Does anyone buy compact discs anymore?

My 2 cents:

As someone who has a musical ear and can understand and appreciate someone else’s effort, virtuosity and dedication when creating music, I only buy a CD when the band REALLY DESERVES IT.

I predict Pop music is gonna keep being ripped off. Hence, one way out to escape from -or minimize- the damage of illegal mp3 distribution is to make ourselves better musicians each day so we can be economically recognized by those music-ear-trained people who appreciate and have respect for DECENT music.

Regards

Roland Fantom X8

Event TR8 Studio Monitors

Hi Sammy.

First, let me preface this by saying that though I do publish my music, I'm not a professional musician or performer. My primary source of income (as I suspect is the case with most members here) is not from music.

That having been said, I think you've somewhat overstated the issue. Compact Discs are late 1970's/early 1980's technology. Their inevitable demise is the result of the natural evolution of distribution media (just as the demise of the phonograph and 8-track cassette were). The distribution method alters the marketing and distribution tactics, but not the art, at least not directly. Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, the large recording companies have largely failed to embrace digital distribution as the future method for selling merchandise (and that's all it is to them is merchandise, not art).

The success of Apple's iTunes as well as Rhapsody, Sony Connect, Napster, and many other online distributors strongly suggests that it is the future of music (and video) distribution. The media companies don't like it much because it reduces their control over distribution. The most popular distribution point (iTunes) is run by a company with little interest in the sale of music and more in the sale of hardware (the iPod and Apple TV, and by association, their computers).

But I've digressed. How can one make a living off their music without selling CDs? By selling digital downloads. Perhaps more to the point, how much money does a signed artist get from, say, 10,000 CD sales? Likely little more than they get for 100,000 or even 1,000,000 CD sales, because their contracts favor the record company far more than the musician or performer. This doesn't necessarily apply to the independent artist though.

From a consumer perspective, digital distribution is far more convenient. You need not go to a brick-and-mortar store to buy, or even preview music. You don't need to buy an entire CD just for one or two songs you like. You don't have to worry about whether the store you choose has the CD in stock. You don't have to worry about having to replace a CD due to damage or theft. No other form of distribution can compete with these advantages, and these advantages tend to outweigh those of CDs (uncompressed audio, printed inserts).

I tend to take a strong stance when it comes to profiting from artistic works. Though I certainly don't object to making money from one's own creations, if one artist's art is not as compelling to the consumer as another artist's work, than the first artist should either work at getting better, or forget about quitting his/her day job. Digital distribution more evenly levels the field and forces artists to compete with many more talented people than just the ones the major Labels choose. Moreover, because iTunes and many other digital distributors are less interested in marketing the music as they are about marketing the experience, even big name musicians often find themselves on the same page as obscure independent artists, further leveling the field, and giving the consumer more choice (and the independent artist a chance to actually get exposure).

Regards,

Nathan Sheldon
http://www.nathansheldon.com/

Well put Nathan! Sammy, if I read your question right it sounded like you were asking more about piracy than on what medium the music is stored, correct? You want to know how musicians can make money if no one is buying CDs. I assume you conclude that people aren't buying CDs because they are illegally downloading the music. While that certainly does happen, there are still *millions* of sales of downloaded music, so it can be done and the best part is there are sites out there that will sell independant artists' music for you for a small fee. Back before the days of the Internet the only way a musician would ever get heard (and bought) is to be signed by a major label and do all that was required to promote it. Now you just upload your MP3 to one of these sites and they sell it for you. The death of the CD is not necessarily a bad thing.

-Matt

Pianoman:

No, you are incorrect. I really liked CDs when they were popular. I always enjoyed buying them at the store, having to wait to get home to listen to my latest acquisition, and the smell of the packaging upon opening it. I loved the little artwork/booklet piece in the front, and I always liked the way that music sounded played from them.

I feel so sad in my llife. I feel as though an important part of who I was has left me. There was a time when I looked forward to new releases by bands and artists who I liked. I guess that I never thought that the whole music industry could change so much in such little time.

History is strewn with the carcasses of failed ideas, dead art forms, and useless thoughts. It seems as though this is what has happened to me. I have become a dinosaur, at the ripe-old age of 35.

Thank you. Good night...

and good luck.

- Sammy James, 2007

Sammy James has been approved for use by people who need approval.

http://www.sammyjames.com/music.htm

I understand completely (as a 38 year-old dinosaur myself). The MP3 format is a lossy format so I agree you do lose a lot of the material (especially all the older MP3s out there that were ripped at 128K bit rate). FLAC or one of the other lossless formats is a much better choice.

I also miss the artwork and more importantly the credits. As an engineer-type myself, I always liked reading who the recording engineer was, where it was recorded, who mastered, etc. Also nice to see what instruments and gear the band used, and I also liked reading the writing credits and lyrics as well. I was always amazed at who wrote songs for who.

But now we're starting to sound like our parents who said the same thing when CDs replaced LPs.

-Matt

BRING BACK THE 8-TRACK.



Carl
Fantom X-7, RD-300s

Hmm, difficult subject for me. On one hand, I feel a bit like Sammy. On the other, I like what Nathan was saying. I still buy CDs. I've only bought 1 album from iTunes because it was no longer available in CD. I will continue to buy CDs...

And on the other hand, I'm getting tired of lugging these things around when I move. Sure, I like the artwork, etc but how often do I really look at it? A few years ago I pretty much stopped buying DVDs due to the ability to rent via Netflix. It appears that media is becoming more and more disposable as of late. While I think CDs are a better investment than DVDs (how often are you really going to watch the same movie), I am slowly starting to wane towards digital music. I'm not there yet. There are still a lot of psychological hurdles I need to surpass before I do. I am also 38 so am slow to change.

Some things that will sell me on digital only media?

1) DRM needs to go
2) Lossless audio (if not improved over what we have on CD)
3) A full liner note booklet in electronic form that details everything regarding the album

After that, I'll probably be sold. Time will tell.

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Fantom X8 (2.10) 512MB
Fantom XR (2.02) 512MB
V-Synth XT (2.02)
SH-201

As I sit here in my studio recalling at one time or another having owned; Reels of 24 track masters, assorted ADAT, 20 or so odd milk crates full of vinyl, countless cassette tapes (which by the way in my opinion are the most volatile format as far as degrading over time) and a number of 8 track tapes (*gotta love the fade out between tracks when the track switches in the middle of a song*) not to mention the other various forms of recording media that have existed. I can't help but notice that the only form of music storage media that has never changed is the playback in my own head.

Personally I feel that as a musician it is not merely important but necessary to perform in front of a live audience. Otherwise we become nothing more than composers or worse merely programmers.

All of the electronic "gadgets" that we use to create, record and playback music are merely tools. in the end it is your creativity or lack thereof that makes you a musician.

It seems that the choices have changed very little over the years for musicians. It's all a matter of knowing "why" you play or write music. If the ability to "sell" a recording is your primary motivation then maybe your not doing it for the right reasons. Personally I continue to write and play because it's who I am - that and the fact that; none of my friends will let me quit.

Playing live gigs is the only reliable way I have seen for a musician to make money from his/her art. Besides that fact that as a fan you will take home more via the experience of a live performance than you could from merely listening to a recording of an artist.

In my life I have seen Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, AC/DC (w/Bon Scott) and countless other artists that will never play again as they once were. I remember most of the shows (hey...the 70's was a good excuse to party).

I look at the rise of electronic music transfer as a positive thing for the individual musician. The need for a distribution deal is gone. You can set up a website of your own using paypal for funds transfer, offer your music for sale on a song by song basis and not have to share the money with a label that has only their own interest at heart. You can even sell the liner art on the site as a download.

On the other hand if your music does not appeal to a large audience or just plain sucks, you'll find out very quickly that the old saying "don't quit your day job" has meaning.

With any luck the immediate consumer feedback will eliminate the "musicians" that only got signed for their looks. The pendulum could swing back to the way music was before MTV. Remember when Rock stars were a bit on the ugly side? (i.e. Motorhead) Man... could those cats play or what.

If (38) is dinosaur age...Damn..... I must be a single celled organism. We used to beat on hollow rocks in my day. and we were glad we had 'em.

-Old,fat,bald and ugly used up musician-----

WOW!,
I just would like to absolutely second that metavox

Hi guys.

Great discussion.

To address what Igglethorpe said, on April 2, 2007 EMI and Apple announced DRM free music at higher bit rates (256 kbps Advanced Audio Codec (AAC)) for all of the EMI owned music starting in May on the iTunes store. See this Billboard article for more info. Apple hopes to have 50 percent of their entire iTunes store (music) library DRM free in a year. Also, the iTunes store has been selling digital liner notes (in PDF format) as part of many full album purchases for a while now, and many albums now also come with an included music video or making-of commentary/video just like on Enhanced CDs. So though the music isn't yet lossless, quality is improving, DRM is slowly dying, and all the extra media you'd expect from a CD is also showing up in digital format with album purchases online.

Regards,

Nathan Sheldon
http://www.nathansheldon.com/

Nathan,

I saw that announcement and am hopeful. My concern will be the new pricing. Chances are, the cost will go up for this level of quality. I will still remain optimistic and hope that this fledgling method of obtaining media improves with time.

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Fantom X8 (2.10) 512MB
Fantom XR (2.02) 512MB
V-Synth XT (2.02)
SH-201

Hi Igglethorpe.

Yes, the prices were announced to be $1.29 US per track for the higher quality, non-DRM versions (DRM 128 kbps versions will remain $0.99 US). Albums with non-DRM tracks will remain the same price, only when you buy individual tracks will the price be more expensive.

Regards,

Nathan Sheldon
http://www.nathansheldon.com/

i buy CD often, in fact i bought a CD today at Tower records

many my friends buy CDs. especially the ones that do CD DJ are buying waaay tooo often, waste of money? maybe

i often go to HMV and Tower Records for my new CDs, and other used CD stores for cheaper used and even new. they seem to be having many customers and busy. So the answer is yes, many people are still buying CDs.

theres even many people buying vinil records. of course they are mostly DJs or record fans but still plenty buyers i think, because theres plenty of stores selling plenty of records.

I still buy CD's. However I won't buy a CD I can't hear first. I don't like to download music as a rule since I don't have an Ipod or any other portable player for that matter. Neither my Car stereo or my home Cd player plays MP3's. I might start downloading more should those situations change.