Hola Peeps

Just wondered how many of you actually purchase music anymore? Be that on iTunes, Beatport etc or hard copy.
Or are more of you using youtube or streaming on say spotify? or simply downloading from illegal sources.

Not judging, although would be interested in peoples thoughts on music becoming thought of as free
and the complications on making a living as a music, what peoples perception of the implications of the download generation on the quality of music released, affect on labels and artists etc

I still buy music, I'd rather have the physical item than the digital form as well. To me it just seems more personal to own the CD or LP than an mp3. I use the internet to listen to the music and if I like it I try and remember to buy it the next time I go shopping.
The download generation has opened up the market to people and bands who wouldn't have had the option to get their music out there to the masses which can only be good thing, I mean more choice in music, is that a bad thing?

Good man

Its a double edged sword tbh

While the net, social media etc are great tools, its all too easy to be swallowed up in a sea of mediocre music and be overlooked. In addition it is much harder to make a living now, if you don't play live or create music that doesnt translate to live then making a living in pretty much impossible now from music alone. I think that due to this, it is changing the landscape of our musical experience. Bigger labels are spending less time and money on the recording side of things and labels large and small are taking less risks and as such artists have to have pretty much made a big splash and largely lose a certain amount of uniqueness before they recieve any industry input. That said, labels are largely becoming a dwindling stage in history, live agents and management are the new movers and shakers with artists making I would guess at over 85% of their money from live alone nowadays. So yes, the net is great to get out there, but making a living in 2013 is becoming harder than ever based on the old model of the music industry. Artists need to be performers, studio engineers, multi-instrumental, industry savvy, media experts with a clear vision and flexible beyond belief now.

I remember one story regarding the band Talk Talk who gained success with their album Colour Of Spring, and because of that the record company gave them a much larger budget to make their follow up, but as you can guess where this is going, the album wasn't a commercial success because they made it the album they wanted to make not necessarily one that would sell. They also announced due to its complexity at the time, they were unable to tour it.
Hauschka is an artist however who has had to comply, mainly because the two hours it used to take to set up his piano, had to be cut down massively to be able to tour and play live. If you don't know who I mean, you will see what I mean by looking on a video site (He uses vibrators, tic tacs and ping pong balls on the piano).

Haha, yes.. Spirit of Eden and Laughing Stock are 2 of my fav albums

I bought two albums last month but before them ,I'm struggling to remember the last one I bought. If I can't get what I want one way , Then I'll try other ways.

Since the start of November, I've bought 35 CDs, been sent another 12 for review (above and beyond the ones that I bought for review) and as a bonus I've been sent a couple of new LPs too, one of which came with the CD release of the same album.

Not all the 35 CDs have been new releases - probably about half -but I'm always trying to fill gaps in my collection.

So yes, I do buy music.


I've also got a backlog of around 15 d/l albums that I've been sent which I'll never get round to listening to properly - I hate all the faffing about with burning them off as my computer speakers don't do them justice. One day bands will work out why their stuff doesn't get reviews.

Make that 36, just ordered Random Hand's limited edition live album, just listening to the download now.


It's no wonder I have no money.

Recent buys have been Babel by Mumford and Sons and Jake Bugg's eponymous debut album. Both really good. That said, this sadly a lot more dross/noise on the radio these days than what I could call music.

Yes and no

We had this discussion as a band the other week in deciding to put our EP we release next week on our website as a free listen. We've only done a run of 200cds, and a digi download. Someone asked would we mind if it was copied etc, and I said no. If they copy it for a friend and that person pays to see us as a show, then it was worth it.

As a consumer I buy vinyl/cds, but I also download, applying the same principles as above.

What grates me is when industry puppets like Lilly Allen stick their oar in. They make pence off a single, but money from playing shows, and tours. The only reason they speak out is because the industry moguls are losing out and it may take a couple of £k off their next contract.

Spot on. I support small bands by buying their merch, whether it's a CD or a t-shirt, I'm always prepared to chuck a few quid in to help them pay their costs. That said, I'm not averse to circulating 'best of the latest buys' to a couple of DJs I know, working on the principle that these lads will play these tunes out, the bands will get a bit of free publicity and hopefully a few more fans.
Most bands I know are happy with this, it's when people start ripping whole albums it becomes a bit of a mickey take.

Went into Wakey yesterday to buy the new Courteeners album and couldn't get it anywhere, had to order it from Amazon!

I've noticed with a few bands that I have bought tickets for recently that they tag an upcoming album on to the purchase for about £5-6. It's not compulsory in most cases but it was I think with Johnny Marr's tour tickets.

I don't have any griped with buying CD's but they all get imported eventually so it's increasingly pointless for me, especially with playing my iPod in the car aswell.

The only music I tend to download is either promo stuff or tracks I have already bought on CD or vinyl but for whatever reason have lost or they became damaged. I dont tend to think of that as theft

Vinyl only for me. Does make it a bit more expensive really but worth it I think. Even though they often come with download codes I hardly use them or I have them to a mate who I think might like the album and get them interested in the band