Would you buy download codes?

[kanuck]

So my band is trying to think of an effective way to sell our music. The problem with the traditional selling cds is that it requires quite a bit of down payment. To get cds cheap you need to buy at least 500 copies from the press factory. This isn't bad if we had a fan base and everything going but at the moment we're just starting out. So I thought of an idea why don't we sell download codes at shows. We'll sell them cheaper than if we sold cds cause there's no cost involved with the cd, plastic, paper. So if you guys saw a band at a show and liked them enough to buy a "cd" would you buy the download code from them? Or do people generally not like buying these?

[Acid303]

I'm not sure why people would do this. Surely they would just look you up and download from your site when they get home if they like, meaning your focus should be on advertising that site at your gigs. I guess it's easier to sell when people have just seem you play and are feeling it though but I can't see download codes being a popular thing to buy. You could always make your own CDs? How many gigs have you got and tickets sold? I would think you'd shift 500 eventually if each member put in some cash or use your gig money if you haven't got any. I dunno though, maybe kids would go for it? Experiment and see if it works and have some home made cds as backup. Offer the downloads at less and see if people bite. Be interesting to know the result.

[Tarekith]

If you can't afford to press up 500 CD's, probably not worth bothering at all in the first place. Better off saving your money and/or getting enough of a fan base to make that a reality first.

[agent314]

Or try something like a bandcamp site, where you could offer streaming with a paid download

[hacktheplanet]

I can't remember the exact numbers, but our band got 100 CDs printed on cardboard sleeves. We sell them at shows for $3. We still have about 30 left to sell, and it's been almost a year. Granted, we suck at self-promotion, have a very small fanbase, and our music doesn't follow current indie-pop-whatever trends... but whatever.

We are currently recording a full-length album which will be in jewel cases, which we will sell for $8 each. With the mixing and mastering, we will have lost a few hundred dollars on the endeavor. I look at it as marketing expenses, and hey, it's kinda cool to have a professional CD!

Unless you have a kickass fanbase who eats up whatever you produce, it's very unlikely you'll make very much money on CD sales if at all. The vast majority of CDs in the "real world" (like 90% or something) actually lose money. Just consider them to be promotional tools to build your fanbase.

From a promotional standpoint, I think a CD in someone's hand would be better than a download code. Hell, do both, since download codes are easy to do. In the current market, your best bet to actually make money as a band is to get as many heads as possible in the door at your shows. CDs can remind people to come out to see you more than once.

Also, I do not think it's a good idea to just give CDs away for free. You must sell them at a price that implies value, but doesn't discourage a potential buyer. I think that ~$1 per track is a good ballpark figure.

So practice until you are solid, play some shows, promote the shit out of your band, get heads through the door, and save your meager payouts until you can afford to take the edge off of your CDs. In the meantime, you can always offer samples of your music for streaming on your website.

[mholloway]

Nobody will buy a download code at a show, that's a silly expectation. If the album is up for sale on itunes they can just buy it there and not have any wait between money-spent, album received time, which your system would create, and honestly that's not worth paying for outside of mailorder sales. If you really want to avoid manufacturing, just promote online and sell merch at your shows. I know people who have done shows where they hand out cards with a link or code for FREE and then people can download a free EP or something: far more likely to work and create fans.

-M

[JEpic]

Neither, I personally hate CDs and I would not pay for just a download code.

However I would pay, say 10 bucks for a cool hat, shirt, etc. with a download code.

[kanuck]

But i'm talking about cheap download codes. For an average indie band I think they would sell a full length album for $12-$15 but we would sell it for $3-$5. The thing is I'm more of an artist than a musician. So I have all these songs written and recorded at home that I want to release and sell. If I went into a professional studio and had a cd properly mixed and mastered then I would press a whole bunch of cds but at the moment I'm just trying to release it as cheaply as possible.

[XPM]

I reckon giving out codes which give 10-20% off your standard download price would probably get people to at least get on your site.

[Rave]

Make your own CDs and distribute on iTunes too

[pepezabala]

everyone and his uncle sells cds at gigs. If you don't have the money to pay for 500 professionally printed, then do 20 burnt cds in a nicely made cardboard cover and sell them for 5 or 10 dollars or euros, whatever.
I buy CDs only at concerts, and I even prefer a burnt CD with a nicely made cover to any "professional jewel case" with prined label. For me the handmade ones are like "collectors items". I rip them to my computer anyway, I don't even have a CD-player any more.

[Trent]

Download codes will only work if you give them away.

[S4racen]

I don't listen to a cd unless it comes in a jewel case with a double gatefold sleeve, original stickers and a couple of those temporary tattoos.... Just thought id mention it....

Seriously though, go with the burnt CD thing, people who really like the music will appreciate it more, and get yourself a web presence, i've hunted out a couple of funk bands i've seen and it's infinitely better when i've found them after...

Oh and don't set up a facebook fan page and never respond to any questions on it!!

CHeers
D

[kanuck]

alright then for the burn at home cds how much "decoration" should I do. Should I stamp coloured lables on the cds? Should I get coloured cardboard boxes? etc.

[smaucher]

I'd NEVER buy a code instead of a CD. call me old-fashioned, but still...

selling CDs when starting off with the band should be seen as "markeing" (like the_planet posted) - don't waste hundreds of $$$ for industry CDs before you know you can sell at least the amount you need for getting back your invest.

there are some pretty cool canon/epson ink printers U can use to print on CD-Rs. very good results can be expected with "watershield" Taiyo yuden CD-Rs. looks almost like "professionally" printed.

for the inlay there might be a printshop 'round the corner where you can have your inlays professionally printed on glossy paper for small money. jewel cases are not too expensive and putting the stuff togehter isn't really a hell of a job.

just my 2ct.