New Marillion album to be free to download

Just finished it. Best album of the year (so far) without a doubt!

E


Edited by E-Dub - September 10 2008 at 13:27

^^NOW this is where Shawn's "sad" response truly belongs.

E

Sorry Stonie, I didn't read it as advice, and why the dickens should I ?  Last time I saw Marilion was...oooh, 20 years ago, I certainly don't make decisions about DRM! !?!?!?

Actually, it's a sad state of affairs that it's even open for debate when the answer is glaringly clear; however, my focus will be on the quality of the music therein...because it is awesome.

E

prog-chick wrote: Ok, Sorry Bob, If I  promise to add nothing more can my post stay?   FO rthe record, and I did say this to E-Dub off line earlier, I REALLY really hope this works for Marillion, I seriously do, I think their fan base is just about big enough for it to work with the publicity, for smaller bands it is of course another nail in the coffin!

BigBoss wrote: this is just sad

Do you mean that you're sad about Marillion making the album available for free download?  Not good for business.  You guys are getting hit in many ways (from bands making albums available for free, to bands selling albums online directly, to illegitimate downloading etc.).  If things keep up, you're hardly the only one in your biz who risks going from being a big boss to a little bass (as in the fish -- big fish, little fish).


Edited by Logan - September 10 2008 at 16:55

Logan wrote: BigBoss wrote: this is just sad Do you mean that you're sad about Marillion making the album available for free download?  Not good for business.  You guys are getting hit in many ways (from bands making albums available for free, to bands selling albums online directly, to illegitimate downloading etc.).  If things keep up, you're hardly the only one in your biz who risks going from being a big boss to a little bass (as in the fish -- big fish, little fish).

What is sad is that the artist is basically saying they can not make money by selling a CD.  They have to resort to pushing ancillary merchandise through mass e-mailings to make a buck (or quid as it were). I see a lot more of this happening.  If it works out for Marillion, then great.  But it can't work for everyone.

I'm not a Marillion fan and only own Brave.  I would like to check it out if it is as good as Eric says, but don't know that I want a bunch of Marillion e-mails in my in box.  And if I don't buy the CD, should I feel guilty for downloading and not buying merchandise?

johnobvious wrote: Logan wrote: BigBoss wrote: this is just sad Do you mean that you're sad about Marillion making the album available for free download?  Not good for business.  You guys are getting hit in many ways (from bands making albums available for free, to bands selling albums online directly, to illegitimate downloading etc.).  If things keep up, you're hardly the only one in your biz who risks going from being a big boss to a little bass (as in the fish -- big fish, little fish). What is sad is that the artist is basically saying they can not make money by selling a CD.  They have to resort to pushing ancillary merchandise through mass e-mailings to make a buck (or quid as it were). I see a lot more of this happening.  If it works out for Marillion, then great.  But it can't work for everyone. I'm not a Marillion fan and only own Brave.  I would like to check it out if it is as good as Eric says, but don't know that I want a bunch of Marillion e-mails in my in box.  And if I don't buy the CD, should I feel guilty for downloading and not buying merchandise?

Of course not, this has nothing to do with quiltiness, it's just a matter of how you like your  collection to be.
Thounsands users are going to download it via torrents or elsewhere, anyways

OK folks, let's take a look at a little of the real world (as lifted from Bob Lefsetz' newsletter with full attribution etc)


"From: Charles Kennedy
Subject: Can't even GIVE it away

Hey Bob
 
I run Invisible Hands Music, London indie label, home of Thomas Dolby, (ex Strangler) Hugh Cornwell and the (reformed with new singer) Jam.
 
Our roster has included various other artists, and we had a stock clearout the other day, put boxes of old stock on the pavement with various charming variations of "Take me, I'm free" written on. The CDs were mostly by a semi-well known Britpop band, six Top 40 singles in their heyday. And in any case, great packaging, titles etc. I could watch out the office window  (in a hip street, 120,000 rock n roll-friendly visitors each day of every weekend) how people reacted to the giveaway. The vast majority of people who stopped would pick up a CD, look at it, flip it over, look at it a bit more, then put it back. Even in the one street in Europe most devoted to the pursuit of the rock n roll dream, you literally can't give away the physical product any more. Even though, as an indie label, I rely on shipping physical product, I couldn't help giggle at the idiots at the majors who think there's a future in selling recorded music, esp in CD form. It's laughable. They should put a few boxes of one of their great new bands out on the street and see how the public feel about their crappy bands."


OK now, back to reality ?

P.S. Here another good one from the same newsletter (again with full attribution)

"From: Jeffrey Campagna
Subject: RE: Not Selling On iTunes

Hi Bob,

I know this is of little importance in the major scheme of things.

In regards to ...
Isn't this how the labels got in trouble to begin with?  By making customers buy an entire, overpriced CD to get the single, the only track they wanted, oftentimes the only good track on the album?

I would say this also...

I know you consider vinyl a zit on the ass of the business or whatever you called it.  But you also mentioned yesterday how the vinyl revival is perpetrated by dying brick and mortar indie stores.

Being one who sells to, amongst others, brick and mortar stores I see it as the opposite. I constantly hear folks complaining how the majors are trying to push vinyl as if records had disappeared off the face of the earth. Slowly raising the prices to exorbitant amounts at the same time. Trying to create this wave of hysteria how vinyl "is back" and kids are learning to love it.

Having also worked in small indie new/used record stores I also relate to the fact that vinyl never "went away" in the indie store world. Kids have constantly been buying records.

So when you start seeing articles about the "vinyl is back" wave it all ties back to some major label pr idiot trying to push product in the NY Times. Trying to grab what last vestige of cash they can pillage from their catalog at a ridiculously over inflated price under the auspices of collectability.  I feel bad for kids spending $19.99-$34.99 for the same records they can still buy in a used record store for $3.99. Soon enough though they'll discover the new/used indie stores and realize the majors are still trying to take as much money out of their pocket as they can."


P.P.S. - I'm in Spin-It records once a week checking out the new arrivals bin.



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Edited by debrewguy - September 10 2008 at 21:51

If this is good, I'm definitely going to buy a copy, and I am really excited for this.