2 ms·

If you're young, I really suggest you look at the price of CDs in the 90s, calculate for inflation, and _get off my lawn_! Serious question - Do the DRM free a

by rconti 2y ago

If you're young, I really suggest you look at the price of CDs in the 90s, calculate for inflation, and _get off my lawn_! Serious question - Do the DRM free albums represent a broad swath of music? Or is it just a niche "a few artists do this" kind of thing? I suspect you're not comparing apples to apples, but I haven't looked into album prices since I started using streaming services.

jasonjayr 2y ago
A broad genre of music, yes. I have all sorts of styles I've purchased from Bandcamp: Harpsichord suites, Breakcore, Video Game themed music, remixes, I've purchased a few major-label items from Beatport as well, all drm-free. It's out there if you look, especially if you're looking outside of mainstream, radio-played artists.
- SketchySeaBeast 2y ago
  Genre seems like a funny way to qualify that. If I want Metallica I'm not going to be happy that it only has Creed just because it fits in the same rough genre. I certainly like searching through genres, but if I'm looking to buy music I'm buying it based upon an artist and album I like, not because it's also harpsichord.
  - jasonjayr 2y ago
    Right, of course. Rightholders make it difficult for some of these catalogs to offer EVERYTHING as a consistent DRM-free product at a reasonable price, so they play games with only offering some of their catalog here, and other parts there. (And some parts, not even at all) It'd be awfully nice if the all the major labels offered a site where you can exchange a a reasonable amount of money for any track in their catalog, but it seems market forces make that a non-starter.
Zambyte 2y ago
Between Bandcamp and 7digital I almost never am unable to find what I want. When I am, I have been able to get what I want DRM free from Amazon Music. So, no, it is not a niche thing.
crtasm 2y ago
Bandcamp's homepage says $194 million of sales in the last year. There's every style you can imagine on there.

by rconti 2y ago

jasonjayr 2y ago

A broad genre of music, yes. I have all sorts of styles I've purchased from Bandcamp: Harpsichord suites, Breakcore, Video Game themed music, remixes, I've purchased a few major-label items from Beatport as well, all drm-free. It's out there if you look, especially if you're looking outside of mainstream, radio-played artists.

SketchySeaBeast 2y ago
Genre seems like a funny way to qualify that. If I want Metallica I'm not going to be happy that it only has Creed just because it fits in the same rough genre. I certainly like searching through genres, but if I'm looking to buy music I'm buying it based upon an artist and album I like, not because it's also harpsichord.
- jasonjayr 2y ago
  Right, of course. Rightholders make it difficult for some of these catalogs to offer EVERYTHING as a consistent DRM-free product at a reasonable price, so they play games with only offering some of their catalog here, and other parts there. (And some parts, not even at all) It'd be awfully nice if the all the major labels offered a site where you can exchange a a reasonable amount of money for any track in their catalog, but it seems market forces make that a non-starter.

Zambyte 2y ago

Between Bandcamp and 7digital I almost never am unable to find what I want. When I am, I have been able to get what I want DRM free from Amazon Music. So, no, it is not a niche thing.

crtasm 2y ago

Bandcamp's homepage says $194 million of sales in the last year. There's every style you can imagine on there.