mrsjay
[url “http://www.pissarmy.com/viewtopic.php?p=101235#101235”]Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 1:16 pm [url “http://www.pissarmy.com/posting.php?mode=quote&p=101235”][url “http://www.pissarmy.com/viewtopic.php?t=6726#top”] [hr] dear pissants…
first, let me state that Al and I feel differently about this issue. what i say here relates to how i feel about the issue, and it’s not al’s opinion, it is mine.
since i deal with the business aspect of the industry on a day-to-day basis, and know how labels determine how many units they will ship (which is based upon sound scan from the previous release), my personal impression of the download issue is based upon this interaction.
“buyers” at retail also look to the previous sound scan numbers to determine how many units they will order for their store. so when you go to your local retailer and cannot find ministry there, it is most likely because the buyer for that store checked out the sound scan numbers and decided to pass on ordering a ministry release.
additionally, the first week of sales is the most important, b/c if the sound scan numbers are good, it gets the on-the-fence “buyers” at retail to order the release.
all of the “pre-orders” you all have bought will count against our first week of sound scan sales.
everything folds into itself. i’m giving you the info so you can make the call for yourself.
in terms of “previewing” a record before you buy it, we post snippets of the trax. i know most hard core ministry fans who download will almost always buy the release when it comes out; however, for the general populace, why should they buy it when they can get it for free?
additionally, after the first week of sales, ALL artists everywhere notice a significant decline in sales - sometimes over 75%. what the industry folks say is that people buy the cd, burn it and give it to their friends, who do not buy the cd. i don’t know if this is true, but the part about sales declining after first week of sales IS true.
those are MY thoughts and MY impressions.
luvs
mrsjay [url “http://www.pissarmy.com/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=3”][url “http://www.pissarmy.com/privmsg.php?mode=post&u=3”] mrsjay
[url “http://www.pissarmy.com/viewtopic.php?p=101240#101240”]Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 2:36 pm [url “http://www.pissarmy.com/posting.php?mode=quote&p=101240”][url “http://www.pissarmy.com/viewtopic.php?t=6726#top”] [hr] by the way, jed fury, steve albini’s article is a very excellent overview of the industry. he pretty much indicates exactly what takes place, except most managers now take 20% of gross, and then the business managers take 5% of gross, agents 10%.
nowadays, buses cost about $4-$5000 a week, not including fuel, and most studios charge about $1000 - $1500 per day. but overall, his explanation of the way things work is right on target. the artist is usually the very last in a long line of payables to get paid.
he also did not indicate that most “halls” or “venues” are now starting to take 15-30% of merch sales from artists, which doesn’t hurt the arena acts so much as it hurts the up and coming artists touring who have to live off their merch sales in order to tour b/c they don’t make enough money from guarantees to cover their weekly expenses.
very good article. good read. very informative.
thanks jed and steve albini.
luvs
mrsjay