FREE Legal MP3 downloads of Prog music - Progressive Rock Music Forum

I'm afraid I am.

In typical fashion, as soon as I'd posted, someone went on the website and downloaded the free single. Did they download any payable material ? Nope. ;-)

Now, I'm not having a go at anyone here, but looking back at sales since March, no one has actually downloaded any payable material as a result of first playing the "free download" stuff. (I get protests from "proper prog rock fans" on this site that they DO support artists. They seem to forget I get full analytical stats from my website...... they don't. )

Forget my example for a moment. Widen it to "all prog rock groups ".

Everyone goes off and downloads the free stuff, don't support the artists, proclaim that they ARE paying for music when in fact, they're not, or are in a massive rarity if they do. This seems to be the case, and after a dalliance with free releases, most musicians seem to come to the conclusion that free releases do not generate sales.

The result is that musicians just give up or play by themselves, rather than be ripped off. In a musically minor genre, that means effective death of new material fairly quickly. "Is this happening, Dave ? " - well, look how quickly this thread slowed down. Most musicians.... cannot be bothered. And who can blame them ?

An argument is "Only proper musicians will continue to release music when there is no profit in it", which is not exactly the case...... the case is when you are putting years of effort into releasing music for people who are not fans (fans support bands) but behave more like freeloaders, you lose all respect for them.

I'm not criticising this thread, I like releasing free stuff occasionally, nor am I criticising people who download the occasional free track. Feel free. Please, however, look at how much free music is being released and ask yourself a question about the future of prog rock if you do not actually support it..... properly.

No griping or complaints here....... observation. Use the evidence provided by your own eyes, ladies and gents.

Proper musicians will start playing amongst themselves - who needs the hassle of setting up gigs ? - or they'll operate strict fan clubs only. It's a two way thing.

Edited by Davesax1965 - July 08 2016 at 03:44

Just to update you all - no more free stuff from Brotherhood of the Machine. We've recently spent a fortune on kit, and our experience of free music is that it just doesn't generate sales. You may have noticed that this thread is slowing down.... looks like other bands have come to the same conclusion.

The releases of jazz fusion band Yojo are free here: http://yojo.bandcamp.com/

I don't listened to it yet, but Octopus-4 reviewed their first album, seems to be good!

Edited by tupan - June 21 2016 at 15:39

"Prog is Not Dead and never has been." (Will Sergeant, from Echo And The Bunnymen)

I thought I actually reviewed it but I didn't...an opportunity to relisten to it...

I stand with Roger Waters, I stand with Joan Baez, I stand with Victor Jara, I stand with Woody Guthrie. Music is revolution

Thanks a lot. As new prog fan I've to check nice stuff. Wink

someone_else wrote:

I see that Akt (Eclectic, Italy) as a new album out. It can be downloaded here. Since their last one, Blemmebeya, was on top of my 2011 list I'm very curious.

Great spot. Thank you for the info.

I stand with Roger Waters, I stand with Joan Baez, I stand with Victor Jara, I stand with Woody Guthrie. Music is revolution

We (Farmhouse Odyssey) are offering both of our albums for free with the option to pay whatever you like!

http://farmhouseodyssey.bandcamp.com/

Power Prog offering free EPs and singles on their website here

http://www.powerprog.net/free_singles_eps.html

The discog of avant-prog band Brian! here: http://brianbassoon.bandcamp.com/

"Prog is Not Dead and never has been." (Will Sergeant, from Echo And The Bunnymen)

That's really good ! ;-)