@idiom
Hardware collection or software compilation-Music in the household
In my more than restless sleep last night my mind wandered to the construction of my first album; covers, CD labels, track orders, promotion, all the daily household chores of getting music in a single package for people to keep. Is it worth it?<br /><br />Of course it's worth making an album or two, but is it worth all the aggravation of having CD's printed/ burned when most your album, if not all of it will end up being converted into MP3 and jammed into a mini player in someone's pocket? <br /><br />Take an examination of the practical and non practical aspects of albums these days and I think we will find the answers. So here we have a CD collection. Let's say there are 500 CD's all catalogued and neatly arranged within a cabinet for easy locating. Now, while it looks impressive, and while it's a lovely focal point and great conversation starter: "Jeez, you got one hell of a collection!" I have a question: When it comes time for you to move..........<br /><br />You got a mini van for most of your stuff and a semi for the CD's. They're heavy, bulky in boxes and a damn nuisance to shift. Shoulda got yourself an MP3 player dude, cause the other side of the coin is a whole lot rosier.<br /><br />Same scenario, but you're showing a friend your collection on your PC. Album art decorates the folders and you have 30GB of pure beauty at your fingertips. Easy to carry around once in an MP3 player/iPOD and you don't have to wait to get home to listen to your favorite album. Then of course it comes time to move and really, there's nothing being transported that you didn't already have. Music files don't make your PC heavier.<br /><br />So as an artist and musician, what would you aim for? The practical side of album creation where the files could be stored easier without taking up any physical room in the apartment/house, or the eye candy album; a physical reach out and touch object that you have to find a place for inbetween your partners favorite trophy or figurine?<br /><br />I know which one I'd rather shoot for.
Tags
cheers for the update Heinz, seems like iTunes could be the tester site for a track or two to see how they sell before jumping in with a full album..hmm..thoughts that swirl are thoughts that breathe....
Idiom, I've just checked CDBaby again and they seem to have changed their digital distribution system: They now offer full album sales (hard copy) next to full album sales (digital); but no single track sales/downloads. Instead, they've teamed up with iTunes and customers can now purchase single tracks on their site. CDBabay really emphasizes on hard copy sales it seems ... But iTunes is worldwide the biggest single-track sales outlet and just a click away.
Just wanted to update you on that
Heinz.
Wow, some amazing responses. I guess there's a nice division between what you can hold and what you know to exist virtually, and you've all given some great examples.I think, when my time comes to decide on the physical or the digital (first album Jan 09-plug, plug lol) I'll have go through the posts again because I'm being swayed here lol.
Heinz: Didn't know CD Baby did the digital sales. I must have had my head buried for way too long lol.
Terentek: Be having a look at Kunaki, looks interesting. Thanks for the suggestion.
Thanks again for reading and taking some of your precious time away from the musical whirlpool.
IDIOM
I found it fun and educational to do. I enjoy working with graphics and getting better at mixing the wave files of my music. Producing a CD was a way for me to mark a moment in time so I can move on from there. Honestly don't care about the money end, but when someone asks, "what do you do with all this ****?" I show them my CD....lol
I think without a decent distribution network,largely youa re making cd's for family and friends.
One compromise would be to goto a company like Kunaki.com where you can upload high quality files,that THEY then turn into CD's for you for sale via their networks,with the added bonus that it also covers the digital downloads.
Just my suggestion
I make cd's just for myself as a rule,although the Gunslinger project was a major release,but it's the distributor who gets it in the high street shops.
They placed it in ever major music outlet,all for a cost of course
Hope this helps?
Nigel.
making CDs as indies is just nice for our egos.. to know we've made it far enough down the line to leave something from us behind.. don't really think anyone minds.. and as long as we're not blind.. not get ourselves into any financial or spirtual binds.. so why not if you got the time?
Interesting Idiom: I wander whether people would prefer to own that little shining disk ? personally I do. The future is coming faster than we may think in terms of music distribution but as with a ,lot of things sometime down that line the CD will come back to life.lOOK how many people now collect Vinyl !
Sly
Very interesting blog, Idiom. It couldn't have come at a better time ... We are just about to release our first album. We went through (and still do) a lot of hassle, worries and some frustration to create our CD. So, is it all worth it?
I'd say - YES.
I think Joe said it perfectly right: It's for our egos! After months, or even years of blood, sweat and tears - not to mention time and money, we've put into our project - we DESERVE to receive something we can proudly hold in our hands; show around, brag about, and best of all: SELL.
We'll put our CD on CDBaby which will sell the album as hard disk (the old-fashioned way) but also the 'new way', meaning, mp3s to be downloaded. They'll also set up accounts for us on iTunes and Napster.
While I agree, hard disk CDs are fading and will soon have disappeared - I wouldn't hesitate to go through all the hassle again to produce another one!
I look at it this way: If a musician or producer is presented a golden record due to enormous sales, it won't be a mp3 to be stored in the computer, right? It'll be a hard disk which he/she will hang on a wall, to show it to the whole world.
Heinz.