Should bands make C.D.'s anymore?

[chet]

Originally Posted by strummin67

I don't know any of those.
The band I was in only had enough time/money to burn a package of CDs to give away. There were two songs plus one hidden track. I thought it was much easier/smaller/lighter to transport 100 CDs as opposed to 100 records.

Only take along what you think you can sell. You're not trying to be the next Tower Records here.

[strummin67]

We weren't a big name. We gave away the CDs but we sold T shirts at $10 a pop.

[Oster]

Originally Posted by Big John

i think your quote should read "If there's a demand, supply the product. If there isn't then create the demand ! "

Good point Big John.

What I'm driving at though is the record industry taking some responsibility for a change and actually singing for their supper, if things are so bad. It has struck me as very wrong that a musician of today has to be a salesman, press agent, producer, engineer and manufacturing brokerage to boot. I've done all that in my youth but if I were to start all over again, I wouldn't. I'd worry about being the best band I could be and let someone who's really good at recording/selling make me an offer. Or not.

I'm still active but now that digital sales are possible, I'm manufacturing nothing.

Not cranky, Beatbx - just a different point of view.

[petebradt]

Originally Posted by WickedGTR

Last I heard, (currently) 75-85% of all people who buy music do not buy digital downloads.

Read it and weep.

[Telarkaster]

Yes. I just bought the latest Neil Diamond CD, a Charley Pride greatest hits and the Black Crowes "Lost Crowes" double CD. People still buy CDs, as long the material is good and the price is not silly.

Big John has a great point: you have a better chance of selling a CD at a gig if you actually have a CD to sell....

[Big John]

Originally Posted by Oster

.......I'm still active but now that digital sales are possible, I'm manufacturing nothing.

Yep, and now there's a thread that will run and run and run and ......

When you said 'you had to be good or serious' to get a deal THIS image flashed across my brain and i thought WTF ??



Serious or good ?

Oster, if you are still active at a 'local' level i think you just might be in the right place, gas prices and general inflation might mean that keeping it at grass roots and building a following that way might be where the smart moneys are ................. hmmmmmmmmm, c'm ere, let me show you my cheque book !!

[tiktok]

Originally Posted by Big John

Serious or good ?

Serious. Very serious--about being successful.

And, they were.

[bo]

It's good to have some on hand. Our next one will be home made CDs that we can print as needed and also released by down load if someone wants it that way.

[MandyMarie]

Yes. 99% of my friends fit the "hipster" description to a t. But...they still buy CDs. Do we all have iPods and buy digital music? Yepp! But I can't think of anyone I know who doesn't buy a CD or a t-shirt (from a band they dig) at a live show. It'll help you with your gas money home. And they're so inexpensive now it's almost impossible for a traveling band to lose money on a small run of discs. Even fancy digipacks with a spine are fairly inexpensive IMO. Especially considering how much work goes into each piece.

Chet, vinyl is awesome and I'm all about it - I collect like crazy and, like you, I'm always hunting for something. But buying vinyl and pressing vinyl are two different things - it's pretty expensive for a small time, independent band to have a small run of records pressed. We're going to be doing a 7 inch as soon as this recording is done and it's costing us an arm and a leg. *sigh*
Especially compared to getting a disc packaged and pressed and/or digital downloads, it's pricey....I'm not saying it isn't worth it but it's a bit pricey. Definitely not for everybody.

[Poppatwang]

Originally Posted by petebradt

Read it and weep.

The headline wasn't supported in the article. iTunes being the #1 retailer is not
the same as saying digital downloads outsold physical CDs across the whole market.
RIAA reports downloads at 12% of the retail market. That's paying customers not pirates.
That's up from less than 1% in 2004 so we can see the trend. But CDs aren't dead yet.

[Poppatwang]

Originally Posted by MandyMarie

We're going to be doing a 7 inch as soon as this recording is done

I'm in for one.

[strummin67]

I still question the logic of pressing vinyl today. It's such a niche market I don't think the sales would cover the costs.

[tiktok]

Originally Posted by strummin67

I still question the logic of pressing vinyl today. It's such a niche market I don't think the sales would cover the costs.

If your market is vinyl-friendly, and you price accordingly for your production costs, you can probably break even...depending on how many you give away. We did a short run of 45's for the last album, and they were good for getting reviewers and DJ's to notice you (when you mailed them out for free...), but people at shows tended to pick them up and say "Cool!" rather than actually buy them. I mean, for a few bucks more they could get the entire album in a format they could listen to on the way home from the gig.

One thing to consider--mastering for vinyl and for CD is two separate things, so if you want to offer both, prepare to pony up for two mastering sessions.

When all's said and done, I believe the most crucial factor to successful merchandizing at gigs is having a really hot woman staffing the merch table. Sad but true.

[strummin67]

Originally Posted by tiktok

If your market is vinyl-friendly, and you price accordingly for your production costs, you can probably break even...depending on how many you give away. We did a short run of 45's for the last album, and they were good for getting reviewers and DJ's to notice you (when you mailed them out for free...), but people at shows tended to pick them up and say "Cool!" rather than actually buy them. I mean, for a few bucks more they could get the entire album in a format they could listen to on the way home from the gig.

One thing to consider--mastering for vinyl and for CD is two separate things, so if you want to offer both, prepare to pony up for two mastering sessions.

When all's said and done, I believe the most crucial factor to successful merchandizing at gigs is having a really hot woman staffing the merch table. Sad but true.

Agreed.
We always had our girlfriends sitting at the table pushing our CDs.

[mudbean]

My $0.02 ... I was bummed when these tiny little things called CD's came out, only because I missed the big beautiful album covers and posters inside and stuff. Loved the ease of use, ruggedness and lack of hiss, pops and scratches. Now, downloads are even easier to keep and transport, but I'll really miss the cool little booklets that good CD packages come with.

Ah, me ... I'm old. I like to hold stuff that I buy.

mud

[beep.click]

Should bands make C.D.'s anymore?

Yes. Other bands should. My band should not!

[winny pooh]

Itunes is a rip-off! They pay the same crappy artist royalty rates for signed artists instead of negotiating in the artist's favour correct me if I'm wrong. Plus why should I spend £7-8 for a download when I can have an actually CD in my hand for the same price.
I would rather perhaps illegally download an album and buy a t-shirt direct from the band.
That way at least they are getting more revenue from me.
My 2 cents at least

[Durtdog]

Originally Posted by winny pooh

I would rather perhaps illegally download an album and buy a t-shirt direct from the band.
That way at least they are getting more revenue from me.
My 2 cents at least

Right on, man! You're actually helping the artist by stealing his music. Power to the people, down with the capitalist pigs, everything should be free, blah, blah.

[strummin67]

Originally Posted by winny pooh

Itunes is a rip-off! They pay the same crappy artist royalty rates for signed artists instead of negotiating in the artist's favour correct me if I'm wrong. Plus why should I spend £7-8 for a download when I can have an actually CD in my hand for the same price.
I would rather perhaps illegally download an album and buy a t-shirt direct from the band.
That way at least they are getting more revenue from me.
My 2 cents at least

At first I wasn't a big fan of Itunes either and yes, I'd rather own the CD. But if there's just one song you want and the rest of the CD is crap then $.99 (US) is not a bad deal.

[chet]

Originally Posted by MandyMarie

Yes. 99% of my friends fit the "hipster" description to a t. But...they still buy CDs. Do we all have iPods and buy digital music? Yepp! But I can't think of anyone I know who doesn't buy a CD or a t-shirt (from a band they dig) at a live show. It'll help you with your gas money home. And they're so inexpensive now it's almost impossible for a traveling band to lose money on a small run of discs. Even fancy digipacks with a spine are fairly inexpensive IMO. Especially considering how much work goes into each piece.

Chet, vinyl is awesome and I'm all about it - I collect like crazy and, like you, I'm always hunting for something. But buying vinyl and pressing vinyl are two different things - it's pretty expensive for a small time, independent band to have a small run of records pressed. We're going to be doing a 7 inch as soon as this recording is done and it's costing us an arm and a leg. *sigh*
Especially compared to getting a disc packaged and pressed and/or digital downloads, it's pricey....I'm not saying it isn't worth it but it's a bit pricey. Definitely not for everybody.

I'm not really being totally serious cause I don't know the details about getting your own music pressed on vinyl. I can dream though.
Remember that old Ozzie And Harriet episode where Rickey Nelson gets a carload of singles made and they all warp in the sunlight?

Put your singles up for sale on this forum. I'll be one of the first to snag one!

[hockey_head]

when at a gig, someone sais "do you have any cds?" if you give them a card with a web address, have you made the sale?

still a place for cd's.

sell your songs over the internet tho, some peaople are cemented to their ipods.

[chet]

Originally Posted by strummin67

I still question the logic of pressing vinyl today. It's such a niche market I don't think the sales would cover the costs.

I disagree- distribution and promotion would be key. These days you can get them advertised on Amazon and have them reviewed so people can see what others think of the work as well. They can read the reviews or sample the music whenever they feel like it.

[emu!]

Should bands make CDs anymore?

From my experiences, it is VERY difficult to make a profit doing it. But if profit is not your motive, then...hell yes!

I know personally of 3 bands that spent the $$$ at a decent studio, then had 1000 copies made through a professional service. NONE of them have sold all 1000 copies to date. Most CDs are sitting in a cardboard box in the garage. I doubt if any of them have re-cooped their original investment. BUT, they do have a professional promotion tool.

[Colt W. Knight]

Originally Posted by Poppatwang

The headline wasn't supported in the article. iTunes being the #1 retailer is not
the same as saying digital downloads outsold physical CDs across the whole market.
RIAA reports downloads at 12% of the retail market. That's paying customers not pirates.
That's up from less than 1% in 2004 so we can see the trend. But CDs aren't dead yet.

+1

[Colt W. Knight]

Seriously, Do you guys think you can make money off pressing vinyl records?

[mudbean]

Originally Posted by MandyMarie

... as soon as this recording is done and it's costing us an arm and a leg. *sigh*

Hi MM!! Wow, that sux ... too bad you guys don't live out here ... I record, but not as a business, so, if'n I love the folks and their music, I'll do it for next to nothing. I'm only a hobby recordist, but I do decent work.

mud

[MandyMarie]

...I love you guys

[chet]

There's an idea for future reference, Mandy.

[Jakedog]

"Should bands make CD's?"

I think it depends on what you are trying to accomplish. If you are cover band, it would be silly. If you just want to be a local band, and keep your day jobs, and have a fun hobby/supplemental income, I still think you should have product if you have people to buy it. You can do it at home, make your own CD's, labels, etc. very affordably, and sell them at gigs for $10. I've been doing it for a little over a year now.

If you ever want to do more than that though, you have to keep up the momentum, and have pro product available. You need the proper tools to get the job done.

I just got my new record finished. Thirteen tracks. I traveled half-way across the country to record it with somebody I really wanted to work with, who I knew would do a stellar job at the controls. By the time I've had a thousand copies pressed, my partner and I will be about four grand deep into this recording. But it will be a totally professional product, packaged the way it should be, and I know we can sell them. We sold almost 500 copies of our last release, totally homade, and not the best quality, and hardly left town. Now we'll have a real CD, and we'll be going out to support it.

I spend much more every year on my music than I make back. I am thousands and thousands of dollars in the hole, and it's my only job. But I realized that if I actually wanted to be successful, build a name, and sell lots of records, that's what it takes to do it. It gets better every day. Two years ago I would gig out of state, knowing that I would play to five people, make no money, and pay for everything out of pocket. Now I typically break even. Being able to sell CD's has helped tremendously. With this new record, things should really take a positive leap forward.

I'm also expanding the business though, and will have the entire record available on i-tunes, rhapsody, etc. for download. I will also have a new website up soon to sell product and promote myself via net.

[geddins]

Originally Posted by MandyMarie

We're going to be doing a 7 inch as soon as this recording is done and it's costing us an arm and a leg.

I want an AUTOGRAPHED copy.....and you know I am serious as all get-out....do not forget

[petebradt]

Originally Posted by winny pooh

Itunes is a rip-off! They pay the same crappy artist royalty rates for signed artists instead of negotiating in the artist's favour correct me if I'm wrong. Plus why should I spend £7-8 for a download when I can have an actually CD in my hand for the same price.
I would rather perhaps illegally download an album and buy a t-shirt direct from the band.
That way at least they are getting more revenue from me.
My 2 cents at least

You are a thief. Sorry, you are.

[chet]

Hey, Mandy Marie: You should get together with Rockin' Carl and record a vinyl EP. Get together with Mudbean to do it cheaper. I'll bet you'd sell out a couple of hundred easy!

[GopherTele]

I told my wife we were going to be doing some recording the other day and she said "You're not going to be one of those bands trying to hawk their CDs from the stage are you?"

I thought it was an interesting perspective.

Everyone and their cat has an "album" and wants the public to buy it.

[fezz parka]

Should bands make CD's? Yes.
Should bands make the music available through digital downloads? Yes.
Should people expect to get the band's music for free? No.

[petebradt]

Originally Posted by GopherTele

I told my wife we were going to be doing some recording the other day and she said "You're not going to be one of those bands trying to hawk their CDs from the stage are you?"

I thought it was an interesting perspective.

Everyone and their cat has an "album" and wants the public to buy it.

Yeah but most of them suck. Ours doesn't.

[Just-Jim]

If we get rid of CD's I will have to go to my parents house and:

Supply them with a computer.
Teach them to use the computer.
Buy them an MP3 player.
Teach them to use the MP3 player.
Teach them to transfer files.
And last, listen to my dad yell at me that he is not putting his damn credit card # over the super info highway to download Lawrence Welks greatest hits.

I have changed my position. Stay with CD's!

[ce24]

Wouldn't it be illegal for a cover band to make CD's and sell them since they're not doing original material but someone else's. I would thing licensing would kill that idea...

Cheers
ce24

[geddins]

Originally Posted by Just-Jim

And last, listen to my dad yell at me that he is not putting his damn credit card # over the super info highway to download Lawrence Welks greatest hits.

Thanks Just-Jim....I was in need of a big ole belly laugh today and I just got it....That was my dad to a "T".....

[WickedGTR]

Wouldn't it be illegal for a cover band to make CD's and sell them since they're not doing original material but someone else's. I would thing licensing would kill that idea...

You don't need to license a cover song on a CD - you just need to pay the publisher per copy sold.

[petebradt]

Originally Posted by ce24

Wouldn't it be illegal for a cover band to make CD's and sell them since they're not doing original material but someone else's. I would thing licensing would kill that idea...

Cheers
ce24

Not really, depends on how many you make, you can buy licenses for as few as 25 copies from HFA. We only wrote one of our songs (and I wrote that). It cost some money but not as much as the mixing and mastering by a long shot, and we licensed 500 physical copies. Better to have good songs (especially if they're not ubiquitous) and a good recording than have songs that suck but don't cost you any royalties.