Do you prefer downloading over buying? Why (album, fan, career)

Mouseketeer · 10-12-2007, 01:22 PM

I like downloading it's easy and free.

Although I download a lot, if there's an album I like I'll go out and buy it becuase I think having a CD collection is important and a lot more personal. Plus I like the artwork lulz.

LouDog · 10-12-2007, 01:49 PM

HOLD IT!!!! DOWNLOADING????

WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU GUYS!! downloadng is lame crap!

heres my reason.

YOUR BAND WILL GET NO MONEY AND LOSE THERE RECORD DEAL!

BUY PEOPLE!!!FOR YOUR FAV BANDS SAKE!!!!!

Mouseketeer · 10-12-2007, 01:53 PM

Some of my favourite bands wouldn't be in that position if I hadn't downloaded initially, nor would I have bought several of the albums I own if I hadn't downloaded.

People are gonna download, get over it.

Wayfarer · 10-12-2007, 01:57 PM

Bands make very little from album sales. Everyone knows that. And everyone knows that most bands' earnings come from touring. A tour's success generally depends on the band's popularity. The internet exposes bands to a far wider audience, increasing their popularity.

If anything, bands probably make more money now because of illegal downloading.

jasongs89 · 10-12-2007, 02:11 PM

when i download music i use itunes (unless the band/musician has given persmission to download songs elsewhere).

but i buy CDs unless i only like one or two songs off of the album or something.

Sound Devastation · 10-12-2007, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayfarer

Bands make very little from album sales. Everyone knows that. And everyone knows that most bands' earnings come from touring.

If the band are big, they will make ALL their money from their record deal. not royalties, a lump sum. Merch sold at gigs is often owned by the record label or the band have to buy copies of their own CD (for a low price obviously) to sell on tour. Whether you buy the CD or not will only affect possible deals/income in the future.

Small bands dont make money from gigs either. They usually cover petrol money and if they sell enough t-shirts they might be able to cover the cost of getting them made (t-shirts cost more/unit than CDs and are therefore slowed to cover financially). Obviously if the band get a bigger fanbase their profit per gig will go up, but that doesnt compare to the profit they'd make if every fan at that gig bought a copy of their CD.

Stringbender · 10-12-2007, 03:22 PM

I like going through the "obscure" and used piles at record shops- most of the good ones are closest to a college campus. Never know what you're going to find.. I come from the "old school" I suppose- used to like the smell of new vinyl, looking at album art and reading the liner notes. You can't get that stuff on a download.. I mean SURE you can go to a band's webpage and all.. but it feels that part of the connection between artist, merchant and fan is lost. I think this might have something to do with why die-hard fans are hard to come by nowadays. You get folks that buy ONE cd, but not the type of fans who know all the words to every song- know which type of guitar was used on what solo.. because a vital part of "the connection" is lost when all you do is download a tune.
PS- the best thing you can do for your favorite band or artist is send them 5 bucks - it's better than the 19 cents or less they get on the cd sale!

Wayfarer · 10-12-2007, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sound Devastation

If the band are big, they will make ALL their money from their record deal. not royalties, a lump sum. Merch sold at gigs is often owned by the record label or the band have to buy copies of their own CD (for a low price obviously) to sell on tour. Whether you buy the CD or not will only affect possible deals/income in the future.

Small bands dont make money from gigs either. They usually cover petrol money and if they sell enough t-shirts they might be able to cover the cost of getting them made (t-shirts cost more/unit than CDs and are therefore slowed to cover financially). Obviously if the band get a bigger fanbase their profit per gig will go up, but that doesnt compare to the profit they'd make if every fan at that gig bought a copy of their CD.

Ah, well please 'scuse my ignorance.

=ladyface= · 10-13-2007, 05:37 AM

I think it's fair enough for a musician to care about making a lot of money when they want music to be a career rather than a hobby.

Urban Hat€monger ? · 10-13-2007, 08:33 AM

Yes but you don't start doing something as a career until you know it's financially viable to do so. Seems a bit naive to me to spend a fortune making an album then complain that people are downloading it when you know what the current climate for downloading is all about.
I think most bands don't do enough to earn a fanbase either these days , the days of bands spending 4 or 5 years building up a fan base sometimes playing 2 shows a day before they've even recorded their first album are long gone.

10-12-2007, 01:22 PM	#131 (permalink)
Mouseketeer I'm kind of a big deal. Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: England Posts: 202	I like downloading it's easy and free. Although I download a lot, if there's an album I like I'll go out and buy it becuase I think having a CD collection is important and a lot more personal. Plus I like the artwork lulz. __________________

10-12-2007, 01:49 PM	#132 (permalink)
LouDog Groupie Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Portland,OR Posts: 8	Downloading?!?!?! HOLD IT!!!! DOWNLOADING???? WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU GUYS!! downloadng is lame crap! heres my reason. YOUR BAND WILL GET NO MONEY AND LOSE THERE RECORD DEAL! BUY PEOPLE!!!FOR YOUR FAV BANDS SAKE!!!!! __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

10-12-2007, 01:53 PM	#133 (permalink)
Mouseketeer I'm kind of a big deal. Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: England Posts: 202	Some of my favourite bands wouldn't be in that position if I hadn't downloaded initially, nor would I have bought several of the albums I own if I hadn't downloaded. People are gonna download, get over it. __________________

10-13-2007, 08:33 AM	#140 (permalink)
Urban Hat€monger ? The Sexual Intellectual Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Somewhere cooler than you Posts: 18,605	Yes but you don't start doing something as a career until you know it's financially viable to do so. Seems a bit naive to me to spend a fortune making an album then complain that people are downloading it when you know what the current climate for downloading is all about. I think most bands don't do enough to earn a fanbase either these days , the days of bands spending 4 or 5 years building up a fan base sometimes playing 2 shows a day before they've even recorded their first album are long gone. __________________ Urb's RYM Stuff Most people sell their soul to the devil, but the devil sells his soul to Nick Cave.

10-12-2007, 01:57 PM	#134 (permalink)
Wayfarer Registered Abuser Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 573	Bands make very little from album sales. Everyone knows that. And everyone knows that most bands' earnings come from touring. A tour's success generally depends on the band's popularity. The internet exposes bands to a far wider audience, increasing their popularity. If anything, bands probably make more money now because of illegal downloading.

10-12-2007, 02:11 PM	#135 (permalink)
jasongs89 Groupie Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: NC Posts: 6	when i download music i use itunes (unless the band/musician has given persmission to download songs elsewhere). but i buy CDs unless i only like one or two songs off of the album or something.

10-12-2007, 03:22 PM	#137 (permalink)
Stringbender Groupie Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: home Posts: 7	I like going through the "obscure" and used piles at record shops- most of the good ones are closest to a college campus. Never know what you're going to find.. I come from the "old school" I suppose- used to like the smell of new vinyl, looking at album art and reading the liner notes. You can't get that stuff on a download.. I mean SURE you can go to a band's webpage and all.. but it feels that part of the connection between artist, merchant and fan is lost. I think this might have something to do with why die-hard fans are hard to come by nowadays. You get folks that buy ONE cd, but not the type of fans who know all the words to every song- know which type of guitar was used on what solo.. because a vital part of "the connection" is lost when all you do is download a tune. PS- the best thing you can do for your favorite band or artist is send them 5 bucks - it's better than the 19 cents or less they get on the cd sale!

10-13-2007, 05:37 AM	#139 (permalink)
=ladyface= Sounds Like Disco Tetris Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: UK Posts: 346	I think it's fair enough for a musician to care about making a lot of money when they want music to be a career rather than a hobby.