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THE FUTURE OF THE MUSIC BUSINESS / Re: CDs are dead (almost)
« on: December 30, 2010, 01:33:36 pm »
i made some adjustments as i wanted to keep my reply simple.
I see and experience the only cd market left for obscure and small labels as Limited edition cds in good packaging.
I was selling 1000 cds about 3 years back in 1.5 years.Now i am down to 300.I always sold these as limited editions and for me its the only option.
I do not like files , i like to feel , see , have art , a package and i collect cds.
So do at least 300 people worldwide and as labels phase out cds it simply means those who do them will become more rare and sort after.
There will always be a % who want cds.
I see a day when cd in collectable art packaging will be worth alot more maybe an audio cd / flac data cd / art , package .
As eno has just done.
Instead of slowly eroding your art into a cheap and worthless digital commodity return it to art , do the opposite , dont follow trends make them.
There is no future in selling cheap mp3 via itunes , or cheap music for artists.For mass produced labels maybe but as musicians we really have to consider our worth.
As an artist selling his own music on limited cd ( glass master with full art etc ) for 5 years now and with about 8 releases i can say for me its now about limiting my sales , not maximising them , about selling less , distributing less and making my art and label more collectable , making it harder to buy it and making it so each buyer is a collector and supporter of me as an artist.Sell less , charge more , return music to a valued work of art.
I end all digital distribution ( via a major network and on every major digital retailer ) in 2011 and you will only be able to buy my work direct from me , on my site .I also end all distribution with pile it high and sell it cheap retailers .
The future for me is selling 100 / 300 limited works of art , of music / flac and in good packaging and making it so you have no choice , you buy the work as a work of art from me direct or you go buy or download some free musical commodity.
Sorry but many are heading in the wrong direction as artists , devalueing their work , piling high , selling cheap and really being sucked into and endless spiral of worthlessness.
The future is in becoming small , self suficient , offering good creative art , nice packaging and a mixed medium of cd , flac , wav and above all cutting out pointless middle men , deal direct as artist / label with the music buyer who supports you as an artist.
We must return music in peoples minds as a work of art.
Selling digital files does not equate to a living for small labels.Its a trap and the trend is killing music and the idea musicians can make a living.
Its an erosion of creative spirit in music by market forces and consumerism trends that suit mac and the rest of ' the corporation '
Digital only sales will in the end kill music i feel as art and all we will have left is a load of watered down labels selling files for 1 cent and a few highly collectable artists labels doing to exact oppsosite .
Do the opposite form the pack i say.I invested my time in collecting all my customers contacts , selling direct.I sell more direct than via distributers and retailers now , way more.
We have to step back now , make efficient and above all work as a painter selling his work to a buyer.
Take a pro active step , force all sales through your site , all mediums controlled by the label and artist ( if an artist run label ) Price the works at a good value and remind the buyers anc Colectors ( the key ) that theya re supporting art and artists , not itune and the rest of big business.
Educate and appeal to the listeners heart and thank them for direct support.
Its a worthless relationship that sees a listener want to pay as little as possible for your work.They dont emjoy it so much and value it less and you ? you make no living.
Mp3 via distribution is a trap as are cheap file sales.
I see and experience the only cd market left for obscure and small labels as Limited edition cds in good packaging.
I was selling 1000 cds about 3 years back in 1.5 years.Now i am down to 300.I always sold these as limited editions and for me its the only option.
I do not like files , i like to feel , see , have art , a package and i collect cds.
So do at least 300 people worldwide and as labels phase out cds it simply means those who do them will become more rare and sort after.
There will always be a % who want cds.
I see a day when cd in collectable art packaging will be worth alot more maybe an audio cd / flac data cd / art , package .
As eno has just done.
Instead of slowly eroding your art into a cheap and worthless digital commodity return it to art , do the opposite , dont follow trends make them.
There is no future in selling cheap mp3 via itunes , or cheap music for artists.For mass produced labels maybe but as musicians we really have to consider our worth.
As an artist selling his own music on limited cd ( glass master with full art etc ) for 5 years now and with about 8 releases i can say for me its now about limiting my sales , not maximising them , about selling less , distributing less and making my art and label more collectable , making it harder to buy it and making it so each buyer is a collector and supporter of me as an artist.Sell less , charge more , return music to a valued work of art.
I end all digital distribution ( via a major network and on every major digital retailer ) in 2011 and you will only be able to buy my work direct from me , on my site .I also end all distribution with pile it high and sell it cheap retailers .
The future for me is selling 100 / 300 limited works of art , of music / flac and in good packaging and making it so you have no choice , you buy the work as a work of art from me direct or you go buy or download some free musical commodity.
Sorry but many are heading in the wrong direction as artists , devalueing their work , piling high , selling cheap and really being sucked into and endless spiral of worthlessness.
The future is in becoming small , self suficient , offering good creative art , nice packaging and a mixed medium of cd , flac , wav and above all cutting out pointless middle men , deal direct as artist / label with the music buyer who supports you as an artist.
We must return music in peoples minds as a work of art.
Selling digital files does not equate to a living for small labels.Its a trap and the trend is killing music and the idea musicians can make a living.
Its an erosion of creative spirit in music by market forces and consumerism trends that suit mac and the rest of ' the corporation '
Digital only sales will in the end kill music i feel as art and all we will have left is a load of watered down labels selling files for 1 cent and a few highly collectable artists labels doing to exact oppsosite .
Do the opposite form the pack i say.I invested my time in collecting all my customers contacts , selling direct.I sell more direct than via distributers and retailers now , way more.
We have to step back now , make efficient and above all work as a painter selling his work to a buyer.
Take a pro active step , force all sales through your site , all mediums controlled by the label and artist ( if an artist run label ) Price the works at a good value and remind the buyers anc Colectors ( the key ) that theya re supporting art and artists , not itune and the rest of big business.
Educate and appeal to the listeners heart and thank them for direct support.
Its a worthless relationship that sees a listener want to pay as little as possible for your work.They dont emjoy it so much and value it less and you ? you make no living.
Mp3 via distribution is a trap as are cheap file sales.