Yeah, that's very different from my perspective.Hal McGee wrote:the shorter run CDRs make sense to me because I have so many different audio projects that I am interested in getting out there for people to hear
I Hate CD prices
Re: I Hate CD prices
You, of all people, should understand
Re: I Hate CD prices
Many things have already been said, but here's my little experience.
I released three CDs on my label, through the 2-3 past years.
What did it cost:
- I'm ordering 500 copies pressings (500 was the minimum for digipacks, in the pressing plants I worked with). Pressing costs were around 1300€ per release.
- For the artwork (illustrations on the first two CDs, a photography on the third CD), I paid 500€ each time: I have no idea if it's high/low for the artists, my idea was just to retribute their work with something "significant" (like 1€/CD... and again, it's not like we were selling thousands of CDs).
- I'm sending a few promo copies, and of course, CDs to the artists (as they were mainly in Japan, shipping costs represented something like 300€).
How I'm selling them:
I'm selling the CDs from the label's site: 12€ for 1CD, 24€ for 2CDs, 30€ for 3CDs (all these prices including shipping, which is between 2-3€, depending on the place... say maybe 3€ if you consider the little Paypal tax).
The wholesale price is 8/9€ including shipping (depending a bit on the quantity). Two examples (not including shipping): Metamkine (french mailorder) sells them 13€, Erstwhile sells them $16. I can understand that you see $16 as a high price in the US, but note also that the Euro was very high at the time: that doesn't really help european labels in the US, and maybe it was even worse for japanese labels (?). Perhaps things would be a bit different/easier today, since the lobby of little labels like mine are speculating against the Euro.
Now, the sum of the sales brought me 1500€ (and of course, all the money goes to the label, not me).
So, it's far away from the balance, but hey:
- it's not like I was expecting it to be a lucrative activity (but after all, it's still more lucrative than being a B.Madoff client, and as Joe explained, you get heaven and virgins).
- 1500€ is modest, but it will pay a good part of the fourth release... which is pretty cool!
For sure, incoming money helps but I'm not sure that I would have released CDs more frequently with more money... maybe financing other activities like book publishing, but it's another league for me at the moment.
I released three CDs on my label, through the 2-3 past years.
What did it cost:
- I'm ordering 500 copies pressings (500 was the minimum for digipacks, in the pressing plants I worked with). Pressing costs were around 1300€ per release.
- For the artwork (illustrations on the first two CDs, a photography on the third CD), I paid 500€ each time: I have no idea if it's high/low for the artists, my idea was just to retribute their work with something "significant" (like 1€/CD... and again, it's not like we were selling thousands of CDs).
- I'm sending a few promo copies, and of course, CDs to the artists (as they were mainly in Japan, shipping costs represented something like 300€).
How I'm selling them:
I'm selling the CDs from the label's site: 12€ for 1CD, 24€ for 2CDs, 30€ for 3CDs (all these prices including shipping, which is between 2-3€, depending on the place... say maybe 3€ if you consider the little Paypal tax).
The wholesale price is 8/9€ including shipping (depending a bit on the quantity). Two examples (not including shipping): Metamkine (french mailorder) sells them 13€, Erstwhile sells them $16. I can understand that you see $16 as a high price in the US, but note also that the Euro was very high at the time: that doesn't really help european labels in the US, and maybe it was even worse for japanese labels (?). Perhaps things would be a bit different/easier today, since the lobby of little labels like mine are speculating against the Euro.
Now, the sum of the sales brought me 1500€ (and of course, all the money goes to the label, not me).
So, it's far away from the balance, but hey:
- it's not like I was expecting it to be a lucrative activity (but after all, it's still more lucrative than being a B.Madoff client, and as Joe explained, you get heaven and virgins).
- 1500€ is modest, but it will pay a good part of the fourth release... which is pretty cool!
For sure, incoming money helps but I'm not sure that I would have released CDs more frequently with more money... maybe financing other activities like book publishing, but it's another league for me at the moment.
-
Vincent Kargatis
- Posts: 72
- Joined: Mon May 12, 2008 10:10 am
Re: I Hate CD prices
I think inflation provides some necessary context to the issue in general. $15 now was $3.70 in 1975. Were many people back then griping about high prices at that level? I think $5+ was typical retail around that time, no? Overall, cd prices have been "reasonable" for many years now, comparing to historical prices for music releases.Hal McGee wrote:We have been assured all along by the major record companies ever since then that the prices of CDs would fall to a "reasonable" level.
Re: I Hate CD prices
my philosophy since starting Erstwhile 10+ years ago has been to sell single CDs for $12 at most (this can drop as low as $8 or $9 during sales) and to try to release CDs that merit numerous listens, thus maximizing the consumer's value.
a CD that is only played once or twice isn't much of a value (although I guess it's not too different from going to the movies), but a CD that is enjoyed dozens of times is a great deal.
a CD that is only played once or twice isn't much of a value (although I guess it's not too different from going to the movies), but a CD that is enjoyed dozens of times is a great deal.
Re: I Hate CD prices
That's an excellent philosophy, Jon.jon abbey wrote:my philosophy since starting Erstwhile 10+ years ago has been to sell single CDs for $12 at most (this can drop as low as $8 or $9 during sales) and to try to release CDs that merit numerous listens, thus maximizing the consumer's value.
a CD that is only played once or twice isn't much of a value (although I guess it's not too different from going to the movies), but a CD that is enjoyed dozens of times is a great deal.
homemade experimental electronic music since 1981
http://www.haltapes.com/
http://www.haltapes.com/
Re: I Hate CD prices
thanks, Hal.
also, the other crucial part which I forgot to mention was packaging. I feel it's important to remember you're creating an entire object, not just a holder for the music. the thought and care put into the packaging quite often parallels the thought and care put into the music.
also, the other crucial part which I forgot to mention was packaging. I feel it's important to remember you're creating an entire object, not just a holder for the music. the thought and care put into the packaging quite often parallels the thought and care put into the music.
Re: I Hate CD prices
i don't. i think i've paid more than $15 to go to a concert less than 5 times.some guy wrote:And what about concerts? You pay much more for a concert that lasts a couple of hours than you do for a CD that et cetera, don't you?
$15 for a CD is reasonable, although I rarely am willing to pay more than that. Recently, I've bought at least half the CDs i've acquired at shows where i'm probably more likely to buy two albums at $10 each than one at $15.
My budget is limited (esp. this year) and I spend a long time considering all my mail order purchases.