online release...

[//\/\/]

...suppose it makes good ££££ sense, doesn't it? no manufacturing, distribution, or shops taking their cuts...

[King of Snake]

I'd like to see a figure at some point of how many people are actually buying it...
Is it gonna be mostly the hard core fans or will they be able to sway the casual listeners with it as well? time will tel...

[stimpee]

There are of course, hosting costs, bandwidth costs and less exposure as negative aspects. The reliance of your customer having internet access and finding out that there is a new UW release too, but yes lots of costs cut in the process.

[Ally]

For me the important aspect is the elimination of a bunch of bodies who contribute nothing artistically. All we need are the facilities to make a high quality hard copy with the download we've paid for - ie a proprietary image format for the disc and a cheap printer capable of printing to disc surfaces, a device which would surely pay for itself over time.

[Hoevenen Lion]

I can't buy it because I don't have a visa card. :(

[gambit]

I wouldn't be surprised if 10-15 years down the line more albums/singles are released for purchase for online download. Right now, you definitely have to worry about lack of exposure and your customers having internet connections.

[Sean]

I wouldn't be surprised if 10-15 years down the line more albums/singles are released for purchase for online download. Right now, you definitely have to worry about lack of exposure and your customers having internet connections.And visa cards apparently.

I'm still old-school. I like the whole package with the booklet and the artwork and the disc and the information that I can hold in my hand and feel and look at. Although all those discs do make my wife wonder where the hell we can keep them that's not taking up a whole wall in the house.

[gambit]

And visa cards apparently.

I'm still old-school. I like the whole package with the booklet and the artwork and the disc and the information that I can hold in my hand and feel and look at. Although all those discs do make my wife wonder where the hell we can keep them that's not taking up a whole wall in the house.I keep the inserts and the discs in a big ole CD case and dump the rest. Saves me a lot of clutter.

[Ally]

I'm still old-school. I like the whole package with the booklet and the artwork and the disc and the information that I can hold in my hand and feel and look at.

Which is why the missing link is the ability to create high quality versions of these yourself. I'll be the first to buy a proper "CD Surface Printer" and "CD Booklet Printer" - devices which should be cheap and will certainly pay for themselves over time as a function of how often you buy music.

[froopy seal]

[...] and less exposure as negative aspects. The reliance of your customer having internet access and finding out that there is a new UW release too, but yes lots of costs cut in the process.

In my opinion, this is the biggest problem regarding the money-making part of online sales. I myself often come out a store having bought cds I hadn't heard of before and found by luck while listening through the recently released stuff. Guess this happens to quite many people (am I wrong here?).

Especially those who aren't either fans or really into the electronic music scene will have trouble finding out about web-only releases. And, what's more important, they won't be hit by the (often unnerving, yet nonetheless effective) merchandising machinery.

Of course, all this might change in the future when new ways of distribution will have been established by routine. But I feel that might take a while ...

[potatobroth]

In my opinion, this is the biggest problem regarding the money-making part of online sales. I myself often come out a store having bought cds I hadn't heard of before and found by luck while listening through the recently released stuff. Guess this happens to quite many people (am I wrong here?).

Especially those who aren't either fans or really into the electronic music scene will have trouble finding out about web-only releases. And, what's more important, they won't be hit by the (often unnerving, yet nonetheless effective) merchandising machinery.

Of course, all this might change in the future when new ways of distribution will have been established by routine. But I feel that might take a while ...

along these lines, ive been using my iTunes music store as way to sample different music i never would have heard before. you can listen to 30 second samples of EVERY song they have to offer. so just run wild and listen to all the bands you hear about but never actually hear. in this way, online sales can be HUGE.

regarding how UW is doing it, i cant believe they expect to sell millions this way and i imagine its not in their plan.

[//\/\/]

I can't buy it because I don't have a visa card. :(


pop music's fergettin' da kidz :(

(i mean - i doubt my parents would've given me the money if they knew specifically which albums i'd be spending the money on.)

[froopy seal]

along these lines, ive been using my iTunes music store as way to sample different music i never would have heard before. you can listen to 30 second samples of EVERY song they have to offer. so just run wild and listen to all the bands you hear about but never actually hear. in this way, online sales can be HUGE.

Agreed, there are various possibilities to have a free listen to unknown music. But some people - at least the older/"neophobic"/conservative ones - are unlikely to stumble across these new-fashioned, internetty possibilities. Again, this will probably change in the future. So somebody hast to make a start and I'm completely fine with UW being the ones.

regarding how UW is doing it, i cant believe they expect to sell millions this way and i imagine its not in their plan.

I don't think so either. Should have expressed that more clearly.

[crank]

Regarding Credit Cards:

You american kids need to listen to an old(ish) dirty:
get a credit card as soon as you can. this doesn't mean use it at all or
even use it frivilously. it means have one. in today's america ( I'm ignorant
about how the rest of the world works regarding credit) you need to build credit now to establish yourselves 10 years down the road. I'm just baffled at the amount of people without plastic. I'm not happy about the way it works but it's just the way it works.

crank!

[potatobroth]

Regarding Credit Cards:

You american kids need to listen to an old(ish) dirty:
get a credit card as soon as you can. this doesn't mean use it at all or
even use it frivilously. it means have one. in today's america ( I'm ignorant
about how the rest of the world works regarding credit) you need to build credit now to establish yourselves 10 years down the road. I'm just baffled at the amount of people without plastic. I'm not happy about the way it works but it's just the way it works.

crank!

too right. without my credit score being so high, i never would have gotten a loan for my first (and only) house.

[votingfloater]

Which is why the missing link is the ability to create high quality versions of these yourself. I'll be the first to buy a proper "CD Surface Printer" and "CD Booklet Printer" - devices which should be cheap and will certainly pay for themselves over time as a function of how often you buy music.

Ally, can't you get dedicated CD printers for about 40 quid already? I saw a neat little TDK one in Maplin recently - a wee thermal transfer jobbie that only went up to 200x200dpi. I think some inkjets can print direct to disc too.

As for tangible vs. intangible releases, I like both. I love idly flicking through a booklet, reading the thanks and shouts; a well crafted wee book is always going to better than something I can print up myself (on crap office foolscap paper for instance).

If I'm going to buy the actual physical CD though, I want to go into a shop, riffle through the racks, find a couple of other things that I vow to buy soon and then walk out with my prize. I hate shopping for CDs online. Your Local Record Shop won't always have what you want, so if I can buy the mp3 then I'm more than happy (I remember growing up in a town where the only music was sold in the electrician's shop and a 40 minute bus ride would get you to... a little Our Price shop).