I sell CDs on Amazon. I've a section of shelving devoted to what they don't
have in their data base. This is where CDs with no bar code or non-US
barcodes go. One portion is devoted to CDs where Amazon only has MP3s
available and not even a "sold out" listing for the CD. They don't seem to
remove out-of-stock listings in the event used copies turn up through
third-party dealers. It would appear that by the time they got to them, the
CD was no longer available.
Steve Smolian
-----Original Message-----
From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Tom Fine
Sent: Saturday, January 01, 2011 7:14 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Digital download stats
Hi Brenda:
This is an interesting question. There's a huge gray area with this --
namely albums that are now out of print on CD but are readily available in
lossy-download formats (and, in a few cases, also available in full-rez
downloads). For instance, Verve Music Group division of Universal has a
whole web area called Verve Vault that lists many albums available only on
iTunes and sometimes as Amazon downloads. Many or all of these were once out
in CD, so Verve had digital masters so it was no big deal to produce
lossy-format download files. I can't think of any titles that weren't out on
CD, in fact, either worldwide, Japan only or USA only. The same is true for
Blue Note -- some titles are now out of print but readily available at
Amazon (sometimes for as little as $3.50 per album) and iTunes.
The only cases I know of where something is released for download-only with
no ability to buy a CD (or LP or 45-single) because none were printed, would
be very-indie self-made albums and special one-off singles, like for
instance the famous Bed Intruder song that was a YouTube and then iTunes
sensation. You could also count cheapo compilations like Rhino Hi-5
collections on iTunes, but all of those tunes or at least the vast majority
of them are in print on CD elsewhere.
In the classical world, some orchestras may be releasing concerts as
downloadable files only now, but those typically weren't published on CD
anyway.
I would say that some indie albums sell many more downloads than physical
media, given that the CD's are sometimes hard to purchase (ie not at Amazon
or very costly at Amazon or must be purchased, at full list price, directly
from the artist). But almost every smaller-time artist I've ever seen or
known prints CD's because they sell them at live events if nothing else.
Finally, the last figures I saw, which were for 2009, showed CD's vastly,
_vastly_ outselling downloads as far as dollars but the big issue was that
downloads were gaining as far as numbers, and all of those numbers gained
were sold dirt-cheap compared to a printed CD. Given the cost of inventory
and the demise of any large-scale sales channel beyond Amazon and Wal-Mart,
companies are taking back-catalog and slow-selling recent released out of
print quickly, figuring it's cheaper to make less with the downloads but not
have the headache of physical inventory.
Meanwhile, I've been collecting lists and catalogs of new-issue vinyl and I
estimate there are now more than 5000 titles in active catalogs, probably
more if you could Japan-only releases and even more if you count gray goods.
This is a drop in the bucket compared to still-available-cheap CD's, but
who'd a thunk it?
-- Tom Fine
----- Original Message -----
From: "Nelson-Strauss, Brenda" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, December 31, 2010 1:49 PM
Subject: [ARSCLIST] Digital download stats
I know there are stats for the number of tracks purchased as digital
downloads vs. number of
physical copies purchased. But does anyone know if there are stats
available for the number of
online-download-only tracks/albums being published? That is, music for which
no physical CD or LP is
produced for sale. I am trying to track how rapidly the change from
physical copies to online-only
is progressing.
Thanks,
Brenda
Brenda Nelson-Strauss
Archives of African American Music and Culture
Indiana University
2805 E. 10th Street, Suite 180
Bloomington, IN 47408
[log in to unmask]
(812) 855-7530
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