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digital music downloads
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krelm
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : Sep 4, 2003 13:17
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People are always saying that labels and music retailers should try to sell music over the internet in digital form. Something like iTunes, but with the much smaller electronic music market.
Here is a very well-known electronic music shop & label (Hooj) that is giving it a try.
http://shop.hooj.com/index.cgi?task=load&content=dloads
About €1.50 per song (€5 for albums). They offer some material that is not otherwise available for sale (promos, some never-released tracks, and some that were only on mixed CDs before).
But this message is not to promo for Hooj. I want to know what people think of this!
1. For labels: If Psyshop or Saikosounds (or any other online store) made a service like this available, would you give them permission to sell your tracks in digital form? Would you make available promos, otherwise-unreleased tracks, and other "exclusive" material? (obviously you receive payment for tracks sold)
2. For artists: Would you like to see your music sold like this (digitally), or would you prefer only CDs/vinyls?
The Hooj service is new so nobody knows yet if it works, but I personally think it is nice that a well-known label/store in electronic music is giving it a try.
What do you think?
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Dr. Krelm DJ Mixes and Broken Symmetry archives - http://www.krelmatrix.com
Broken Symmetry on MCast - coming in 2007.... |
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Zombi
IsraTrance Senior Member
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375
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5032
Posted : Sep 4, 2003 13:20
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there was in past www.140bpm.com tht sold music in digital form. they has even some exclusive trax from well known groups like vibrasphere. seems it wasnt sucesful try since they closed after some time.
Believe your soul ! |
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DJ Pelon(Inpsyde Media)
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : Sep 4, 2003 13:23
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sounds like a smart idea to me...
if you can't bit them, join them right?
Inpsyde Media - Trance Mission Worldwide
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krelm
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : Sep 4, 2003 13:32
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Quote:
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On 2003-09-04 13:20, Zombi Cocktail wrote:
there was in past http://www.140bpm.com tht sold music in digital form. they has even some exclusive trax from well known groups like vibrasphere. seems it wasnt sucesful try since they closed after some time.
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This is different.
If I remember correctly, 140bpm.com (and many other places like that) were set up *specifically* to sell music in digital form. I agree with you...places like that will never work. Many people tried and they never did work. 
Hooj is an already-established and successful online store (and label) who are giving it a try. They already have many many customers and visitors who buy from them regularly. They are already starting with a head up (and won't be hurt either if it doesn't work). It is new, so I would be interested to see how it is going in 3 months.
Think of it as if Psyshop opened up a "Digital" section in addition to their CDs and Vinyl section. Might work, might flop.
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Dr. Krelm DJ Mixes and Broken Symmetry archives - http://www.krelmatrix.com
Broken Symmetry on MCast - coming in 2007.... |
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timsensient
Sensient
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101
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438
Posted : Sep 4, 2003 14:46
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Ive been thinking about this lately and its something i considered trying with my own music one day, but its a big risk. If i were to put my trax up for people to pay and download then no label in the future is gonna want to ever touch these tracks. So if people dont download/buy then im screwed and wasted a years work. Also, what is to stop people trading it still? I mean its still the same situation...one person buys it then it will still be shared with everyone else on soulseek etc. Although you would hope that if it was cheap to start with then people would make the right moral desicion...maybe
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krelm
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : Sep 4, 2003 16:50
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Quote:
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On 2003-09-04 14:46, timsensient wrote:
Also, what is to stop people trading it still? I mean its still the same situation...one person buys it then it will still be shared with everyone else on soulseek etc.
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I asked the people there a technical question regarding the encoding, and this was their reply:
"The files are in WindowsMedia Audio 9 which is a fairly new format and it offers greater sound quality and smaller file sizes compared to MP3. It allows you to burn the tracks to Audio CD, copy unlimited times to your portable digital music player, but you can't share the files with other computers."
IE, the files can't be downloaded and directly shared. Sure, it can be hacked (burn the file to an audio CD then rip a .mp3 from the CD), but it is not as easy as downloading and putting it in a shared folder.
Although, I think the technical side of it is less important than what is brought up by your second point:
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Although you would hope that if it was cheap to start with then people would make the right moral desicion...maybe |
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Exactly. I commonly hear people complain that they don't want to spend $15 on a CD with only one or two good songs. Would they spend $1.50 on the single song they do like from the CD?
I hope so.
Put yer money where yer mouth is, sucka!
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Dr. Krelm DJ Mixes and Broken Symmetry archives - http://www.krelmatrix.com
Broken Symmetry on MCast - coming in 2007.... |
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Rik
IsraTrance Team
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107
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Posted : Sep 4, 2003 18:37
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would they spend 10$ on a cd with the new prices?
www.psytracks.com :: Brand new website for sharing your psytracks with the world. Get a free 250Mb Artist profile, Blog and events calender!
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solipt1c
Soliptic
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349
Posted : Sep 5, 2003 05:22
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personally i congratulate companies for embracing this.
on the other hand, i can get mp3s for free, if I choose to pay I much prefer to have a physical product with artwork and everything. its not really a logical thing - it wouldnt matter if i got hi-res digital copies of the artwork and uncompressed 24 bit audio files - i'd still prefer to have something to put on the shelf (and ignore whilst only ever listening to my ripped mp3 version!)
http://www.dartrecordings.co.uk/ |
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Mike A
Subra
Started Topics :
185
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3954
Posted : Sep 6, 2003 00:45
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Quote:
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On 2003-09-05 05:22, solipt1c wrote:
on the other hand, i can get mp3s for free, if I choose to pay I much prefer to have a physical product with artwork and everything. its not really a logical thing - it wouldnt matter if i got hi-res digital copies of the artwork and uncompressed 24 bit audio files - i'd still prefer to have something to put on the shelf (and ignore whilst only ever listening to my ripped mp3 version!)
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We are brothers man 
Including the last sentence - which is why copy-protection sucks
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yossi
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : Sep 6, 2003 01:38
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well, this kind of thing will kill ALL labels for sure... and i whouldnt like to see that, and im not saying this Bcoz im a a part of a label... coz its preaty clear that its not where i get my money to eat, or ever will...
im saying if for few reasons...
- if u mean that it`ll bring maybe more money stright to the artist... im not sure it`ll work.
sure, it`ll be great for gms and infected mushroom... but what all the new artists? just think how much of them will have the joy to sell his music this way among 48476927045 new artists.
so... here i think comes in the labels work, the work like these guys from the NBA teams who bring new talents every year...
and yeah, even to be some kind of filter, or selector... to prevent floading the place with "not quality" music. (now ofcourse its not a reason for SO many labels we have in the psy scene, its definitely wrong... but i do believe that labels should be followed by this)
and also by this way, if u know what u want... u know where to find it.
-another reason... well, i just dont like my music in files, whatodo whatdo...
i still enjoy a whole concept of a produced cd.
something that will give more then a mouse click and sounds... these sounds are also very visualic ones, so why not expending the experience with some art work from the artist mind?
just my 2 cents
if you want to be rich, u`ve got to be a bitch! |
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Mike A
Subra
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Posted : Sep 6, 2003 03:08
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going a bit offtopic here..
yossi, you agree that there are too many labels. Yet you are part of a small label.
What can you say about that?
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KakoOlalaJwal
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : Sep 6, 2003 12:54
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Whooooooooo They have an exciting 12" in 'exclusive downloads' from Peace Division called "Do You See Me ?"
..... This one should make my day ! 
The idea is gOod BUT :
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On 2003-09-04 16:50, krelm wrote:
"IE, the files can't be downloaded and directly shared. Sure, it can be hacked (burn the file to an audio CD then rip a .mp3 from the CD), but it is not as easy as downloading and putting it in a shared folder."
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And what if the downloader also has Windows Media Player 9 installed on his computer ???
I think He could at least play the tracks in the Player (maybe not burn them -i don't know how it works)..
However... the positive things in this idea are the special features offered..
Man..... This Peace Division....
Cheers
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"Get your dose of BoOgie !"
http://www.bunkum-records.com
http://www.myspace.com/zekakoo |
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krelm
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
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Posted : Sep 6, 2003 13:02
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I am glad to hear perspective from a label person. I will just play devil's advocate for a minute.....
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On 2003-09-06 01:38, yossi wrote:
well, this kind of thing will kill ALL labels for sure... |
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One thing to keep in mind is that everything that is being sold (in the example I gave) is owned by and copyrighted to some label. The store is working with labels (not artists) to make available their catalogue for sale online. The money still goes to the labels, not directly to the artists. It is NO different from selling 12" vinyls or CDs in the flow-of-money sense.
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here i think comes in the labels work, the work like these guys from the NBA teams who bring new talents every year...
and yeah, even to be some kind of filter, or selector... to prevent floading the place with "not quality" music.
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Exactly!! This is why I think it works only if the store collaborates with labels (not directly with artists). Then it helps them.
If artists want to distribute their own music this way, then it is their choice and I have no problem with it. But direct-to-artist will NEVER work as the basis for widespread and successful digital music sales. Only online stores and labels working together, IMO.
I will still always buy CDs and vinyls. I also prefer a physical product to a digital copy. But I think this is useful for 2 reasons:
1. back catalogue - old releases I cannot find anymore on vinyl I will gladly pay $1-2 for a good (and legal!) digital copy. more money goes to the label than if I never find an original copy.
2. compilations with only 1 or 2 good tracks, so you can buy only those tracks (see my post above). more money goes to the label than if I just live without the entire compilation.
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Dr. Krelm DJ Mixes and Broken Symmetry archives - http://www.krelmatrix.com
Broken Symmetry on MCast - coming in 2007.... |
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nobody_3
Inactive User
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1177
Posted : Sep 6, 2003 13:42
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As an artists that use a lot of time on sound quality I have a big problem with these kind of online stores.
It's a fact that the technology today still is to weak to compete with the CD quality. Until there's a technology available (for all people) I feel it's a bad solution. And let's not forget that the speed on people's connection still are way to slow for good quality downloading !
I am not interested in that people listen to my music in a poor mp3 sound quality. I want them to listen to the real deal !
So again ! Until there's a improved technology available I prefer people to buy CD's.
Of course it would be nice if the prices went down but that'as a whole other matter.... Still I am quite sure that if these shops become sucessful the prices won't go down much. Imagine you want to compile your own album online... I am sure the greedy shop owners wil still charge a high amount of money for that service !
The only ones that get more rich are the shop owners ! |
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nobody_3
Inactive User
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Posted : Sep 6, 2003 14:00
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And let's not forget that there's a reason why there's something called "Marketing and Promotion".
This is why I still strongly believe that labels are essential to promote new and for that matter well established artists via the channels that have been proven very effective. We still need dedicated people to make sure that "the underdogs" get a fair shot in the music jungle.
If it's only up to the shops and internet to promote the artists then it will fast become a matter of who sell best and who the staff favourite. This will for sure not benefit the small artists and the many newcommers.
I see many people argue that it's good for the underground artists (such as in our scene) to have the internet as a promotion channel. Yes and no !
If promotion and sale is only done over the internet and via downloading I am afraid that many many artists will drown there and never get a chance to be exposed. Simply because the underground scenes (and also many commercial enterprices) do not use the potential of the internet good enough. Sadly I see no change in a direction of better use of the many tools the internet provide us with. Hopefully it will change but I doubt it will be within the next 5 years. People (and here I mean the music business) need to change the way they think about marketing and promotion. I wan't to see it before I believe in it ! And until I am 100% sure that they know how to promote me as an artists so I have an equal chance of success I won't bet my money on the internet alone ! |
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