Comments on: sales Q1 2010 http://colortheory.com/sales-q1-2010 electronic indie piano pop Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:01:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Brian Hazardhttp://colortheory.com/sales-q1-2010#comment-492 Brian Hazard Sat, 10 Apr 2010 02:57:49 +0000 http://colortheory.com/?p=2029#comment-492 Trent's ideas are an inspiration for all of us, but he's lucky to have a pre-existing fanbase to market to. Still, I do want to think of some sort of upgrade or two beyond a simple CD or download. Something that won't cost a fortune to make, in case nobody buys it! Trent’s ideas are an inspiration for all of us, but he’s lucky to have a pre-existing fanbase to market to. Still, I do want to think of some sort of upgrade or two beyond a simple CD or download. Something that won’t cost a fortune to make, in case nobody buys it!

]]> By: endomesohttp://colortheory.com/sales-q1-2010#comment-490 endomeso Fri, 09 Apr 2010 05:52:43 +0000 http://colortheory.com/?p=2029#comment-490 I think you're right Brian. The value of music has nosedived in recent years. Many illegal downloaders are happy to justify getting the music for free as the record companies having been ripping off the consumer for years. It feels like payback. Fair enough. However... now there's a whole new generation that's not experienced the old model to whom free downloads are just the way it is. I think giving the music away is probably the best strategy right now. I also don't play live. I'm a one man show and don't have enough arms to bring it to the stage. For me the other options would be merchandise and exclusive packages, much like the Trent Reznor model: http://putmeonit.blogspot.com/2010/03/trent-reznor-interview-business-model.html I think you’re right Brian.
The value of music has nosedived in recent years.
Many illegal downloaders are happy to justify getting the music for free as the record companies having been ripping off the consumer for years. It feels like payback. Fair enough.
However… now there’s a whole new generation that’s not experienced the old model to whom free downloads are just the way it is.
I think giving the music away is probably the best strategy right now.
I also don’t play live. I’m a one man show and don’t have enough arms to bring it to the stage.
For me the other options would be merchandise and exclusive packages, much like the Trent Reznor model:
http://putmeonit.blogspot.com/2010/03/trent-reznor-interview-business-model.html

]]> By: Brian Hazardhttp://colortheory.com/sales-q1-2010#comment-489 Brian Hazard Thu, 08 Apr 2010 23:08:29 +0000 http://colortheory.com/?p=2029#comment-489 I'm all for that! As a listener, I look forward to an all-streaming future, at long as audio quality doesn't suffer too much. As an artist, I hope the pay gets better than $167 per million streams, but I want it to be cheap enough for the end user that illegal downloading isn't worth the hassle. I’m all for that! As a listener, I look forward to an all-streaming future, at long as audio quality doesn’t suffer too much. As an artist, I hope the pay gets better than $167 per million streams, but I want it to be cheap enough for the end user that illegal downloading isn’t worth the hassle.

]]> By: Derekhttp://colortheory.com/sales-q1-2010#comment-488 Derek Thu, 08 Apr 2010 22:33:28 +0000 http://colortheory.com/?p=2029#comment-488 I'm glad you guys are champions of personal fulfillment. I'm jealous, actually. Wish I could sing and make music myself.Given that, I really think that this problem of having a viable business model for musicians is important. It saddens me when I see my coworkers in their early twenties illegally downloading music from the internet. I don't care about record companies, but I do care about artists. If we could live in a world where most artists self published and customers willingly paid for great music, that would be terrific.Derek I’m glad you guys are champions of personal fulfillment. I’m jealous, actually. Wish I could sing and make music myself.

Given that, I really think that this problem of having a viable business model for musicians is important. It saddens me when I see my coworkers in their early twenties illegally downloading music from the internet. I don’t care about record companies, but I do care about artists. If we could live in a world where most artists self published and customers willingly paid for great music, that would be terrific.

Derek

]]> By: Brian Hazardhttp://colortheory.com/sales-q1-2010#comment-487 Brian Hazard Thu, 08 Apr 2010 22:08:38 +0000 http://colortheory.com/?p=2029#comment-487 Back when I played live, I had a brandy snifter nearby for tips, and didn't do much better than The Dreaming! Still, I usually sold a few CDs and I got paid $80-$150 for 2-3 hours. I'm glad I don't do that anymore. :) Back when I played live, I had a brandy snifter nearby for tips, and didn’t do much better than The Dreaming! Still, I usually sold a few CDs and I got paid $80-$150 for 2-3 hours. I’m glad I don’t do that anymore. :)

]]> By: Monty Singletonhttp://colortheory.com/sales-q1-2010#comment-486 Monty Singleton Thu, 08 Apr 2010 19:17:56 +0000 http://colortheory.com/?p=2029#comment-486 $13? Party at Pizza Hut! You can get a Pizza AND a drink.As you know, there is no money in music sales anymore. Streaming is where it's going and even Lady GaGa only made $167 off of 1 million streaming sales on Spotify. Looking at how much I make from streams that doesn't surprise me a bit. LOL. Even live is tough. The Dreaming, the hardest working band I know on the live scene, is sleeping on peoples floors while they tour and are excited about $147 in tips after doing 10 shows. http://twitpic.com/18tkb6 and http://twitter.com/thedreamingband. When we opened for Chris, he really liked our tip jar (I got that idea from the Tour Smart book) so it's great to see him using it. Shows you how rough live life is though!!As Guitar Center knows, making money from other musicians (who are using money from their day jobs) seems to be the most common way to make money in the music industry these days. Hopefully someday a better economic model will emerge. Until then, like you said, at least making records is cheaper!Monty $13? Party at Pizza Hut! You can get a Pizza AND a drink.

As you know, there is no money in music sales anymore. Streaming is where it’s going and even Lady GaGa only made $167 off of 1 million streaming sales on Spotify. Looking at how much I make from streams that doesn’t surprise me a bit. LOL. Even live is tough. The Dreaming, the hardest working band I know on the live scene, is sleeping on peoples floors while they tour and are excited about $147 in tips after doing 10 shows. http://twitpic.com/18tkb6
and http://twitter.com/thedreamingband. When we opened for Chris, he really liked our tip jar (I got that idea from the Tour Smart book) so it’s great to see him using it. Shows you how rough live life is though!!

As Guitar Center knows, making money from other musicians (who are using money from their day jobs) seems to be the most common way to make money in the music industry these days. Hopefully someday a better economic model will emerge. Until then, like you said, at least making records is cheaper!

Monty

]]> By: Brian Hazardhttp://colortheory.com/sales-q1-2010#comment-485 Brian Hazard Thu, 08 Apr 2010 17:04:37 +0000 http://colortheory.com/?p=2029#comment-485 I pay the bills and eat by working on other peoples' music:http://www.resonancemastering.comKev, I think giving away your music for free makes a lot of sense, maybe even financial sense in the long run, while you're just getting started. In fact, if you're going to be touring, you might be best off giving away your music at least until you can support a tour. Since I don't play live, and haven't seen much interest in other sorts of merch, I just have the music to sell. I pay the bills and eat by working on other peoples’ music:

http://www.resonancemastering.com

Kev, I think giving away your music for free makes a lot of sense, maybe even financial sense in the long run, while you’re just getting started. In fact, if you’re going to be touring, you might be best off giving away your music at least until you can support a tour. Since I don’t play live, and haven’t seen much interest in other sorts of merch, I just have the music to sell.

]]> By: endomesohttp://colortheory.com/sales-q1-2010#comment-483 endomeso Thu, 08 Apr 2010 05:47:28 +0000 http://colortheory.com/?p=2029#comment-483 Brian,This was a most informative insight. I'm glad you're in it for the music and not reliant on sales for living costs. I'm yet to charge for any of the music I produce and am working on getting my first album together. I'm doubtful that an eventual album would make much, if any, money. However, like you say, if it was all about the money then this would probably be a bad career move. It's good that you were able to break even though.Thanks for sharing and keep doing what you're doing, Kev G - Endo Meso Brian,

This was a most informative insight. I’m glad you’re in it for the music and not reliant on sales for living costs.
I’m yet to charge for any of the music I produce and am working on getting my first album together.
I’m doubtful that an eventual album would make much, if any, money.
However, like you say, if it was all about the money then this would probably be a bad career move.
It’s good that you were able to break even though.

Thanks for sharing and keep doing what you’re doing,
Kev G – Endo Meso

]]> By: natyhttp://colortheory.com/sales-q1-2010#comment-482 naty Thu, 08 Apr 2010 02:02:29 +0000 http://colortheory.com/?p=2029#comment-482 please keep making amazing with music, monochrome blow out my head !. xoxo. please keep making amazing with music, monochrome blow out my head !. xoxo.

]]> By: Lindenhttp://colortheory.com/sales-q1-2010#comment-481 Linden Thu, 08 Apr 2010 00:57:34 +0000 http://colortheory.com/?p=2029#comment-481 dude - how do you pay your bills and eat? dude – how do you pay your bills and eat?

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