Exactly and I can give you a recent example of digital bloat with a new album. Beyonce's Cowboy Carter drops with 27 songs streaming, and the vinyl comes out same day with 22 songs, with no warning that any songs were missing. Obviously her fans bought it far in advance, then 6 months later she drops the full album, forcing her fans and completists to double dip, and they are out a hundred bucks. That example has been happening a ton lately...
Great read! I often wonder when it’s finally going to level out or plateau. I don’t necessarily think I’m buying less vinyl than I was 10 years ago but I certainly would be buying more if the prices weren’t so crazy. No one’s spending $50 dollars on a records just because the album cover looks cool anymore, but they might spend $20 just to check it out.
Yeah, I am much less likely to take a flyer on a new album these days just because of the prices. Used albums $10 or so and under I'll take a chance on.
It’s even hard to find used at $10 or under unless it’s pretty old. Most newer stuff is around 20 used (in my area anyway). (Not knocking older stuff, just saying)
Same here. My record store has $9.00 and under bins of older stuff which is usually where I’ll buy something I’ve never heard before. I figure for that price, I’ll take a chance.
Thanks, Jared. I really enjoyed this. Your points about what artists, labels, and management can do are spot on, especially the reminder that the fans who actually buy music shouldn’t be treated like cash points. A great historical example is The Clash insisting Sandinista! (a bloated, indulgent triple LP) sell for the price of a regular album by giving up part of their own margin.
The “volume” problem you describe cuts both ways. Pressing plants can’t meet demand, yet much of that demand isn’t coming from active listeners. Luminate reported that up to half of vinyl buyers don’t even own a record player. If that’s true, the rise of deluxe, over-packaged releases with little focus on sound quality starts to make sense.
For now, I’m spending more of my time digging in second-hand crates around Tokyo.
I really like your point about "digital bloat". Not everything that gets recorded belongs on vinyl.
3+ hour Dead and Phish shows.
Stuff from the 90s that was released as an hour long CD and now has to be stretched across 2 LPs where each side is only 15 minutes.
Constant Reissues of legacy albums that have already sold a bazillion copies. THATs what streaming is perfect for.
Exactly and I can give you a recent example of digital bloat with a new album. Beyonce's Cowboy Carter drops with 27 songs streaming, and the vinyl comes out same day with 22 songs, with no warning that any songs were missing. Obviously her fans bought it far in advance, then 6 months later she drops the full album, forcing her fans and completists to double dip, and they are out a hundred bucks. That example has been happening a ton lately...
Great read! I often wonder when it’s finally going to level out or plateau. I don’t necessarily think I’m buying less vinyl than I was 10 years ago but I certainly would be buying more if the prices weren’t so crazy. No one’s spending $50 dollars on a records just because the album cover looks cool anymore, but they might spend $20 just to check it out.
Thanks! and yeah you nailed it, most are much less likely to blind buy a new album at today's cost.
I would definitely not buy an album blind with these prices. I listen to everything (streaming) I think about buying before making that plunge.
Yeah, I am much less likely to take a flyer on a new album these days just because of the prices. Used albums $10 or so and under I'll take a chance on.
It’s even hard to find used at $10 or under unless it’s pretty old. Most newer stuff is around 20 used (in my area anyway). (Not knocking older stuff, just saying)
Same here. My record store has $9.00 and under bins of older stuff which is usually where I’ll buy something I’ve never heard before. I figure for that price, I’ll take a chance.
Thanks, Jared. I really enjoyed this. Your points about what artists, labels, and management can do are spot on, especially the reminder that the fans who actually buy music shouldn’t be treated like cash points. A great historical example is The Clash insisting Sandinista! (a bloated, indulgent triple LP) sell for the price of a regular album by giving up part of their own margin.
The “volume” problem you describe cuts both ways. Pressing plants can’t meet demand, yet much of that demand isn’t coming from active listeners. Luminate reported that up to half of vinyl buyers don’t even own a record player. If that’s true, the rise of deluxe, over-packaged releases with little focus on sound quality starts to make sense.
For now, I’m spending more of my time digging in second-hand crates around Tokyo.
"I’m spending more of my time digging in second-hand crates around Tokyo."
you are living my dream!
Omg Glitterer mentioned (and interviewed!!)
wow it’s nice to know there are good people still out there haha
“Not every record needs to be a collectible.” Can someone pass that on to Taylor Swift please?