So... I think I'm ready to abandon the physical format and just go completely digital. I'm curious where most people buy their music from and why? Apple? Google? Amazon? All of the above? Any reasons for your preferences? Thanks.
Where do you buy your digital music?
- Thread starter General Zod
- Start date
Jasonic
Doom On!
ITUNES primarily.
Amazon occasionally if they have a deal (Sometimes $5, or even 99 cents for a full length).
I had a subscription many years ago to eMusic, but the success of the download was always hit or miss.
Spent a LOT of time with Customer Service.
This was years ago though
There really isn't much elasticity yet with the pricing.
This is where the subscription places LIKE eMusic are most cost beneficial.
Amazon occasionally if they have a deal (Sometimes $5, or even 99 cents for a full length).
I had a subscription many years ago to eMusic, but the success of the download was always hit or miss.
Spent a LOT of time with Customer Service.
This was years ago though
There really isn't much elasticity yet with the pricing.
This is where the subscription places LIKE eMusic are most cost beneficial.
jem777az
Bozzman
I use iTunes. Since I already have all of my physical CDs ripped via iTunes it's just easier for organizational purposes to use it to buy digital. Plus I'm not concerned with the whole FLAC sound quality debate. I listen to my music on my iPod either hooked up in my car or through headphones and it sounds fine IMO. I have compared the iTunes .aac format to Amazon .mp3 and I find that iTunes sounds better to my ear.
jem777az
Bozzman
Correct. They use .aac
But iTunes can play .mp3 formats as well as others. Just the downloads from the iTunes Store are in an .aac format.
Amazon - no DRM, good selection, and in a format that will work on any device I copy it to. My only beef is that I have to boot into Windows since their proprietary downloading software doesn't work in 64bit Ubuntu, but I can live with that and it won't even be an issue for most people.
Diamond45
Terminate Bad Music
For digital music - Amazon MP3 and eMusic. Both offer DRM-free MP3s.
eMusic is subscription based and offers a number of prog & power bands. Either single MP3s or whole albums.
Amazon MP3 is single MP3s or whole albums.
eMusic is subscription based and offers a number of prog & power bands. Either single MP3s or whole albums.
Amazon MP3 is single MP3s or whole albums.
I spent time with Amazon mp3 and iTunes and prefer iTunes between the two. Also moving towards Bandcamp as I love that Bandcamp model and as more bands get involved on it.
nailz
Member
I almost exclusively buy from Amazon, because of MP3 format. I only open iTunes when I need to sync my iPhone.
I like the fact that Amazon uses DRM-free MP3s. However, they use 256 Kbps files. Currently, I download a CD, sample it, and decide whether to purchase it. The music I download is 320Kbps, which is the same bitrate I use when I a rip a CD. It seems crazy for me to plunk down my money to buy a CD, and then end up with a lower bit rate of the same file.
nailz
Member
nailz
Member
If you've already got the 320kbps files what difference does it make what you pay and then download? Just keep the higher BR files.
One thing that appeals to me about Bandcamp's system is that you can decide what file format you want to buy.
From Bandcamp's info page:
Furthermore, they make it so that if you bought a format and changed your mind about what you wanted, you can still go back and get the format you want.
And for those buyers feeling generous, some bands have the "or more" option next to the purchase amount, so you could actually give MORE to the band if you choose to.
So essentially, I'd be using Amazon/Apple only as a tool for paying the band. Interesting.
I'll have to check this out. Thanks.
EDIT: I had to search for 10 CDs before I found 1 they had. Cool concept. Doesn't seem ready to compete.
nailz
Member
I look at it as buying the rights to own the media. If you buy a copy of Windows and it comes on a DVD, Microsoft isn't going to charge you $200 to replace the DVD if it breaks, they're going to send you a new one.
If you've already got the 320kbps files, and purchase the album from amazon, I don't see any reason to delete the 320kbps files or never use them again, especially if what you're getting is 'inferior'.
You buy the album, you own the product.
dcowboys311
Member
Bandcamp's an awesome format that a lot of smaller labels are starting to use. Here's a list of Label bandcamps where they either have their complete discography up for stream/purchase/free download or select records.
Nuclear War Now - nuclearwarnowproductions.bandcamp.com/
Hell's Headbangers - hellsheadbangers.bandcamp.com/
Dark Descent - darkdescentrecords.bandcamp.com/
Doomentia Records - http://doomentiarecords.bandcamp.com/
Profound Lore - profoundlorerecords.bandcamp.com/
Relapse - relapserecords.bandcamp.com/ and relapsealumni.bandcamp.com/
To Live a Lie - tolivealie.bandcamp.com/
Tankcrimes - downloads.tankcrimes.com/
Shadow Kingdom - shadowkingdomrecords.bandcamp.com/
Grave Mistake - gravemistakerecords.bandcamp.com/
Sorry State - sorrystaterecords.bandcamp.com/
Give Praise - givepraiserecords.bandcamp.com
Hellthrasher - hellthrasherproductions.bandcamp.com
Duplicate - duplicaterecords.bandcamp.com/
Willowtip - willowtip.bandcamp.com/
Broken Limb - http://brokenlimbsrecordings.bandcamp.com/
A389 - http://a389recordings.bandcamp.com/
Solitude Productions - http://solitudeproductions.bandcamp.com/
Crucial Blast - http://crucialblast.bandcamp.com/
Candlelight - http://candlelightrecordsusa.bandcamp.com/
Hydra Head - http://hydrahead.bandcamp.com/
Pest Productions - http://pestproductions.bandcamp.com/
20 Buck Spin - http://listen.20buckspin.com/
No Visible Scars - http://novisiblescars.bandcamp.com/
SFC - http://sfcrecords.bandcamp.com/
Gilead Media - http://gileadmedia.bandcamp.com/
Kunsthauch - http://kunsthauch.bandcamp.com/
The Path Less Traveled - http://thepathlesstraveledrecords.bandcamp.com/
Play the Assassin - http://store.playtheassassin.com/
Seventh Rule - http://releases.seventhrule.com/
Throatruiner - http://music.throatruinerrecords.com/
Pulverized - http://pulverised.bandcamp.com/
The Flenser - http://theflenser.bandcamp.com/
Slow Burn - http://slowburnrecords.bandcamp.com/
Bindrune - http://bindrunerecordings.bandcamp.com/
Blood Harvest - http://bloodharvestrecords.bandcamp.com/
Burning World - http://burningworldrecords.bandcamp.com/
Cruz del Sur - http://cruzdelsurmusic.bandcamp.com/
Handshake - http://handshakeinc.bandcamp.com/
Dusktone - http://dusktone.bandcamp.com/
Boue - http://bouerecords.bandcamp.com/
Fallen Empire - http://fallenempire.bandcamp.com/
NHR - http://nhrrecords.bandcamp.com/
Replenish - http://replenishrecords.bandcamp.com/
Black Goat - http://blackgoatrecords.bandcamp.com/
Forbidden - http://forbiddenrecords.bandcamp.com/
Seance - http://seancerecords.bandcamp.com/
Selfmadegod - http://selfmadegod.bandcamp.com/
Milam - http://milamrecords.bandcamp.com/
Lavadome - http://lavadome.bandcamp.com/
Metal66
Member
I still prefer to buy cd's for as long as I can. But IF i go digital it's always Itunes. But I've noticed that some songs are not included in the download. They say cd format only and it seems to be the longer songs. Anyone else notice that?
KingsGene
God of Thunder
This. I would love to hop on board the iTunes train, but I can't deal with the DRM and the restrictions....and I hate Apple!
skyrefuge
Member
First, welcome to the Cool Kids Club! Whoops, except that for the Cool Kids (myself included of course!), accessing their music via paid downloads has *already* become an ancient practice, it's how their dorky dads get music*. I let my long-time eMusic subscription die half a year ago, I haven't paid for any downloads since. I've gone streaming-only, via a paid Spotify subscription.
Anyway, I'll try to give what advice I can, given that the old folks here are apparently even less-familiar with the paid-download world than I am. What is this about the iTunes Music Store and DRM? Music from iTunes has been DRM-free for more than 3 frickin' years! (though this is an interesting lesson in how false consumer impressions can linger and cause damage to your business!)
So the big boys are iTunes, Amazon, and Google. Google still never got Warner to sign on, though that's probably not a huge deal to you. There's also subscription-based eMusic, which *can* be cheaper, but it was continually getting closer to non-subscription pricing, and the mental load of using up my monthly allowance made it eventually lose its value for me.
iTunes's stuff isn't in mp3 format, but since it hasn't been 2005 for 7 years, who cares? Modern electronics can play whatever you throw at them. Amazon's mp3s aren't at the maximum allowable bitrate, but who cares? You can't hear the difference anyway. (and also iTunes's AACs aren't at their maximum-allowable bitrate either.) But sure, you can also just use the store as a payment vehicle if you'd like and keep the illegal download version. For me, I would usually get rid of my illegal downloads for the opposite reason, they often took up more space than I needed them to (though occasionally I'd keep the illegal download instead, like if there was a problem with the paid version).
All that means that it makes the most sense to just shop on price. Except for eMusic, there's nothing tying you to a particular vendor, so just go wherever it's cheaper, since it's effectively going to be the exact same product. It's also impossible for you to know with which store the artist is getting the best deal, so it's probably not worth trying to decide over that. It seems obvious that there should be a website where you search for music downloads you want to buy, and it automatically points you to the cheapest place, but after a couple minutes of searching I can't find such a website (in the US), so it seems like the stores must being doing something to actively prevent such sites from existing. Oh well, it's not too much work to manually compare the Big 3 vendors.
* speaking of old people and music formats, in the last few weeks I've seen 2 or 3 examples of embarrassingly old people writing on the Internet: "Oh, I can't wait to get the new record from Madonna. Oh, LAWL, look how old I am! I still call them records! I meant 'CD', for all you kids out there!" Arrrgh! No, you dumb old person, it's *always* a 'record' or an 'album', no matter what format it's delivered in, and you actually sound *less* old by calling it a 'record' than you do calling it a 'CD'!
Anyway, I'll try to give what advice I can, given that the old folks here are apparently even less-familiar with the paid-download world than I am. What is this about the iTunes Music Store and DRM? Music from iTunes has been DRM-free for more than 3 frickin' years! (though this is an interesting lesson in how false consumer impressions can linger and cause damage to your business!)
So the big boys are iTunes, Amazon, and Google. Google still never got Warner to sign on, though that's probably not a huge deal to you. There's also subscription-based eMusic, which *can* be cheaper, but it was continually getting closer to non-subscription pricing, and the mental load of using up my monthly allowance made it eventually lose its value for me.
iTunes's stuff isn't in mp3 format, but since it hasn't been 2005 for 7 years, who cares? Modern electronics can play whatever you throw at them. Amazon's mp3s aren't at the maximum allowable bitrate, but who cares? You can't hear the difference anyway. (and also iTunes's AACs aren't at their maximum-allowable bitrate either.) But sure, you can also just use the store as a payment vehicle if you'd like and keep the illegal download version. For me, I would usually get rid of my illegal downloads for the opposite reason, they often took up more space than I needed them to (though occasionally I'd keep the illegal download instead, like if there was a problem with the paid version).
All that means that it makes the most sense to just shop on price. Except for eMusic, there's nothing tying you to a particular vendor, so just go wherever it's cheaper, since it's effectively going to be the exact same product. It's also impossible for you to know with which store the artist is getting the best deal, so it's probably not worth trying to decide over that. It seems obvious that there should be a website where you search for music downloads you want to buy, and it automatically points you to the cheapest place, but after a couple minutes of searching I can't find such a website (in the US), so it seems like the stores must being doing something to actively prevent such sites from existing. Oh well, it's not too much work to manually compare the Big 3 vendors.
* speaking of old people and music formats, in the last few weeks I've seen 2 or 3 examples of embarrassingly old people writing on the Internet: "Oh, I can't wait to get the new record from Madonna. Oh, LAWL, look how old I am! I still call them records! I meant 'CD', for all you kids out there!" Arrrgh! No, you dumb old person, it's *always* a 'record' or an 'album', no matter what format it's delivered in, and you actually sound *less* old by calling it a 'record' than you do calling it a 'CD'!
jem777az
Bozzman
I thought iTunes no longer had DRM since iTunes is now essentially iTunes plus (which is 256kbps & no DRM)? None of the albums I have downloaded recently say they are protected AAC files. Whereas my older files are 128kbps and do say they are protected.
