I understand, why buy a hard copy? “I can get everything I could ever want by streaming or using a torrent.” “And yeah, did I mention that it was free?” They are too damn expensive.” These are the typical remarks that I hear on a daily basis about why shopping and buying for CD’s and vinyls are stupid. It is also pretty clear that with the constant development of new technology that CD’s and physical copies will eventually die. I hope that day never comes, but it is a definite possibility. Artists still repeatedly brand and advertise their product, asking their loyal fans to purchase a copy of their album at a store. Well, it makes sense because they are getting more money by doing that plus they are looking at their record numbers (in hopes to go platinum, gold, etc). So what is in it for me if it is just the artists and rights holders getting the benefit? Well, I believe if you are true to an artist and their music then purchasing an album is how you can better demonstrate your fan-ship to them. 

To be clear, I will say that streaming is incredible. Spotify, Deezer, and Apple Music (screw Tidal) have truly revolutionized how people listen to music. By ensuring artists with royalty payment, it seems like essentially you are paying for the album. However, with each stream of a song, a very small percentage goes towards the artists, producers, and writers. An even smaller percentage of that goes to the record company employees that work in the background of production (backup singers, band member fill ins, mixers). With that being said, many DIY and Indie labels hate the concept of streaming. Because many of these artists are underground, they are barely making a living. That is why they need to have a strong social media and PR department. It is one of the only ways that they will be able to sell any number of records, big or small sales. The other way is by touring, which can be excruciating and often times unappreciated. Small DIY bands open up for bigger bands and often don’t get the time of day from numerous listeners and agents. Not to mention, the countless self-funded travel that drains the budget. Why am I bringing all this up? Well, this is the day and the life of a struggling independent “indie” band. This is why it is still important to purchase physical copies of music. I am by no mean saying that we should abandon all music methods and stick strictly to purchasing vinyl and CD’s. Mainly, I am trying to argue that it serves as a great way to support an artist that you like (because you are willing to pay extra money for the physical copy). 

A simple breakdown usually shows that about a third of the music sales + online streams go directly to the record companies and a measly 6 percent goes to the artists. Even from looking at a holistic approach, if someone were to reach six figures in records sold; it still would not be much revenue generated. Make that an even smaller percentage if you include digital royalty payments, which usually account for $0.00017 per stream. In addition to that, many artists are also somewhat fed up having to pay fees to the RIAA and Soundexchange, almost leaving them in a break-even spot. From where I see it, I believe that both parties (consumer and supplier) need to meet in the middle. What I mean by this is that I don’t believe that limiting your sales to only physical copies will be enough for some smaller bands. I think it is important to utilize every resource you have, whether it is digital or physical. This issue also makes me relatively angry  because artists like Taylor Swift, Adele, and Rihanna take down their albums on programs where customers are willing to pay. Artists like these “claiming” they don’t receive enough in royalty payments utterly pisses me off. These artists that do it are already very well off financially, but believe that they can play God in terms of their manipulating the market. Limiting your customers only to one sector will drastically affect not only your net sales, but your popularity as well. On the other hand, consumers shouldn’t limit themselves to only online streaming. I realize how convenient it is, but there is nothing like owning your own album. Go out there and support your favorite artist! I mean go buy a vinyl, they are pretty wicked and tie the room together. I love going to my local CD shop (CD Central) in Lexington, KY and picking up a new record. The inviting aroma of old incense and smell of vinyl records makes me realize how much I love this industry, no matter vicious and cut throat it may be.

If you are a Lexington local, go check out CD Central for some awesome CDs. They have an extensive collection vinyl, cassettes, CDs, and posters of every possible genre. Located on 377 S. Limestone

Lastly check out my spotify account: jkiser2016