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| This is a comments thread about Blog Post: Seriously, Are There Too Many CDs? by Lukas Kendall |
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Posted: |
Nov 1, 2010 - 5:52 PM
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By: |
Warlok
(Member)
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What would people think about us converting 3000-unit limited editions into 5000, 8000 or 10000-copy editions?
Lukas
From my perspective, I collect music CDs because I infinitely prefer physical media and because I love the music which I endeavour to collect. So for me, the primary concern is allowing everyone who wants the music a fair chance to get it.
Perhaps somewhere someone out there may be disheartened by the decrease in resale value for their investment (?) if you were to increase print runs, but not I.
It may be worth noting that Trent Reznor, of Nine Inch Nails fame, has his own label (Null Corporation) which offers The Social Network - among other music - for digital download, digital download plus physical CD, and special deluxe packages. The mp3s/oggs are lossless and may be played anywhere anytime, to the best of my knowledge. He got tired of the limitations on his art imposed by the regular distribution channels (i.e the heads of those labels) and struck out on his own that way. I snagged the physical CD version, allowing me to indulge in the download immediately until my disc arrives.
I am pleased by such arrangements, as sometimes I wish to *quickly* listen to a piece of music, when I do not or cannot (when away with my laptop) easily access the disc. The conversion process is already done for me, yet without being at the expense of my proper CD copy.
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I agree with the others -- demolish the idea of having the number it's limited to attached to the product, and press only handfuls at a time based on individual demand. Problem solved. It's something all the labels should do. Get the consumer focused on the music, again, not the comic-book collecting mentality for which has clearly taken over.
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What would people think about us converting 3000-unit limited editions into 5000, 8000 or 10000-copy editions?
Lukas
Is the demand there?
YES.
lk
Wait -- how did we go from "too many CDs" to adding more supply? Am I missing something here?
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Posted: |
Nov 1, 2010 - 6:28 PM
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By: |
stan2
(Member)
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I also appreciate that Mr. Kendall is soliciting our input.
I don't feel as though there are too many CDs issued. Having said that, I should also state that I am a very, shall we say, careful buyer where many CD issues are not really interesting to me. I have purchased FSM sets, however. Also, I don't (at present) have financial constraints on buying the CDs I want. These together may not make me representative of most people who buy these CDs.
Further, as has already been said, downloads are all too often lower-than-CD-quality sound. I want at least CD quality, if not better (DVD-A, SACD, etc.). Lowering sound quality for portable listening is a choice I want to make from a higher quality source I own, not one I want made for me.
However, this issue appears to be a continuation of a question that Mr. Kendall asked some years ago on how to expand the potential market. It seems to me, as an outsider who does not have "inside" information on the business of producing these CDs with their attendant costs, licenses, agreements, etc., that this is the core issue. All the CDs issued are being "peddled" to pretty much the same group of buyers.
I know that at the time the original question was asked, FSM tried to expand into a broader market, apparently without success. Further, major labels that sought to cash in on the interest in classic films by selling classic film music also seem to have backed away from this market. (Although Sony/BMG has jumped in again by re-issuing some of the Classic Film Score series. Wonder how those are selling.)
I really don't have any answers here, but I do have a suggestion. If it has not been tried already, how do players in other niche markets in other similar areas survive? Publishing, for example. Are their niches larger than this one? If it has been tried, has anything useful been learned?
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Outside of speculators who are looking to make money off them, do people really buy them BECAUSE they want limited editions or do they race to get them before they sell out because they do not want to miss out on limited editions. If primarily the latter, then not repressing past limited editions makes no sense and not making available what the market will bear makes no sense. As long as the demand is there, go for it. If it isn't, scale back.
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Outside of speculators who are looking to make money off them, do people really buy them BECAUSE they want limited editions or do they race to get them before they sell out because they do want to miss out on limited editions. If primarily the latter, then not repressing past limited editions makes no sense and not making available what the market will bear makes not sense. As long as the demand is there, go for it. If it isn't, scale back.
Interesting points.
The reason why so many people are pirating these things is because they're sold out and no one wants to pay hundreds of dollars for their favorite(s). Why not re-issue the popular titles? Go for another 1,000 or 2000 units, or whatever the demand may call for. It's your money you're sitting on, and it's just ridiculous to play this I-got-it-and-you-don't game. You'll lose a lot of money like that. Ask Intrada about this in regards to Predator or Inchon... and many others.
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Okay...
Too many CDs? Nope. That's not the problem; Too many secrets? Yes. People are hibernating in the corner, clenching their dollars in their fists, afraid of what these labels may surprise them with. Bottom line: Put up with the aggravation, and allow your tiny market to plan ahead -- their hard-earned dollars deserve a little -- just a little -- information. I cannot tell you how many times I've read this "pre-order" type of request, or announcements. In the end, it's best to give the consumer what they want. Give them excuses, they'll turn their eyes elsewhere, if only to look at the things that are coming their way.
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Um...what if we ALREADY overpressed some titles?
And have been chicken to confess for years?
Would you forgive us? And by us, I mean me, as this was my fault?
Lukas
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Um...what if we ALREADY overpressed some titles?
And have been chicken to confess for years?
Would you forgive us? And by us, I mean me, as this was my fault?
Lukas
Just release them. Who cares? I, for one, would love to see that music on shelves of those yearning for it, and money in your dry pockets. It's almost a silly question.
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I think I would forgive anyone for an honest mistake.
Oh, it was very deliberate.
Every so often there's a thread, how come Logan's Run never sold out?
Remember that episode of Star Trek where the Talosians make the crew think they didn't phaser off the top of the mountain?
Or something like that.
Lukas
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