CD Prices - what the fuck, honestly...

[Executioner213]

Whos the last metal band, other than McTallica, who truly owns mansions? Maybe Dave Mustaine, but thats pushin it. A few bigger bands (Slayer, for example) have decent budgets to where they can do a tour on thier own, like "The Unholy Alliance"...I really don't know if they have someone else put the money up for that, but I assume they can afford it.

I don't know about you, but I don't know any peer bands of mine who clear that much money to where they can do a disc in a good studio, other than Martriden...and I don't know thier inner workings (never asked em). Most bands like such do most of thier disc sales at gigs, making maximum profit. The topic in concern is disc prices and it has already been nailed on the head: it's not the artists gouging prices, it's the distros and outlets not only digging for money but passing the buck on to you for shit like shipping the product to thier outlets.

 

[Genius Gone Insane]

uh oh....here we go. noob dun started.

Eh, noob on this forum yeah. I don't really feel like discussing it, I just get annoyed when people talk like they know what the fuck they're talking about when all they're really saying is "I don't value music, and I'm a cheap fucking bastard".

Fair enough, I'm (obviously) new on this forum, and was unaware of the particular policies. I'll read the FAQ right now to get familiar, as I really do love metal and am quite passionate (again, obviously) about independent music.

I humbly apologize!

Ya no worries dude. I'm no cheap bastard though. I buy most of my music unless a friend burns something and says I gotta hear it. If it's good then I'll buy it.

What musicians need to realize is that the music business model is not simply changing -- it is in fact a different business model entirely. People are listening to music ALL THE FUCKING TIME and if the prices come down, they'll pay for it in batches. $10 gets you 100 songs on your ipod. People will pay for that. Someone just needs to take the initiative.

One last thing: yes lord I know how difficult it is to record an album. Fucken don't get me started on that one. But it is easier than it used to be, and people are recording on their own more and more, which is saving money.

Don't forget, the bottom line is that all you're selling is 1s and 0s. Now, improve your live show to something that is "can't miss" -- then we're talking.


PS welcome to the forum, I look forward to learning from you in the future

 

[steve.h]

Ultimately though, we're talking about metal. All you do by not purchasing metal CD's, is remove any sort of incentive for labels to pick up metal bands and help them get their music out to more people. If CD sales for everything else was down, but metal CD sales were astronomically high, way more metal bands would get a chance to tour other countries and such.

That said, buying CD's from independent metal bands at shows is and will always be the most direct and important way you can support your favorite music.

 

[AdamWathan]

Welcome to Venezuela

Metallica - Death Magnetic : 65 BsF. ~ 29.68 US$

You have NO right to complain about the price of ANYTHING, gas in Venezuala is like $0.03/L!!!!

 

[steve.h]

...Don't forget, the bottom line is that all you're selling is 1s and 0s. Now, improve your live show to something that is "can't miss" -- then we're talking.

I can definitely agree that most bands have lost focus on actually being able to play their songs, and making their live shows worth seeing!

However, when it comes to selling "just 1's and 0's", I can't agree. I can say that my band is putting our entire full-length on our website for free, but we are still charging for the CD, as it is quite expensive and difficult to make an album, and in order to make more, we need to pay for them. The CD duplicator and mastering engineers don't work for free, and the equipment to record isn't free, so the CD's can't be free. However, I believe the rights to listen to the music SHOULD be free, and thus giving it away online makes monetary support optional. I don't think kids that don't have the $10 to spend on our CD should be denied the right to listen to our music. It'd be pretty fucking pretentious to think so.

On a side-note, if you're buying CD's from a store, you're choosing to support the store, the shipping company that shipped it to the store, the label that put out the CD (or the band that paid to have it put out), the CD duplication place, the mastering engineer, the mixing engineer, the recording engineer, the studio it was recorded at, and the musicians themselves. Thus, the best place to get CD's is from a show, cutting out the label (if they're an independent band), the shipping, and the store.

PS welcome to the forum, I look forward to learning from you in the future

Thanks! Not precisely a grand entrance, but hopefully I can keep the inner rage... inner.. hah

 

[Genius Gone Insane]

I
Thanks! Not precisely a grand entrance, but hopefully I can keep the inner rage... inner.. hah

 

[jacare]

I don't know if there's any Marillion fan around here but, their example must be mentioned: they've flooded the internet (torrents, p2p) with their new album before anyone did it. Even the guys who pre-ordered the CD didn't get before it reaches the web. With the MP3 they've sent a video where they ask people who like their music to support them by going to their concerts, buying t-shirts, mugs, whatever ! Didn't know if anyone here knew about this so...

 

[Baron of Norsworthy]

Welcome to Britain boys CD's 17.99 pounds about 30 USD!!

 

[-Gavin-]

Welcome to Britain boys CD's 17.99 pounds about 30 USD!!

Since when? I've not been gone that long have i?

 

[hoehlentroll]

Ultimately though, we're talking about metal. All you do by not purchasing metal CD's, is remove any sort of incentive for labels to pick up metal bands and help them get their music out to more people.

I hear that everytime: don't download stuff you'll destroy the music. You know what? I almost always like band's debut albums which are very often self-produced and not label financed. if in flames is not going to have anymore money for another "A Sense of Purpose" they have to do another "Lunar Strain" at their garage that's more than fine with me (sorry for that example, but you'll get my point?)

 

[Baron of Norsworthy]

Since when? I've not been gone that long have i?

Thats how much it cost me to buy non chart albums in derby and some are 21 pounds.

 

[xconnyx]

HOLY SHIT!

~006

should be the same in germany as well....

 

[-Gavin-]

Thats how much it cost me to buy non chart albums in derby and some are 21 pounds.

Last time i was in derby i managed to get a burger in excahange for some magic beans....

 

[Baron of Norsworthy]

Last time i was in derby i managed to get a burger in excahange for some magic beans....

No surprise there then was that by any chance from the local eastern european merchant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[steve.h]

I hear that everytime: don't download stuff you'll destroy the music. You know what? I almost always like band's debut albums which are very often self-produced and not label financed. if in flames is not going to have anymore money for another "A Sense of Purpose" they have to do another "Lunar Strain" at their garage that's more than fine with me (sorry for that example, but you'll get my point?)

Did you even read the rest of my post?

 

[Mendel]

So I was at my local FYE (do they have those outside of North America?) looking at CD's today, and was very frustrated by the following contrast:

New Daylight Dies (standard plastic case, no bonus disc) - $16.99
New Amon Amarth (folded cardboard digipak w/ bonus DVD) - $11.99

WHAT THE FUCK - the latter is even a bit cheap IMO for what you get (not like I'm complaining), but how can they justify the pricing on the former? In one of the seemingly monthly anti-downloading threads awhile ago someone made the very good point that it's retarded that DVD's from tons of different eras very often can be had new for $5-$10, yet CD's almost never dip beneath $12 (except for things like Dokken, which I must admit I was tempted by today for $8 ). If people want to sell more CD's, they should figure out how the DVD companies get their prices so low and jump on that bandwagon...

And don't worry Egan, I'll be buying "Lost to the Living" soon enough, probably direct from your site

Haha dude, at the regular cd stores metal cd's cost about 17 euro's or go up to 23 euro's. (with regular cd stores i mean franchise stores )

Most metal cd's at vinyl stores (non franchise) etc cost about 14 euro's.

that's about 17 dollars ?

 

[hoehlentroll]

Did you even read the rest of my post?

yes I did and my answer wasn't meant so much concerning your post but more in general.

 

[steve.h]

yes I did and my answer wasn't meant so much concerning your post but more in general.

Ah. So your point is that most band's CD's they make BEFORE recording in huge studios are usually much better than the ones they make AFTER getting signed and whatnot? I feel that's personal preference, for sure. I mean, there are those that really like Opeth's first two albums, but can't stand anything from Still Life-on, whereas I think the first two are kinda crappy, but have been getting steadily better since.

Could we agree that, if the band continues to make kick-ass music, regardless of what label they're on or how much the CD cost to make, that it's always better to support the band and purchase a CD/go to their shows, than it is to steal their music?

 

[LydonB]

Could we agree that, if the band continues to make kick-ass music, regardless of what label they're on or how much the CD cost to make, that it's always better to support the band and purchase a CD/go to their shows, than it is to steal their music?

 

[egan.]

Since my band was mentioned by the OP I feel I need to weigh in on hoehlentroll's opinions here.

Firstly, any band that can make $5000 "playing a few gigs" is doing very well. I don't know where you get numbers from but while that is very possible as a gross amount it becomes much more difficult as a net after expenses-- particularly without any label support. Especially if you ignore the importance of advertising, magazine coverage, getting you on tours and the host of other things that get you to the point where you could move significant merch. There are certainly a few bands that have done that but not many playing underground metal.

Again since my band is guilty of having "over priced cds" I want to share a couple of facts with you. Firstly, in 8 years of making records for different labels I have never made a profit and let alone bought a sportscar, I have never done a record where the vast majority wasn't recorded in my house or my rehearsal space, and I have had to weigh my band against things like my job.
I'm not complaining. I have toured all over the place and feel lucky to have been able to make records, meet great people and work with great people.

What I find alarming is this notion that anyone but the top of the top are even making a living. Most are living hand to mouth. My band aside, the only band we have ever toured with where none of the members had regular jobs was lacuna coil. Every other band had members with regular jobs. Album sales are what let them continue to cut records. Tshirts are what allow them to eat and pay for gas and tour.

If you think the new In Flames sucks, don't buy it-- but don't pretend that you are executing some sort of justified wealth redistribution. In Flames is a huge band but for 99% of bands we are talking about this is a difference between being able to make records and tour or having to hang it up before you get evicted. Obviously don't but what you don't like, but if you d/l a record and love it then buy the CD...or at least a tshirt...or do something if you want to hear more from a band in the future.