Incentive to Buy Music
 

I was recently putting into consideration how I would be able to sell my music by circumventing a record label.

Without going into details, I would basically sell and advertise my music over the internet. There are other aspects, but you do not need to know them.

What I would do is have my music for download on my band's website. I would give the songs for free (edited, radio-friendly versions; ie. censored and lessened complexity); however, you could buy the uncut songs for extra.

Now I know paying for songs is pointless, but I have a solution. Since I need to eat, and I have a love for content creation... I decided to make it worth your money.

You buy a CD from my site (non-download; bandwidth, piracy, etc.), but this CD comes with a ****load of extra content. On the CD -first of all- would be about another 10-20 songs not available for download (instrumentals, 30min songs, etc.); next would be videos and behind the scenes **** (I do film as my main profession); and lastly would be frivolity (t-shirts, posters, free show tickets). All of this would maybe cost $10-15 depending on how much I put in ($5 for just the songs) and how flashy the packaging is.

Plus I could also have some sort of pay by year thing that gives one free package a year and access to even more content.

My main question would then be: What would you like to see/pay for in such an offer?

If the main cohesive tracks were album length or more, and it was a band i loved and respected, id pay a little over album price ($20 or so).

You do realise though, that manufacturing that CD package (with extras) will cost you ~$4000 for 500. With the main songs (and therefore the main attraction - most people couldnt care less about extras from unknown bands) up for download.. you'd be incredibly lucky to break even.

The reason record labels are there is so that the financial risk of releasing music isnt the bands problem and the band dont have to worry about ever losing money, and for this release.. id say thats a pretty big possibility - id consider looking for a small label and discussing it with them.

N.S.G.

It depends on how big a following you have. If you have a city-wide falling (I'm assuming L.A.), you'd probably sell a few packages.

But this is a good idea, and you might actually think of getting in touch with some regionally popular artists about this idea. With your film knowledge, you might be able to sell them a package deal, and avoid the risk involved in producing the product with your own money.

You might make some good music connections that will help you with your own music as well.

Just a thought

Well of course what I detailed is basically my end-game plan. At first I will start slow.

If it can become self-sufficient, it can be my own personal label (with other bands under it also).


And all of the extras are for two main reasons: to curb piracy (I do need to make money y'know) and to keep the band active (ie. no large gap between original content).

Oh, and just to clarify the thread's point: I did not want your opinion on the actual method of distribution(not to be curt, but why would I care that you think?), just on what I should consider adding.

ok, if the release was already freely downloadable.... id probably only consider buying it if it was:
a) limited edition 12" with alot of special features.. coloured vinyl, gatefold sleeve, screenprinting, etching.. something i know cost £6 to make is worth paying £12 for.
b) CD with at least another album length CD of cohesive unreleased tracks. Not live or remixed. again the packaging would have to be very special.. 6pn digipak plus a booklet and poster maybe. im indifferent to videos and im not a fan of recorded shows/behind the scenes ****

Actually it would not be freely downloadable per se.

Maybe 5 out of 20+ songs are available. A normal song length for me would be maybe 10mins (less than a minute for wanking around, 30 mins for those 'epic' space out songs). The available tracks would be pretty much cut to pieces. Now a casual pop-music listener would be fine with these, however a more dedicated music listener would appreciate the extra effort.

Now of course, this is just conceptual... and I am not as unforgiving as I sound. And by packaging I don't mean these elaborate cases, just a CD with a bunch of extra **** out of general appreciation shipped along with it. I mean it is not like making music is black and white, it is a huge process (unreleased songs, tabs, ****ing around... evolution of the album **** basically), why not share it with everyone?

so the full length tracks are for the more in-depth music fans, cool... but dont you think that giving away segments might put them off?

10 minute tracks are 10 minutes for a reason.. they're full tracks, and cutting them up devalues the track. If a band i loved chopped up their tracks to give away for free (which some do) id get the impression that they didnt care so much about the artistic value of the entire track.

theis may or may not be relative to your music/fans... im just trying to bring in other points of view.


the whole journey of the album in one package is a good concept definately. I do like an eloborate package though, i would not be impressed if i got a CD-R in a carboard wallet for £10, even if there was alot of extra ****.

I would keep it so that the song retains the meaning/idea, but however the album version would push the good cut track to great. Think the radio versions of TMV songs vs their album versions... you get the concept, but it is not as wonderful as the uncut songs.

Basically they are just there to give people a taste of the real thing (kind of like what singles do). I want the cut versions to make you want to hear the long versions (you hear the cut one and go 'this is a nice song,' but then you hear the full version and go 'damn'). Think of it like keeping the volume down on certain parts of the song so you can turn it up just when it gets to your favorite piece.

I have a lot of production programs, so basically the only thing that would cost me would be the packaging/recording (for album tracks).

throw in a fifth of vodka
that **** will go like hotcakes.