The questions we get asked most often are--

Q- Why are some companies too emabarressed to post all or any, pricing on the internet?

A- There are only 3 reasons. The first is essentially dishonest. These internet companies are going to "size you up" and give you a price based on your inexperience and how much cash they can squeeze from you- a lot like the "used car syndrome". Companies like this are always "making you a deal", that is, in reality no deal at all, but actually MORE than what a savy customer will pay when they use an etsablished, legitimate 30 year old company, like Progressive Media. The second reason is that the company is about to file chapter 11 (bankruptcy), and are in a state of terrible confusion. Check thier references and their PUBLISHED list of 1000's of happy clients (as Progressive and other honest companies do.) They will make any deal, just to keep the doors open - even if it means losing money, (usually its not always just theirs, but yours too when it all comes down). The last and legitimate reason is that occaisionally, a mega-large company who, out of neccesity is weeding out the 1000 to 5000 peice customers that are not thier bread and butter like they are at Progressive.

Q- Why don't you send out fancy full color catalogues every month?

A- The simple answer is 30 years ago we opted to spend the money on great employees, superior manufacturing processes, and building up a national reputation based on referals and word of mouth. We don't need to burn through 50 new relationships a week to make the money we need. We have fun providing effective, reasonably priced, excellent projects to the same happy clients year after year...

Q- Is it true that some duplicators pay kick backs to the studio you recorded at?

A- Sadly yes. "Partner" programs and the like are designed to influence the studio owner to refer you to one of thier recently combined mega companies. No one it seems is exempt from bribery.

Q- How can I sell my product over the internet?

A- You can pay a large internet bookseller like Amazon.com a commision, or pay a company that has no legitimate draw, (unless you consider other independent artists all looking at each other's albums) - , a HUGE COMMISION. These companies are usually "shilling" (a back door relationship with a referal or some other consideration exchanged ) for certain internet type brokers. There has been a huge consolodation in the past year of several once competent internet CD brokers and one on line cd seller. The collusion and kick backs between companies like this is a disgrace and harkens back to the questionable days of "Vanity Record" publishing. (More on that below). You'll see nonsense like "free distribution with xxxx" There is no such thing as free, period. These internet selling sites generate little if no business. Over 90% of the leads (if they are straight enough to publish it), come straight from you and YOUR WEBSITE! Also while a customer is looking at your cd, they get to see annoying pop up ads that say something like "if you like this, then try listening to this..." driving your customer into the arms of someone else and out of yours... The solution - go ahead and list with the huge bookseller (Amazon). They are a legit company and provide a super-wide venue for your product. But stay away from independent no names that charge a $35 setup fee and their backdoor relationships with internet brokers who "waive" this fee, like its some kind of special privilidge. Plus these no name "online resellers" charge $4.00 per tranaction---UNBELIEVABLE! The best way to sell over the internet is your own website, (PROGRESSIVE MEDIA can help you with this), and to use MYSPACE and YOUTUBE pages that are available for free!

Q- Why can't I talk with the same guy everytime I call one of those internet companies?

A- Another great question. At PROGRESSIVE MEDIA we have been owned and operated by the same folks for over 30 years. The CSR that handles your job knows it intimatly from beginning to end. Each disc we replicate comes across the president's desk every day. We are a family owned business that are manufactures for the grandchildren in some cases of our first clients back in 1978. We are constantly evolvling and changing with the times, always one step ahead of the curve. Ask your CSR about custom merchandise like embroidery and shirts to sell at your gigs and to use as corporate ID. All this is down in the same location for over 30 years!. See our huge client list.

Q- What about paying to be on a compilation album for "FREE" distribution to radio and record lables, and bogus "PROMOTIONAL KITS"?

A- The simple answer is "Run Will Robinson Run!" Don't be a sucker. This is a modern day scam based on the old vanity publishing trick that has been around since the first 45rpm record was pressed. Ofcourse there is the one example of the artist who managed to get placement, but what about the 1000's that didn,t? If your song is as good as they claim it to be -THEY SHOULD BE PAYING YOU! Wake up and smell the latte!Anyone can get the same "Promotional Tool Kit" in any public library anywhere in the country, period. All of this information is available to our clients during and long after the project - not just an underhanded trick to get you to do business. This should be the first sign there is something "Rotten In Denmark" to quote the bard.

Q- How can I tell if a company is up to no good?

A- 1. No listed street address. 2. Voice mail. 3. You never talk to the same person twice. 4. Sneaky rush surcharges for what Progressive does day in, and day out. 5. A refusal to list in print more than 10 customers that are happy with them. 6. No listed telephone #, or EXACT listed prices- only an internet request for quote form, that some intern is filling out. (See the first question listed at the top of the page) 7. They disappear with your money, master & art by filing chapter 11 in the middle of the job- crazy as this sounds, with the recent consolodations in the industry today, it's a real danger - call us for a list of companies that have gone belly up in the middle of projects, leaving clients high and dry with no master, no art and no $$$!

Q- What is the difference in your Retail Ready full color CD packages and the lowball ones we see on the internet?

A- Good question. When we replicate your CD's, DVD's & inserts, they are side by side on the exact same same machines with major labels like SONY, UNIVERSAL, RED Distribution, and artists like SIR PAUL MC CARTNEY and other big dogs. The quality is identical - because they are the ON THE EXACT SAME MACHINES!. Remember these arn't the cheesy ink jet inserts you see in the lowball specials advertised on the web. The same is true for the discs, we have over 12 replication lines running 24/7 pushing out up to 250,000 CD's and DVD's a day. . We are an IRMA certified, RIAA inspected plant, with a flawless ISO 9001 certification. Ask Mr Sleazy Internet Boy if this is the case with them, and if he can even explain what that means!! Beware the "Johnny Oneshot" who brokers your job down to Mexico or Taiwain to save 1 or 2 pennies a disc. These guys may not pay the Phillips disc royalty are YOU can be hauled into court - long after they have filed chapter 11 bankruptcy. Another common trick is undersell just to keep the place open, a clear indication that bankruptcy is just around the corner. Ofcourse the lowball price is unbelieveable - that's because there is no free lunch!

Q- Why would I ever want to have cdr's burned when we can press (replicate) cd's with Progressive Media?

A- The main advantage with our cdr's and cdr packages is the quick turn and low entry cost. Cdr's always sound like the master- we use the most expensive media on highly calibrated overpriced machines. All discs are one to one verified so each is a perfect clone of the original. There used to be compatability issues with older cd players still on the market - but this is becoming less and less of a problem. DVDr's (burned DVD's) are still somewhat problematic, but the media has becomes more consistant we see this issue resolving itself.

Q- What about CDR package inserts and the all important disc imprint?

A- This is where EVERY cheesy fly by night low ball louie duplicator falls on his face.Very few companies can afford an $11,000 printer to print full color disc imprints. So they do print on disgusting home studio ink jet printers - a shocking disappointment and the last chance you will ever have to submit to that all important lable or radio station again! When you compare the cheesoid ink jet to the photo realistic thermal PROGRESSIVE CDRS imprint, there is zero comparison. The ink jet feels like it was printed on cheap sandpaper, where the PROGRESSIVE CDR imprint is indistuingishable from the most expensive offset disc imprint ever done - much higher quality than even than silk screen! We print our CDR inserts on the most expensive digital laser color proofer available - not the inferior ink jet you'll find in your mailbox after you've paid your money to guy on the other end of the email, or some intern answering the phone at one of he Frankenstien conglomerates. PROGRESSIVE MEDIA has been owned and operated by the same entity for over 30 years - so we have no choice but to do killer work!

Q- What are IPR forms?

A- In order to protect our clients' intellectual property rights, we are complying with IRMA's (the International Recording Media Association's), Anti Piracy Compliance Program recommendations. This means we keep 2 documents on file; The IPR form, or Intellectual Property Rights, and the Grant of Rights letter.These documents basically give Progressive Media permission to replicate your project and they state that you are the owner of the material we are replicating. Simply click on the links below and download the 2 short 1 page documents, print them out and FAX (with your signature) back to us @ 813 251 6050.

CLICK HERE FOR THE IPR FORM

CLICK HERE FOR THE GRANT OF RIGHTS FORM

Q- What is the difference between Digital Shirt Printing and Silk Screen Printing?

A- The cool thing is that Progressive Media supplies both products depending on the highest and best advantage for our client. DIGITAL SHIRT printing, can be printed directly from your full color tif or jpeg file This is not a transfer but the shirt is digitally die by our $14,000 shirt printer. .There are no need for expensive separations and screen charges. The colors are exactly like you see in your picture. Many artisits will simply reproduce the album art directly on the shirt and use the shirt as a cool backdrop behind their table at gigs etc. Also the shirts will breath, unlike a silk screened shirt that tends to have a heavy build up of ink on it. DIGITAL shirts will last as long or longer than silkscreen shirts and are the least expensive way to get a true blend of colors with out using complicated vector art and elaboarte setups and fees.

SILK SCREEN shirts tend to be less expensive (after the setup fee) and are great if you have simple art. Also printing white ink on a black shirt is quite easy, something that looks pretty bad with digital shirts. Our MICRO ADJUST 6 color press does killer work on larger runs (another advantage over DIGITAL SHIRTS), for less money per shirt. We also embroider hats and shirts, but thats another story....