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=> GENERAL DISCUSSION => Topic started by: ggw on August 20, 2003, 02:20:00 pm
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Downloads, EPs, Singles Conspiring To Kill The Album Format
Fans are warming up to cheaper, pick-and-choose methods of buying music.
With album sales slipping for an unprecedented third straight year â?? the first extended slump since the introduction of the CD in 1982 â?? labels and artists are beginning to wonder if the album is a thing of the past.
More than half a century ago the debut of vinyl LPs was a revelation for music fans, more than tripling the amount of music that could be held on a single album side. By the early '70s, albums were being stuffed with up to a dozen hit tracks and often ran 40 minutes or more.
Flash forward to today, when CDs max out north of 70 minutes, frequently come bundled with a bonus DVD and cost nearly twice as much as those old albums. Balance that against the ease of illegally downloading your favorite song or legally downloading it from iTunes for less than a buck and you might wonder, "Who needs to spend $18 on an album?"
You're not alone.
"The days of releasing an album with 17 or 18 cuts are over," said Charles Goldstuck, president and CEO of the RCA Music Group, home to the Strokes, Christina Aguilera and Foo Fighters. "It's difficult to give full quality with such an abundance of music. ... I think we can expect to see more extras in the future instead of additional songs."
And with the resurgence of singles and EPs, you can also expect to see labels delivering music to fans in more varied sizes and shapes.
According to the most recent numbers from the Recording Industry Association of America, singles sales have seen a precipitous drop-off over the past decade, but don't toss those singles on the 8-track ash heap just yet, Goldstuck said. He is encouraged by success of the debut singles from "American Idol" winner Ruben Studdard and runner-up Clay Aiken, both RCA-affiliated artists. The singles sold more than 285,000 copies their first week out and helped give a boost to the moribund format (see "Has America Changed Its Mind? Clay Beats Ruben On Singles Chart").
"What that told us about the singles market is that with the right repertoire and setup, you can post the kind of numbers we haven't seen in five or six years," Goldstuck said. "I think the success of these songs is causing labels to really look at this area again."
For years record labels had resisted releasing commercial singles because they had discounted them so deeply the format became a money loser. But with smashes such as Kid Rock's "Picture," Korn's "Did My Time" and Chingy's "Right Thurr" proving that fans still want to buy hit songs (see "Kid Rock, Sheryl Crow Bring 'Picture' Into Focus"), the format could be poised for a comeback.
Another potential nail in the coffin of the old-school album is the explosion in a la carte downloading on sites like Apple's iTunes. After all, why buy the entire 50 Cent album when all you really want is the "P.I.M.P." remix?
Since its debut in April, the iTunes store has proven that, given the opportunity, people like to pick and choose their tunes. Of the 6.5 million songs downloaded as of July 16 (the last date for which numbers were available), less than half (46 percent) were sold as part of an album, according to Peter Lowe, iTunes' director of marketing. "People want albums, too, but there is no question that they go to the store and buy the individual song they're interested in hearing. ... That instant gratification factor of finding the song you want is a big part of it."
The 99 cent price tag doesn't hurt, either. "We think digital music has already changed the way people enjoy and interact with music," Lowe said. "We had a campaign a few years ago that had the tagline 'Rip Mix Burn,' and the middle part of that is the most important â?? taking the music you love and putting it into collections you want and in the order you want to listen to it."
Artists such as Linkin Park and the Red Hot Chili Peppers have refused to allow their albums to be sold piecemeal, citing a perceived destruction of the artistic integrity of their fully realized LPs, which Lowe said iTunes is fine with. "Look at Pink Floyd's The Wall or [the Beatles'] Sgt. Pepper's," he said. "At various times in the music industry, some artists have been able to put together more complete offerings than others."
In addition to singles, the long overlooked EP format is enjoying somewhat of a renaissance. Avril Lavigne and Less Than Jake have offered online-only EPs on iTunes, and several artists have released or are preparing to release abbreviated albums this year. Wilco received critical kudos for a six-song, online-only EP earlier this year that was accessible by using a five-digit code included in copies of their Yankee Hotel Foxtrot.
Other artists with recently released or upcoming EPs include: Ja Rule, Ying Yang Twins, Primus, Libertines, Sondre Lerche, Local H, Ikara Colt, Peter Malick/Norah Jones, Pinback, Beth Orton, Radio 4 and Ben Folds (who is scheduled to release a series of three EPs online this year). The EP has already proven to be a fine alternative, or supplement, to a full-length album in the U.K. When Southern rockers Kings of Leon released their five-track Holy Roller Novocaine EP overseas in early 2003, it debuted at #6 on the English chart and went on to sell more than 200,000 copies.
"That configuration has been used to tease the marketplace in the past, especially in rock," said RCA's Goldstuck. "But I think it will be a stronger trend because it's a lot easier for a fan to buy a five-song EP and get a taste of a band and not spend too much."
Not everyone, though, is convinced that albums are dinosaurs.
"Everybody wants the album," rapper Lil Jon insisted. "They go buy the album for 'Get Low' and then they listen [and] they gonna find something else they like."
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proud to say i have never downloaded any music
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Originally posted by Rhett Miller:
proud to say i have never downloaded any music
and I would have no clue how to do it even if I wanted to! :D
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you two are dinosaurs. There are legal downloads. Bands often release MP3s on their sites. It is useful way of judging if you want to go to a show/hearing new music.
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oh my. My email group of friends who love/listen to/buy music went nuts over this article (or one just like it; I haven't read the whole thing.) There was a lot of debate on either side. I began lamenting the death of the album, but I think it's true that folks (like those of us on these boards) who buy albums now will always buy albums.
I'm a great case in point; I got an iMac and iPod last fall and thought I'd save money on buying music (never intended to download, but thought I'd borrow CDs from friends -- I know, debate over that as stealing or not rages as well, to be argued another day). What a crock. If anything, I may be buying more music because (1) I have such a convenient way to listen to it on the road, organize it in playlists, etc., and (2) I don't have friends who are going to buy a CD because they hear good buzz about a band. Not the way I do, anyway. And it's all part of my history; as a teenage girl in Florida my most recurring argument with my father was over how much money I spent on albums. It goes on today when he visits and sees the shelves and shelves and shelves of CDs.
Can't wait to see the debate begin to rage. I may post a couple of my favorite emails on the issue.
Go to it....
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Originally posted by ggwâ?¢:
According to the most recent numbers from the Recording Industry Association of America, singles sales have seen a precipitous drop-off over the past decade, but don't toss those singles on the 8-track ash heap just yet, Goldstuck said. He is encouraged by success of the debut singles from "American Idol" winner Ruben Studdard and runner-up Clay Aiken, both RCA-affiliated artists. The singles sold more than 285,000 copies their first week out and helped give a boost to the moribund format (see "Has America Changed Its Mind? Clay Beats Ruben On Singles Chart").
"What that told us about the singles market is that with the right repertoire and setup, you can post the kind of numbers we haven't seen in five or six years," Goldstuck said. "I think the success of these songs is causing labels to really look at this area again."
For instance, I'd venture to say that a very large portion of the purchasers of the American Idol singles pretty much don't buy albums. These are the same folks who say, "why would I buy an album with 10 songs just to get one good one" (i.e., the hit they've heard on the radio).
Also, they say half the songs on iTunes are not part of an album. Doesn't that mean that almost half ARE. That's a lot. I can see buying some songs, but they'd be from albums I wouldn't buy anyway.
All that said, the retail price of CDs *must* come down. Basically it's $18, which is simply unacceptable. DVDs don't cost that much.
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Originally posted by Anton Newcombe:
Bands often release MP3s on their sites. It is useful way of judging if you want to go to a show/hearing new music.
Brian Jonestown Massacre has every single song from every single one of their albums available as a free download from their website. Now that's what I call sharing. I guess they are more interested in people hearing their music than making money off of it.
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Originally posted by bags:
I'm a great case in point; I got an iMac and iPod last fall and thought I'd save money on buying music (never intended to download, but thought I'd borrow CDs from friends -- I know, debate over that as stealing or not rages as well, to be argued another day). What a crock. If anything, I may be buying more music because (1) I have such a convenient way to listen to it on the road, organize it in playlists, etc., and (2) I don't have friends who are going to buy a CD because they hear good buzz about a band. Not the way I do, anyway. And it's all part of my history; as a teenage girl in Florida my most recurring argument with my father was over how much money I spent on albums. It goes on today when he visits and sees the shelves and shelves and shelves of CDs.
Can't wait to see the debate begin to rage. I may post a couple of my favorite emails on the issue.
Go to it....
I got an Ipod a few months ago since then I've bought more new cd's than i probably did in the past year.
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Originally posted by chaz:
Originally posted by Anton Newcombe:
Bands often release MP3s on their sites. It is useful way of judging if you want to go to a show/hearing new music.
Brian Jonestown Massacre has every single song from every single one of their albums available as a free download from their website. Now that's what I call sharing. I guess they are more interested in people hearing their music than making money off of it. [/b]
Did anyone but me chuckle at this?You know,telling "anton newcombe" about the BJM.
:eek:
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who is anton newcombe? is that common knowledge? should i look it up in the hipster handbook?
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Originally posted by SPARX:
id anyone but me chuckle at this?You know,telling "anton newcombe" about the BJM.
:eek:
I just assumed that is why he said it to Anton
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Originally posted by Rhett Miller:
who is anton newcombe? is that common knowledge? should i look it up in the hipster handbook?
The lead singer of and creative force behind Brian Jonestown Massacre, so if you are posting about BJM, you might know that
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Originally posted by bags:
All that said, the retail price of CDs *must* come down. Basically it's $18, which is simply unacceptable. DVDs don't cost that much.
I was in Tower over the weekend and the import of the new Dandy Warhol's album was $38.99. I thought it had to be a misprint, so I checked, and it wasn't a misprint. $38.99. unbelievable. Especially considering the US version was coming out two days later.
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Here's the other side of the coin -- at least in the UK. Singles sales have dropped by half in the last five years.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/news/story/0,11711,1020758,00.html (http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/news/story/0,11711,1020758,00.html)
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Originally posted by ggwâ?¢:
Originally posted by bags:
[qb]All that said, the retail price of CDs *must* come down. Basically it's $18, [/b]
If you are paying that much you are not making proper use of the internet or record stores.
look at amazon new and used, or ebay, or CDwow.net
buy the new releases in best buy as they are often heavily marked down, get to DCCD or a CD game exchange.
There is no excuse for paying $38.99 for the dandies. I got a UK promo from ebay for $14. But CDwow has had it for $14 with free shipping since it came out in the uk.
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Originally posted by ggwâ?¢:
Here's the other side of the coin -- at least in the UK. Singles sales have dropped by half in the last five years.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/news/story/0,11711,1020758,00.html (http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/news/story/0,11711,1020758,00.html)
I read that article..... singles were much better on vinyl, a 7'' hiting the 2 pound paypoint is a good deal. The way to sell singles now is to release DVD singles with the video, but in a slipcase and for $5 or $6, but the record companies dont seem interested. Singles in America either seem to be a buck or two or ten. Never in the middle.
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Originally posted by Anton Newcombe:
If you are paying that much you are not making proper use of the internet or record stores.
Absolutely.
I picked up nine albums for $32 this weekend, including the latest from The Tyde, John Vanderslice, and French Kicks.
The Dandy Warhols new one is $11.99 at Best Buy this week.
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Originally posted by ggw™:
[/b]
I was in Tower over the weekend and the import of the new Dandy Warhol's album was $38.99. I thought it had to be a misprint, so I checked, and it wasn't a misprint. $38.99. unbelievable. Especially considering the US version was coming out two days later. [/QB]
I'd love to meet the ones who paid that for the new one and thought it was worth it,well maybe not.It has some good songs but overall the weakest yet IMHO.I hear they are playing nearly 3 hour sets,not relying heavily on the new one.Looking forward to this show :D
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welcome to the monkey house is a grower. Three or four songs I find to be outstanding, but as an album I still find it to be too homogenous.
I cant wait to hear "a long time ago we used to be firends" live though....
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Originally posted by SPARX:
I'd love to meet the ones who paid that for the new one and thought it was worth it,well maybe not.It has some good songs but overall the weakest yet IMHO.I hear they are playing nearly 3 hour sets,not relying heavily on the new one.Looking forward to this show :D
I love the new album, hard to compare it to the others, because it is so different but I would not say it is better than 13 Tales, I am looking forward to that show more than any others.
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Originally posted by SPARX:
Originally posted by ggw™:
[/b]
I was in Tower over the weekend and the import of the new Dandy Warhol's album was $38.99. I thought it had to be a misprint, so I checked, and it wasn't a misprint. $38.99. unbelievable. Especially considering the US version was coming out two days later. [/b]
I'd love to meet the ones who paid that for the new one and thought it was worth it,well maybe not.It has some good songs but overall the weakest yet IMHO.I hear they are playing nearly 3 hour sets,not relying heavily on the new one.Looking forward to this show :D [/QB]
The new Dandys isn't particularly good, but I got a free promo copy to review so I ain't complainin.
I think the Guardian is probably more right, which is funny cause it's the Brits who still actually buy singles. The fact that the article cited the sales of the American Idol singles with the death of the album is one of the funniest thing I've read in a long time. CLAY AND RUBIN DONT HAVE ALBUMS OUT. Of course people are gonna buy the singles if they want to hear them. I'm not really worried. The album is only as viable as acts make it. It's still the best way to package the music.
I think even 5 or 10 years from now, artists will still post "suggested tracklists" even if the album is only obtained online. Some bands write songs that work well together, others don't. Staind et al can just put songs on the internet whenever they feel like it, and Flaming Lips can still wait 3 years and come out with a full albums worth of songs.
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Originally posted by Anton Newcombe:
welcome to the monkey house is a grower. Three or four songs I find to be outstanding, but as an album I still find it to be too homogenous.
I cant wait to hear "a long time ago we used to be firends" live though....
I thought that the live version they played on Conan was much better than the album version.
I'm also looking forward to this show. they were really excellent last time I saw them.
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We thought they were awful on Conan. Does the singer normally stand that still? They seemed to lack energy, but i guess that's to be expected after having gone through the blackout.
And what's up with his dumb haircut and outfit?
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Originally posted by Robert Pollard:
[/b]
I love the new album, hard to compare it to the others, because it is so different but I would not say it is better than 13 Tales, I am looking forward to that show more than any others. [/QB]
Yep,I'm even gonna make it outta the hills for this one.Anybody thats going interested in trading some music?I make a mean mix CD about once a month of songs off new releases.Be interested in what you guys are into,and that's an easy way to get turned on to some stuff i'd otherwise maybe never hear.Let me know,requests accepted :D :cool:
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i find the new dandy's album a little uneven, i need to listen to the other ones again, because the only one that i've really listened to is the first one. . .i'll be at the show and hoping for the 50 minute version of fast driving rave up.
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Originally posted by SPARX:
I make a mean mix CD about once a month of songs off new releases.Be interested in what you guys are into,and that's an easy way to get turned on to some stuff i'd otherwise maybe never hear.Let me know,requests accepted :D :cool:
I would trade music, but I have a feeling we listen to a lot of the same music.
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Originally posted by Robert Pollard:
Originally posted by SPARX:
I make a mean mix CD about once a month of songs off new releases.Be interested in what you guys are into,and that's an easy way to get turned on to some stuff i'd otherwise maybe never hear.Let me know,requests accepted :D :cool:
I would trade music, but I have a feeling we listen to a lot of the same music. [/b]
Im sure that's true to an extent.The way I see it though,if I find just 1 tune on a mix that I hadn't heard but like,it's worth it.Nobody makes the exact same mix,same bands alot maybe,but a good mix is just heaven.I'l bring a few to give out,if you feel like reciprocating,all the better.I especially like to find the rare treat of an up and coming act,sometimes those can be a diamond in the rough,so to speak.And not as widely known.
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Here's what'a wrong with Albums:
1. Too Many Fillers.
2. Too much money spent on production
3. The price of cds are too expensive
4. Too Much Quantity, Too Little Quality
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This is an amazing response, to me (except for #3). Uh, yeah, if it's a shitty band.
I've got loads of great albums. Granted, only about 1 in a thousand albums doesn't have *one* dud on it, but that leaves you with upwards of 10 songs to cherish.
Maybe I'm just not discerning enough.
Originally posted by RonniStar:
Here's what'a wrong with Albums:
1. Too Many Fillers.
2. Too much money spent on production
3. The price of cds are too expensive
4. Too Much Quantity, Too Little Quality
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I think Ronnie needs to stick with singles. I agree with you Bags about appreciating a nice full album. It's the prices that have me buying less than I would prefer to buy. That's it. No other reason.
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people who download singles (illegally or legally) and give no thought to buying actual full length albums aren't real music fans anyway, in my opinion. downloading singles is like cooking up a hot pocket in the microwave: it's fast, easy, cheap, and tastes ok, but in the end it's not exactly a healthy or fulfilling meal. i call this new trend in the industry "microwave music."
it's all pretty terrible, but it just reflects the popular trends in current music; nothing more nothing less. what sells now? pop, pop-rock, and pop-rap. music goes in cycles and pretty soon (hopefully) people will wake up and crave some real music in the form of great albums. "albums" aren't the problem, it's people's crappy taste in music, and the short-sighted nature of the major labels who don't sign quality bands anymore (and don't take music fans very seriously anymore either).
it'll change in time. saying "albums are dead" implies that musicians don't take their music seriously anymore and have lost all desire and passion to compose and release a collection of songs that work together as a cohesive artistic unit. albums will always be around, whether on major labels, or more likely, indie labels.
check the recent "de-loused in the comatorium" by the mars volta. that's a true "album."