[78-L] marketing CD's

[Thomas Stern]

I haven't seen any response to this - hope someone will venture their thoughts.

It was in response to David's remark:
  That said, the CD business is dead and I can't imagine 5 copies of this selling
outside the US where it wouldn't be legal till 2067. Better to post it on Toast
of New York.
dl

Best wishes, Thomas.

-----Original Message-----
From: 78-l-bounces at klickitat.78online.com
[mailto:78-l-bounces at klickitat.78online.com]On Behalf Of Thomas Stern
Sent: Friday, July 15, 2011 10:18 AM
To: 78-L Mail List
Subject: Re: [78-L] marketing CD's was recordings from "Pins and
Needles"



  I am puzzled by the disparity between US market, and what appears to be, or is perceived as a viable market by Euro/Asian
producers.  Is anyone
privy to sales figures?
  In the 'folky' arena, there have been reissues of some of the old RIVERSIDE LP's in Japan, and UK.  Recently a couple of Rosalie
Sorrels
albums were issued on CD, from Korea.  Europe releases tonnes of jazz and blues.
  Do BEAR family productions make money?  Anyone know how many copies they sell?
  Are the CD-R vendors successful?  Obviously they are predicting small sales which do not justify pressing the CD's.
  Amazon has been marketing some execrable cd-r issues in conjunction with Essential Media - all of which are also available as
downloads for half the price of the CD-r, no annotations, but usually with the jacket front reproduced on the jewel case insert.
  On some of the "lists" I follow, there are frequent comments that 'someone ought to reissue......', but a friend who does mail
order, and
festival sales and has produced some CD-R's  says sales are tiny - a handful perhaps.
  Is it just state-siders who are unwilling to 'put their money where their mouth is" - or has that become world wide?
  Younger buyers seem to see little value in an "album" - neither as an object, for the artwork and annotations, nor for the
uniqueness of it programming.  It is hard for 1950's-60's generation to understand that, but it is not so much different than the
early days when people primarily bought singles.
  Anyone have thoughts about this - or hard facts about the marketplace?
Best wishes, Thomas.