CDs, downloads, streaming

[Nick Armstrong]

But ... but ... but ...

Beethoven appears after Britten, and Shostakovich is in the middle of Beethoven!!!

OCD Emergency Team, Code Red, Airedale, Now, Go Go Go!!

[teamsaint]

So, any advance on the costs of distribution of digital music for record companies?

I'd be really interested to know about costs in general for distribution of physical compared to digital, for example, from anybody who actually knows.
Must be somebody out there. RB ? Bryn ? Cals must know somebody who knows ?

[mahlerei]

So, any advance on the costs of distribution of digital music for record companies?

I'd be really interested to know about costs in general for distribution of physical compared to digital, for example, from anybody who actually knows.
Must be somebody out there. RB ? Bryn ? Cals must know somebody who knows ?

I've asked Robert if he'd like to contribute to this debate. He's usually more than happy to post on forums like this.

[teamsaint]

I've asked Robert if he'd like to contribute to this debate. He's usually more than happy to post on forums like this.

Excellent. Thanks.

( There are other forums like this ?!)

[mahlerei]

Excellent. Thanks.

( There are other forums like this ?!)

Far more toxic ones, certainly, to which Robert has contributed - robustly, too :)

[EdgeleyRob]

But ... but ... but ...

Beethoven appears after Britten, and Shostakovich is in the middle of Beethoven!!!

I've been meaning to do something about that.....for years

[jayne lee wilson]

I've been meaning to do something about that.....for years

Don't many of us.... know the feeling well...!

Principle of CD Library Organisation: at least I know where everything is .(***)

(***until I can't find it. )

[jayne lee wilson]

Far more toxic ones, certainly, to which Robert has contributed - robustly, too :)

Ah, the good old bad old days of SACD.net....

[Dave2002]

So, any advance on the costs of distribution of digital music for record companies?

I'd be really interested to know about costs in general for distribution of physical compared to digital, for example, from anybody who actually knows.
Must be somebody out there. RB ? Bryn ? Cals must know somebody who knows ?

I'd be interested in this too.

There are presumably several cases:

1. CD or DVD or SACD only
2. Digital downloads only - including Hi-Res
3. Digital streaming only - Including Hi-Res
4. Any combination of the above

The production costs should be similar for each, though by using more than one distribution method the production costs might be shared between the distribution methods. I'm just guessing here - we need another input.

For physical discs there will be warehousing and transport costs, and in some cases disposal costs. There will also be some costs for faulty discs - though the reliability rate might be quite high.

For digital media there will be data storage costs, network distribution costs and again there may be problems with distribution, so there's probably a need for some form of complaints handling.

There will also be some marketing costs - product placement, branding etc.

Volume of sales (expected volume of sales) would also be a factor. Big distributors (either physical or "soft") will probably not take on unknown performers.
Some performers might do a DIY job - until either they fail, or make it bigger time, at which point they'll hand over to third party distribution specialists.

For CDs (for example) you can do some guesswork re the production costs for small volumes. Probably about £1-£2 per disc for a run of between 50-200, but that could include a printed cover, a printed CD and a jewel case - done by third party duplication firms.

I have no idea how musicians could get their recorded work distributed digitally via networks, unless they do it all themselves - which could be technically challenging, and tracking payments would add to the complexity. Some might go this route - putting up download files on web sites, or using YouTube (but that's probably not high quality). I could quite easily put up audio and video files I've recorded on a web site, and for small volumes that wouldn't cost me any additional cost over what I pay now for network access. To do it commercially would probably require a more formal relationship with the network people, and would cost more, but how much per download or data stream I have no idea. Handling the accounting for charged for material could become a pain for a DIY operation.

Probably most musicians who might even start with a DIY solution will find that they eventually either fail/give up, or hand over to one or more third party organisations if they become popular with the listening public. I think there are now university courses which deal with these aspects - it's not just about writing the notes, or getting them performed, but also about branding, awareness and distribution - commercial aspects etc.

So yes, if anyone can throw more light on this I'd be glad to hear about it.

[mahlerei]

Ah, the good old bad old days of SACD.net....

Yes! What a slugfest that used to be...

BTW, Robert is having problems registering to post here. Hope he will be able to join us soon.

[Richard Barrett]

I have no idea how musicians could get their recorded work distributed digitally via networks, unless they do it all themselves - which could be technically challenging, and tracking payments would add to the complexity.

That is very easy actually, for example with Bandcamp which for a subscription (and a small percentage of sales) let musicians set up their own "labels", decide on pricing structures and file formats for downloads (aside from free streaming), design their pages, add liner notes etc. Another alternative (but where no money changes hands apart from the subscription payment) is Soundcloud, where again material can be streamed for nothing, and also downloaded in original quality if the uploader allows it. I would expect an expansion in this kind of portal in the future.

[Bryn]

In addition to what Richard B has offered, I would refer back to #118. The 'labels' piggybacked on Cafe OTO's OTOROKU download provision are very small. Matchless Recordings, for instance, is run by master improvising percussionist Edwin 'Eddie' Prevost from his home in Matching Tye, (not all Matchless Recordings releases are available via OTOROKU as yet). The other two labels currently have but 3 releases each there.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

OK

Let me be the first to ask:

"Who on earth is "Robert"?

[DublinJimbo]

OK

Let me be the first to ask:

"Who on earth is "Robert"?

Robert von Bahr, boss of BIS?

[Bryn]

Robert von Bahr, boss of BIS?

From the context of this thread's discusion, that is whom I was thinking of. He is certainly a very communicative guy.