Like most people my listening habits have changed somewhat over the past ten years. From listening to everything on radio, then cassette (usually borrowed or taped from the radio) to buying CD singles, then buying albums, then nothing but vinyl, to downloading songs for free from Napster’s pirate days, and now having everything I have on CD on the ipod with mountains of podcasts of comedy shows to travel diarys. And yet, as well as listening to local radio in the car (usually at night) I’ve returned to listening to radio on the net. Better download speeds means Portland’s Rock KUFO is no longer a “34% buffering” away, pausing in between the DJ mentioning the name of the song and steaming seamlessly through Memorial Day sale adverts. Nope, we get the whole truth and nothing but it these days.
Alhough it’s no wonder we have a hard time paying for something we are used to getting for free; It’s merely personal morals standing in the way of you getting that hot new MGMT or White Denim album for zero coinage, rather than forking out £7/£8 for it on iTunes. Also, The end product is usually the same, only you had less hassle getting it and yet no-ones the wiser you’re a pirate. arrr matey!
So since we aren’t buying CDs anymore, apart from the remastered versions of albums you had when you were young, what is it we need to be getting with downloads that we don’t already get? We’re missing lyrics and detailed artwork, but most people probably could live without both if they could get an album for free. So, what do we not expect to get for free with a release? Gig tickets and clothing merchandise. Two things your average non-conformist muso can’t live without. Exclusiveness is the key. If a band gave away a cap or a tee with a release, people would know you bought it legitimatly, raising your supporting-indie-music-cool-o-meter while looking good too. Secret gigs would certainly get the credit card out of the wallet of most fans. What else? Ringtones? remixes? posters? Anyway, gimmie your thoughts on it, I’m just meandering here while my coffee brews.
4 responses so far ↓
nick // July 2, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Some of the more regular request have been for artwork, lyrics (like you mentioned) and hi-res MP3s or FLACs. There’re quite a few services which offer just that, although I personally feel that hi-res MP3s aren’t necessary – but with the new iPod I’d certainly miss artwork. But then again, with iTunes “get album artwork” function, that’s moot AS LONG AS:
Decent meta-data’s available – This is another reason I’d lean toward a legit service. More than once I’ve downloaded what I thought to be a Mavis Staples song to find out it’s some terrible cover version of a Mavis Staples track by some over-zealous fan with tourette’s. That said, MusicBrainz does a pretty good job of supplying metadata for the obscure stuff, but it’s not perfect and, frankly, I don’t have the time to correct this stuff – so I’ll pay my $0.30/track, thank you very much.
But I’d say kick it up a notch – check out what TopSpin are doing with bands like the Dandy Warhols (offering $40/year subs for all-recorded-output offerings), or where Kristen Hersh and Xiu Xiu are offering things like Exec. Producer credits, cameo appearances on their albums and other uber-cred-building treats for donations to their recording funds. It ain’t free, but it’s certainly exclusive.
David // July 4, 2008 at 10:38 am
I think what bothers me is the number of times I have bought songs. One example is U2’s Unforgettable Fire (brilliant) but I have it cassette, vinyl (that old) and CD. Then I have the Best of and that has some of the songs on there too.
If we could buy the rights to play the song like a license then as they release new formats you pay just for the media.
I guess the same applies to the stack of VHS cassettes I have and duplicate DVDs, and there will be one or two I will buy the blue ray of……
That said there a few artists coming up with new ways of getting their product other Duke Special with wooden box sets and song books for one.
I have do say I do miss the album sleave, It has been my life’s ambition to get my name in the album notes. I’d really hoped it would have been a Kylie album but at this rate it will remain but a dream.
Eddie // July 15, 2008 at 3:45 pm
nice feedback lads. Both very valid points- the correct meta-data is a must!
I think even if you were cheap, the time it takes to edit tracklistings doesn’t make financial sense to most in a full-time job.
I miss the album sleeve too, but I guess its an indulgence most can’t really afford these days. Either that or we just consume so much new music that we cant keep up with our new demands.
Tracy // July 15, 2008 at 4:38 pm
Agree with all above; user experiences (whether gigs or ‘club’ membership) are probably the way forward, along with merch/anything limited edition.
Nick, I liked the Dandy Warhol approach you talked about at BarCamp; popular approach in business development products. Hadn’t heard about Ms Hersh’s idea, that’s an interesting one. Not sure I like it tho; No Logo is springing to mind! Wouldn’t want to have to think of including a funder in a video for the sake of it.