolved because we haven't heard further from eithr one of us. When in both accounts we email back no it has not been answered. We would just like to know that they have gotten our request to cease and desist with all our works listed and even refund us for the distribution and pro startup costs!

  Business Response

  Date: 12/21/2023

  We've replied to the client with a resolution via email on 12/20/2023. Service cancellation instructions have been provided.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 12/21/2023

   
  Complaint: 21033814
  
  I am rejecting this response because:
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *************************

  Customer Answer

  Date: 12/21/2023

  The lack of good faith about these two accounts after 6 years of disparaging attack then no response to a simple question. I would like to get downloads of each song on every *** cod or submission. I have the *** code for an entire cd. How was single downloads of each song paid bar code? For example Amazon ,Apple, Spotify. The response though should have been to both Red Flag as well as Bunny, addressing lowercase red flag records and uppercase. How was this achieved? What is the music sold on lower case red flag music? What date and IP address changed this. Other issues of up charges of agreed upon sales price an percentage given that vary wildly from original agreement in compounding disparities of perc entire LLCof sales an then charging percentage per sale and charging more than the percentage per sale of agreed price point, pocketing the difference and impacting volume. What of answers to the sales under different *** codes,not paid to is, since entering in good faith with straightforward *** codes, all given to artist. 

   

  I would like to have these files , all given to me with all ISRc codes given each work per submission variation 3 for Melting. So that I could get what I paid for and a record of ISRc codes in a thumb drive or disc or downloadable by me. This is for both accounts or three or maybe more with our music Red Flag owned by me and Bunny owned by me. Letting me know that canceling a CD that I know about is the same as releasing me but only after BNN gets involved is not impressive. I give high scores to BBB only for a response at least. However contractually and what one could be satisfied with reasonably is still messed up. If BBB can get these downloads, and a solid takedown and explanation of the looming questions, I can be happy with.BBB and could say it made ******* attempts on behalf of the consumer.

   

  ***************

  Customer Answer

  Date: 12/24/2023

  I need to be able to have access to download. These are my property and need to transfer. Even the cancelled one since it was never taken down. That too is being sold and is my property that I paid for. All Red Flag has to be accessed or sent via a large file type of transfer process.  All of the CDs have to be cancelled and this for Red Flag  is awaiting the instructions to Download. I was thinking it may be an easier process to access with this larger discography. 

  Customer Answer

  Date: 01/13/2024

  I realized that this was a plot with canceling and the no access to the files we paid for a while age. So they are *** again holding up cancellation

   I was right they are making it difficult to retrieve files. ***** says and I quote we are not a file storage service. So refusing . They have the files so this is just a refusal.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 01/19/2024

  Unconscionable not to have access to my songs. Did you see instructions on removal. No mentions about taking our intellect property back. They are only showing guilt on how much they indeed steal. As I said I just want the work I paid their diskmakers at all time. They still have access even if I don't through diskmakers affiliiat correspondence. I don't care to know just how much they stole. However, they conceivably could have conflicting data on the recordings as Amazon warned me. They need to provide me my works. I approved drafts way back and then the final my property went to distribution. As I said esp. In light of this recent correspondence I have not been able to cancel or download all the works for redflagrecords.. HELP!