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The thread about dubplates and the concept of music as commodity kind of hit on an idea I've had for a while now. I'm all for music as a limited product because I think it can bring attention and value to music that might otherwise get missed.

With that in mind I was wondering how the dubstep scene players would feel about a tiny label offering limited runs of, say, 3" CDs.

To give you an idea of what I'm talking about before you trash the concept check out :

www.cactusisland.net
www.awkwardsilencerecordings.com (moved to CD after 7" pressings became too expensive)
http://uk.heresmycardrecords.com

I want to start up something along the same lines but featuring only dubstep - because the CD format is so much cheaper to knock out I don't see this as competing with Pressing Issues - which is a much more serious (and sensible) affair. Plus I was thinking of runs of say 50 or 100 - small scale stuff but maybe enough to get people interested in new artists.

I would see it as a non-profit venture, with any proceeds (if there are any) from CD sales going directly back to the artist after pressing costs. I'm willing to run an online shop and organise everything out of my own pocket.

Its tricky because the dubstep scene really is forward thinking, and do people even want to buy a CD? My personal thought is that its more of an event than just sticking some mp3s online, although perhaps a free netlabel is an option? Really depends on you guys, how do the budding producers feel?

You could run this off soundclick. Think they charge a fiver a month but that allows you to upload 320's if you want em. Could charge 5p an mp3, and you'd only have to sell 3 a day to get the money back, so would work quite nice, covers costs.

Probably better than running off cd's and it allows you to do all your promotion under one banner. Think you can upload as many as you like so you can run back catalogue too. Think this also includes a level of promotion on the site too.

Good idea though, definitely gets the sound out there

i dont have cd decks

CD/mp3-only releases

Yeah, I'm thinking of it as an outlet for new talent who wouldn't ever be printed onto vinyl under normal circumstances... vinyl pressing is a much more expensive route to go down. I liked the idea of the 7" but its just not viable for small runs.

Although CD is fairly useless for DJing, its a cheap way to get peoples music heard whilst still producing a 'product'. I like the idea of generating some kind of buzz over someones work if its limited to just 100 copies - an MP3 doesn't hold any value in that respect.

Lets not get into the whole debate about should music be limited again - that was done in the earlier thread. Some people hate it, some love it.

Its about giving unheard-of producers an outlet that could generate interest in them... the best result would be for someone to gain a 'proper' record deal from it.

Dusty wrote:an MP3 doesn't hold any value in that respect.

so why even make them? imo, mini cd's are on the way out. why would i buy a mini cdr, if i can buy a 192 to 320 mp3 and just burn as many cd's as i'd ever need.

I think you completely missed the point.

Well make me a copy and I'll buy it. I like the idea as I use Serato Scratch so it's still a vinyl for me.

It would be a really good idea and especially if you were to promote new producers. Maybe have a couple tracks from someone whos already established or kinda known and then one track from someone who you reckon is the future and up and coming.

My 2 cents.

ac23 wrote:CD/mp3-only releases

Are the way forward.

Dusty wrote:Although CD is fairly useless for DJing

Since when?

Sorry, I should have said 3" CDs are useless.... although having thought about the concept a bit more, I think producing full size CD's wouldn't cost me any more and would indeed mean that you could use them for DJing.

Dusty wrote:Although CD is fairly useless for DJing

Dusty wrote:Sorry, I should have said 3" CDs are useless....

ahha. so. it's okay