How popular are CD's nowadays?

[dbsfgyd1]

Moderators, feel free to move this post to where it belongs if I mis-posted.
I just viewed a nice thread of a bass player posting pics of his "CD Release Party" although the album is being distributed digitally.

That begged the question: How many bands are still releasing CD's? I had planned on doing one more CD before next year-- but nowadays I don't even know how to release a "digital album." You see, I'm an old fart!

We sell CDs gig site, but also have them for sale on ITunes.

 

[two fingers]

I wouldn't. I'd view it as pretentious and backwards looking. When favorite bands are charging $75 for the cheapo lawn seats, they're not hurting for cash.

The music industry has literally flipped recently. They used to break even or even lose a little going on tours. Only the most outrageously famous acts profited a great deal from touring. But making money on tours was not the point. The point was to inspire more people to buy the physical albums. These days, people see others' art as "their right to own" so they don't pay for any music. Apparently, we are all "entitled" to own the music produced by famous people. Therefore, artists now have to make money on the tour. That's why cheap seats are $75.

If they don't sell any music (or only get whatever the tiny payout is for streaming) and continue to sell tickets to concerts for $25, there's no money in it. So your "favorite artists" would just stop making music. If there's no "rich and famous" in music, most of those artists (even the ones you think do it for the love of their art) would discontinue producing any music. Deep down in all of us.... even the most artsy fartsy among us.... is a capitalist.... especially when we start talking millions.

 

[BlueShox]

Coloring book?

 

[Hurricane Jimmie]

So Anyway, I've recorded four CDs for my BL and another for one of his friends that wanted some bass on their acoustic project. All the one for my BL were done in his basement studio and everyone recorded alone.
Some gigs we sell five or six, some are zero. We put the $$ into the band fund.
We did one high level benefit where the promoters ordered 200 CDs to include in the swag bags of each attendee. I haven't seen that since.
I can't see the economics of a local band going into pro studio and recording. Even on a shoestring, you're going to spend $5K upfront....and get it back $10 at a time.
If it's a vanity project or you're shopping original songs to a buyer, that would be a different story.

 

[alaskaleftybass]

So Anyway, I've recorded four CDs for my BL and another for one of his friends that wanted some bass on their acoustic project. All the one for my BL were done in his basement studio and everyone recorded alone.
Some gigs we sell five or six, some are zero. We put the $$ into the band fund.
We did one high level benefit where the promoters ordered 200 CDs to include in the swag bags of each attendee. I haven't seen that since.
I can't see the economics of a local band going into pro studio and recording. Even on a shoestring, you're going to spend $5K upfront....and get it back $10 at a time.
If it's a vanity project or you're shopping original songs to a buyer, that would be a different story.

Thanks everyone for the replies.
I agree with @Hurricane Jimmie . I have a friend who is a great guitarist in town and found out he's also a gifted recording producer (on a small town level). He and I are going to do some recordings and I have a sing-along-with-backing-tracks project I'm going to have him mix for me.

The computer industry has been a boon for home recording, but it's also made it harder to thrash through all the home-grown weeds to find actually decent material. And of course, getting signed to a label is still a big deal, and they do every form of format.

 

[Ostie]

I don't like CDs ‘cuz when my CD skips I can’t put a penny on the tone arm to stop it.
If you know what I’m talking about then you are an old fart like me.

 

[alaskaleftybass]

I don't like CDs ‘cuz when my CD skips I can’t put a penny on the tone arm to stop it.
If you know what I’m talking about then you are an old fart like me.

 

[Tampabass]

I don't like CDs ‘cuz when my CD skips I can’t put a penny on the tone arm to stop it.
If you know what I’m talking about then you are an old fart like me.

Well, I DO like CDs, but I know what you mean.

 

[BergerHead]

I don't like CDs ‘cuz when my CD skips I can’t put a penny on the tone arm to stop it.
If you know what I’m talking about then you are an old fart like me.

Well, this is my 50 cents hoping you can use then with your skips. ;-)