Would you release an album on a flash drive?

runmikeyrun · #1 09-24-2011, 10:48 AM

We're considering releasing our next album on flash drive along with traditional cds. The flash drive would contain the album artwork, and extras like a video of one of our songs and maybe a video interview or something. The flash drives are 64mb so they're not of much use to the buyer after they download the music and would be printed with our band's name and logo.

The price for cds and flash drives would both be $5. I don't know if there's really an issue with pirating because 90% of the kids will rip the disc into iTunes and put it on their iPod anyways, so the ease of burning it for others is the same with both.

We're a small band and aren't looking to press many cds and I'm thinking flash drives might be a cheaper and easier method of selling the album. The last place I found that did short run cds of any sort of decent quality sold them to me for $4/piece. Selling at $5 isn't much of a profit, but for an EP we really can't charge more.

I don't know... what do you guys think?

jefkritz · #2 09-24-2011, 11:10 AM

i would totally do that. i think that's a pretty sweet idea.

re the pirating aspect - personally, i don't mind if people "steal" my music. i say "steal" because it's free anyways. what's $5 vs expanding your fanbase?

jimmyjames · #3 09-24-2011, 11:19 AM

my band is planning on doing that too...

If a cd is being given for free at a show, but I actually hardly ever listen to them after I take it... It's bad i know, but it happens... a flash drive, I'd actually plug right into my comp...

when tapes were big, we walked around with tape players
when cds were big, we walked around with cd players
now everybody has a computer in their pocket lol Flash drives just seems right....

Plus, the flash drive has your logo and website printed on it, so anything they use it for will be reminding them about your group...

Pilgrim · #4 09-24-2011, 11:25 AM

If it's available on CD and online (which IS necessary), then the flash drive seems unnecessary to me. People will either burn it or download it to whatever medium they need.

The one advantage of a flash drive is similar to the CD - you can have your website printed on the drive.

droo46 · #5 09-24-2011, 11:26 AM

I think that it's a really great idea. I think fans would respond really well to a flash drive vs a CD.

Ayce · #6 09-24-2011, 11:36 AM

Unless you can lock the drive, what's to stop someone from wiping the drive, putting their own music on it, then giving it to someone else, with YOUR name and logo on it. Might be ok if the band is similar in style and production, but what if they SUCK!!! Your name could be mud in no time. CD's and DLC work well, and no one can mess them up.

MNAirHead · #7 09-24-2011, 11:39 AM

sounds great ESPECIALLY if the loaded drive is priced about the same as retail.

There are tons of other things you could include... the user then can use it for other purposes...

Makes you seem more valueable.

Lackey · #8 09-24-2011, 11:40 AM

I don't really think people are going to buy another bands flash drive and put their own stuff on it... especially if your bands name is on it.

The Mars Volta did this a few years back for a special edition of The Bedlam In Goliath, I remember it going over pretty well with fans. And they were charging waaaayy more than 5 bucks.. Course, they're a big band, hehe.

lavmonga · #9 09-24-2011, 11:40 AM

I think that's a great idea, might steal the thought and use it for my bands new ep as well. Would you mind sharing where you're getting the flashdrive hookup?

cnltb · #10 09-24-2011, 11:41 AM

I wouldn't buy an album released on a flash drive.
Unless I needed a flashdrive anyways.

JonahTheAmazing · #11 09-24-2011, 11:50 AM

It's kinda smart. One question is how do you market a flash drive as an album. If the cost works out as well as the cost of a CD, then I don't see why it would be a "bad" idea.

Ayce · #12 09-24-2011, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lackey

I don't really think people are going to buy another bands flash drive and put their own stuff on it... especially if your bands name is on it.

Just playing devil's advocate.

Not saying competing bands would do that, but ya never know in this cut throat business.
Showing my pc age here, but I do recall getting a floppy from a bud that had about a minute of a song he was writing. It was on an AOL floppy.

Joe Nerve · #13 09-24-2011, 01:00 PM

I think it's a great idea. Where do you get it done?

runmikeyrun · #14 09-24-2011, 01:01 PM

unfortunately the quote I got for a small qty (25) of 64mb flash drives was $8.10/ea that's a little too pricey. I can probably find blank ones on ebay from china, screen them with our bands info, and sell them for much cheaper. Might get a few duds, but would be worth it.

XtheDeadPawn · #15 09-24-2011, 01:18 PM

Hell yeah I would.
Thanks for the idea too.

runmikeyrun · #16 09-24-2011, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Nerve

I think it's a great idea. Where do you get it done?

Just do a google search for custom flash drive and a bunch of places will pop up. None have prices listed though, you have to send a quote request which kinda sucks. You also have the option of the printer loading the drive for an additional cost. For the 10 seconds it takes to actually do it I think I can handle that myself.

p.s. I did find some on ebay that were $3.85 ea plus $2 shipping, but only for the first drive. Additional drives were free shipping. Might roll with that if i can get the band on board.

FreshTrooperXBL · #17 09-24-2011, 01:31 PM

My manager's band did the USB album idea and it worked nicely. They sold the whole lot of USBs in a much shorter time than planned.
Killola, is there name. They're an LA band and another thing that worked well according to their fans who I have talked to backstage is to handout music at the local record (cd) shop or guitar center, and similar places. Worked darn well for them

Muddslide · #18 09-24-2011, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ayce

Unless you can lock the drive, what's to stop someone from wiping the drive, putting their own music on it, then giving it to someone else, with YOUR name and logo on it. Might be ok if the band is similar in style and production, but what if they SUCK!!! Your name could be mud in no time. CD's and DLC work well, and no one can mess them up.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lackey

I don't really think people are going to buy another bands flash drive and put their own stuff on it... especially if your bands name is on it.

Are you guys old enough to remember the cassette era? Bands did this all the time to other bands' tapes.

Heck, Ween recorded demos for their major-label debut on an old 4-track using some other band's demo tape.

shaggy45 · #19 09-24-2011, 09:59 PM

64mb vs 700mb

guitar<bass · #20 09-24-2011, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shaggy45

64mb vs 700mb

This is true. However, a cd formatted to play in a standard cd player can only hold about 12-18 songs total. Meaning the songs will be 30-40mb

If you put music on a flash drive, they will 99.9% of the time be in mp3 format. Which is on average somewhere around 3-5mb per song..

so cd ~ 700mb=18 songs (ish) max
Thumb drive ~ 64mb = 13 songs (ish) max

all of this depends on recording quality..

I imagine most bands aren't handing out mp3 cds, if they are please disregard my post.

cheers!