Re: All My CDs Marked down to $5.00 (OT)

[Joshua Carroll <josh@infinivert.com>]

On the flip side, having music available digitally creates a whole new world of possibilities.  A few years ago, I had a gigantic CD binder containing almost my entire music collection stolen out of my car.  Thousands of dollars in recorded music--much of it irreplaceable--gone.  Now I just carry around my entire music collection in one small iPod in my pocket because it's small enough that I don't have to leave it in the car.  It still plays in my car as well as at my house, at my desk at work, and in my headphones when I'm out and about.  And should it get stolen or broken, all my music also lives on my PC, which is in turn backed up periodically, and can be restored.

Of course, I still love to purchase physical CDs.  Now, though, I just rip them into iTunes and store the CDs in a closet.  Quite often, however, I do purchase digital albums.  They're generally slightly cheaper, and the Internet provides almost instant gratification and the cost of gasoline required to drive to the music store.

As an artist, having a CD available as a download makes your music available to the entire world (or as much of it as you can market to) without having to work a major distribution deal.  My next album will definitely be available both ways.

--Josh



Matthew F. McCabe wrote:

I agree.  I'd much rather own a physical CD.  It's almost as if mp3s cheapen music...in that it's much easier to delete a couple of files than it is to throw a CD in the trash.

Matt

On Jul 30, 2006, at 5:42 PM, Krispen Hartung wrote:

I sure am. I have all of the CDs going through all of the digital distribution as well.

 

All in all, I don't really do this for the money, yet I have waffled back and forth on this notion of whether I should give my CDs away, sell them for standard market price, or severely discounted. It is a tough call, and pretty much based on one's personal values on the matter....BUT, for me, the gist is that I never want to generate a situation as an artist when someone can't own one of my CDs simply because they can't afford it, or because they have too many other CDs on their list and mine isn't the the highest priority.  I'd rather give my CDs away or mark them down to CD Baby's cost, then not have folks listening to my music.  And, believe it or not, I am of the generation who still enjoys owning and having a physical CD. When I produce a CD, the artwork on the sleeves is just as much a part of the production as the music. It all fits together into a theme. I like for people to have my physical CDs, not just the MP3s and digital art. If they don't they are missing a significant element of the production.

 

Kris