Just a comparison from vinyl to digital releases in cost

[NinjaEdit]

Digital = 0$
Who the fuck needs a mastering guy

You still need a distributor.

[nowaysj]

Why? If you can drive people to your own site, you can sell directly, no?

[NinjaEdit]

Oh, I suppose. Still, you'd have to pay for your website.

[nowaysj]

Yes. Really pretty affordable.

[3za]

Oh, I suppose. Still, you'd have to pay for your website.

No Bandcamp.

[nowaysj]

They're a distributor, really.

[3za]

Do you know what Bandcamp is?

The basic service is free. There are no signup costs, and no listing fees.
We make money via a revenue share on sales: 15% on digital, 10% on merch.

Read more: https://bandcamp.com/pricing

So you only pay a percentage on what you sell, though you can upgrade your account, and get premium features (bit like with sc).

[nowaysj]

Yes, they are a distributor with a revenue share model.

[3za]

Why seem so surprised then?

[nowaysj]

I am only surprised that I appear surprised.

[3za]

They're a distributor, really.

Thats not surprised, what is it then sarcasm, or do you just end all your post with really. Really!!!

[nowaysj]

Well, let me in the most banal way reconstruct the recent flow of ideas.

Digi release is free, but no you have to pay a digi distributor, you could digi release and self distribute through your own website, but that costs money, BANDCAMP! (that's you), bandcamp is just a digi distributor (that is me implying that we're back where we started, paying a 3rd party digi distributor), really.

[3za]

But there is no start up cost with Bandcamp, but with your own site you need a domain, and hosting so it cost money up front.

I'm just saying you can release digital with no cost upfront, don't give a fuck who is distroing it tbh.

[legend4ry]

Since when has putting out music ever been cheap? You hear stories of A&R guys re-mortgaging their houses to get a band's demo/first EP made out of their own pocket with the hope a big label will pick it up.

Its always an investment, its always a risk.

If people can't afford to even put £180 into professional mastering (with hardware) a 6 track EP then please don't put it out for a price. You should have more pride in your music/what you're putting out and invest money because you'll obviously earn it back cause the tunes are fucking sick.

And if you don't feel that way then keep churning stuff out till you do, innit?


RE: Bandcamp.

I wouldn't soley sell on it because bandcamp mainly relies on people being brought to your store page not just 'stumbling' across your release.

Defs good to have one separate from the distro for extended income.

[wolf89]

Digital = 0$
Who the fuck needs a mastering guy

Basically everyone if you want your music not to sound like dog shit most places

[NinjaEdit]

I think Skrillex self-masters.

[ftwgmorm]

I think Skrillex self-masters.

And so does Rob Swire. But shhh...

[syrup]

well..

[mt1]

I read this whole thread thinking "why is there any cost to digital at all?" I understand that a distributor takes a cut of each record, but it seems like this discussion centers around *barrier to entry* as opposed to per-song percentages... If you bundle your songs into an album, you will save money per track (thats just basic economics) but that doesn't mean people will buy an album more than buying an individual song these days.

I get that professional mastering is great to have for your tracks, but one question related to vinyl ($80 for OP) vs digital mastering ($180 for OP) would have is: Can't you get a professional mastering engineer to master a digital track on realistic monitors and then send that accurately mastered track for production on vinyl? Or is it just that much better to master for the medium for vinyl?

EDIT: The parantheses part is about: Why would it be *cheaper* to master for vinyl??

[xtcvsmistycold]

If people can't afford to even put £180 into professional mastering (with hardware) a 6 track EP then please don't put it out for a price.

labels obviously can
just find a label you're happy to work with and they'll sort out the financial stuff
if ur gonna do everything on your own then divide it in your head between artist stuff and label stuff
if you get a quick £10 master then flog the tracks on bandcamp you're mugging yourself off the same as releasing with a shit label

You should have more pride in your music/what you're putting out and invest money because you'll obviously earn it back cause the tunes are fucking sick.

at the same time though fucking sick tracks don't lead to earning invested money back (sales). popularity leads to sales.

realistic monitors