Distributing Music In A Post- Cd World
While you can hear a lot of negative comments towards the music business over illegal Online music distribution, they do have cause for concern. Since the appearance of Napster and other file sharing communities, the record industry has lost hundreds of millions of dollars in sales. Some of blame can be placed on their conservative approach to promoting artists, opting for the “American Idol” instead of the avant-garde artists who can excite the next generation prefer the Beatles or Van Halen in decades past. They likewise failed to use the Web to give out music before the rampant distribution began. But one thing is apparent, the compact disc is on the way out.
Over the last a few years the Compact Disc has experienced negative growth in the market. In fact the Vinyl LP has actually remained selling while the CD is lowing steam. A couple reasons for this are Internet distribution, and the fact that many consumers now use the CD as a medium to rip music from to their iPod or similar portable music device.
While I lament the fact that nobody sits down and listens to an album anymore, instead using music as a soundtrack to their personal lives, there are still ways to hand out your next album. You’ve to use a little creativity and think outside the box, but you might make it work
USB Flash Drive
Do not think you would be the 1st to do this. You would simply be in the company of established musicians such as Matchbox Twenty who final year released a full length album on a USB bracelet. The amazing thing about the USB drive is you can include extra features quickly such as videos, liner notes, or even alternative file categories such as lossless FLAC or multi-channel audio. The price of USB drives has dropped to dollars each, so it’s not too much more than CD replication. Plus, the USB drive may be used for other things (such as storing individual files for work or school) after your fan has moved it to their iPod.
There are a few services provide ing USB drives in bulk loaded with your content and even printed with your name or logo. Call around for the optimum price.
Concept Albums
Online distribution has increasingly made the single popular again. Now that you may chose which tunes you want and which tunes are junk, a lot of people will download their like red tunes and leave the rest alone. I am going to assume you put all of your resolution into every song already to not create filler, but what some artists are trying is the idea album.
Concept albums center around an idea or theme. Thrice recently released the 1st part of a two-part idea collection. Each box includes two EPs, so the set will have four discs, one for each element: fire, water, earth, and air. Similarly, Sufjan Stephens has produced several popular idea albums. Remember, even performers like Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd did idea albums.
These are fun albums to produce, but they are furthermore fun to collect. They’re not something you want for one song.
Creative Packaging
This may be the the majority costly tip, but it’s likewise a lot of fun. businesses such as Invisible Creature specialize in creating one-of-a-kind packaging for albums. A lot of individuals like creative packaging, and love to collect it. Think about what Apple did with their iPod packaging, it’s an adventure just chance up the box. Project 86’s latest album, Rival Factions, used a blue jewel case to hides and revels varying elements in the liner notes, much like what you used to find in cereal boxes.
With the right packaging, audiences will need to own your album, not just download a few tunes.
Digital Distribution
We all want to sell complete albums, but all of us can’t afford to ignore digital delivery. Services such as TuneCore can get your album sold through iTunes, Rhapsody, Amazon, eMusic and more while you get 100 % of the sales. This is the future of music sales. Radiohead the majority famously provide d their album for sale on their website independently. Some individuals aren’t collectors and don’t really care about a single experience, they just want a few tunes. Indulge them.
High-quality Multi-channel Audio
Not anybody at all has access to high-quality recording equipment, but those that do should think about releasing their albums on master-quality for those who really love their music. Blu-ray Disc is the newest audio disc format which allows uncompressed audio in up to 7.1 multi-channel surround sound. More and more homes are including surround sound systems and Blu-ray is exploding on the market, thanks to the Playstation 3. Even two-channel audio sounds better in high-quality.
Additional features can be added to Blu-ray releases, such as live footage, documentaries and whatever else you may fit on the 50GB space provide d. performers who have released on Blu-ray include Nine Inch Nails, Dave Matthews, John Legend, and Shakira, amongst many others.
But don’t think you’re stuck to Blu-ray. Record companies such as Linn Records are providing master quality downloads on their website. Online music stores like MusicGiants are also providing lossless audio downloads and multi-channel audio downloads.
Get Started
This is only the beginning. Get creative and try new things. Music and art are going to have coalesce to keep it in the physical realm, so think like an musician and a businessman. This is your time to shine.