Do digital only releases mean anything to you?

[Rocker4Real]

Maybe it's a generation thing, but it's hard to feel any sense of hype for music that's only released digitally. I may put the song in my playlist for a little while and then get rid of it. Buying a complete album with the whole package gives something to take in and look forward to. Do the young people in your lives feel the same way?

[MetalSludgeCEO]

Yes... as I do get paid on these... regardless of it being a much lower income stream compared to selling an actual physical product, it does add up.

I guess one thing that I might benefit from here, compared to many/most bands in my same category/genre, is I own 95% of ALL my titles.

This includes every CD or Vinyl sold comes to me, every single streamed, or downloaded, comes directly to me... there is no Frontiers, or Nuclear Blast or Golden Robot collecting it.

At the same time I also pay for all from recording, to art, to mastering, to manufacturing and all related handling, supplies, postage and man-power.

I think it's a safe bet, than any band, or 99/100 who sign to these deals, indy deals, 360 deals, etc... do not see much of anything at all going forward.

Lastly... if you have 1-2 releases, it might not add up to a lot, but... if you build a catalog, it does add up when you have 10-15 or 50+ titles!

I was doing some numbers in my head and in 30 years, I believe I have manufactured and released roughly 100 titles on all formats.

With that, I encourage you all to support RLS Records... here is my official store > https://rlsrecords.bigcartel.com/

Thank you for reading!

$tEvil

[kwf]

Won't be paying

[Wild Obsession]

Means I'm not buying it.

[krisholmes]

You can''t sign a download... And I'm so childish, I like getting my cds signed...

[Gibsonite]

If I like a band, I will buy their physical product that I can hold in my hands. I will never pay for anything that's digital-only, ever. I'll listen to it on Spotify or YT Music as part of my subscription. Can't be arsed to make a few CDs? Here's your .0025 of a cent, thanks!

[Rocker4Real]

Richie Sambora released some new solo songs digitally around the same time the BJ Hulu doc came out. The buzz seemed nonexistent. He was sitting on the material for a while. Makes me wonder if it would have been better for him to have physical media produced.

[gtshark1]

I like cds but 90% of my music listening comes in my truck or family vehicles. All are 2016 or newer amd don't have cd players. Therefore, no need for physical media. All digital now.

[Wiseacre]

It used to matter but I don’t even have a convenient way to listen to a CD these days. For years the first thing I would do was rip the CD for the iPhone or car or whatever anyway.

Growing up a huge KISS fan I “get it” and those albums were awesome to stare at plus the booklets, posters, order forms, etc but those days are LONG gone. Things change. Gotta move on at some point.

[Nate S Axel]

I like cds but 90% of my music listening comes in my truck or family vehicles. All are 2016 or newer amd don't have cd players. Therefore, no need for physical media. All digital now.

It used to matter but I don’t even have a convenient way to listen to a CD these days. For years the first thing I would do was rip the CD for the iPhone or car or whatever anyway.

Same. It is what it is. I loved buying albums when they came out, but those days are gone. I'll stream an album on its release date, and it's less clutter that way.

I can't remember the last time I bought or listened to a CD -- just to hear 2-3 good songs and a bunch of filler.

With nowhere to play them, I don't need a booklet just to see pictures or lyrics already online.

[Sleek]

Naw.

I fucking hate it when people are like: "WE'RE DROPPING OUR NEW SINGLE NEXT WEEK!" and I'm like: "fool, you are just uploading an mp3. Nobody gives a shit."

[Wiseacre]

Naw.

I fucking hate it when people are like: "WE'RE DROPPING OUR NEW SINGLE NEXT WEEK!" and I'm like: "fool, you are just uploading an mp3. Nobody gives a shit."

We’ve only been in the digital age for what? 30 years now? Weird that people still think this way.

[Sleek]

It's fucking stupid no matter what.

Like hey, look! I just dropped a new forum post!

If you are doing a digital release, I demand artwork, upload to the proper shit like Spotify and Amazon music (fuck you soundcloud people) and a video.

[Psychobolia.com]

I remember wanting to buy the new Die Antwoord album a few years back, and it was the first one that was a digital only release...so I tracked down the tunes on YouTube and burned a disc! The only income they got from me recently was from playing a show locally!