The promotional compact disc died last week of technological causes. It was fifteen years old.
Though the discs were popular with both record labels (who used them to ensure writers would hear upcoming albums) and music critics (who used them to ensure they could get a $250 trade-in credit at Amoeba Records), promotional CDs have slowly been phased out due to piracy concerns: Last November, Universal introduced a digital-only system, providing listeners the opportunity to make fun of Sam’s Town in a whole new format; Capitol Records is introducing a similar program this month.
“We think this will cut down on Internet piracy,” a Capitol Records publicist said with a laugh, before breaking down in tears.
The eventual shift from disc to digital is “a shame,” says one music critic, who wished to remain anonymous. “For years, I could measure my critical worth by staring at the pile of discs in front of me. Anybody can get on the indie mailings, but if you were on the Rhino reissue list or the double-mailing Sub Pop circuit, you knew you’d made it.”
“You also knew that when taxes came around, you could turn four boxes of Sony crap into $500, easy. Or so I’ve heard.”
A wake will be held next week in New York City, when Universal Records plays the new Kaiser Chiefs record to a few hundred music writers and bloggers at a listening party. “I plan to look around awkwardly and maybe nod during the slow parts,” the writer said.
Yeah.
To all the kids out there who are like, “I want to be a music writer, because you get all those free cds…”
I want you kids to know, that’s like saying “I want to be an avanlanchologist, because you get all those free rocks!”
And suddenly, my avalanchological dreams go up in smoke.
i dunno. i might miss the clerks at vintage vinyl and princeton record exchange sneering at the promo comp cds i used to bring in for credit.
then again, maybe not.
And then there are days when UPS insists! I be home to sign for that Nickelback single.
It was so cute when they FedEx’d a disc to us to make it seem “official” and “important.”
Oh well, at least we’ll always have guestlist.
Damn, I feel kind of left out. Am I the only one here who isn’t a music critic?
I will now go to the corner to ponder my series of Atlantic white label promo LPs from the 60s.
the real loser in the shift to digital (promos as well as commercial) is the post office. and UPS. that’s at least a dollar per promo mailed. physical distribution incurs a lot of shipping expense: from the manufacturer, to the warehouse, to the retailer, and then returns go back to the warehouse, some of which are sent out to be refurbished, then saleable product is shipped back to the warehouse…
is there anything Universal hasn’t shit on this holiday season?
seems like this will be to the detriment of used cd sections as well, especially at stores like academy in nyc, which is always well-stocked with rapid-turnaround promos of new releases.
But I love the watermarked promos WMG sends in yellow and black sleeves that look like some nucelar warning sign. It’s like they think I matter.
This has been on the way out for a while now.
I lot of the CDs I get are just burnt copies with a photocopied cover
=(
Credit where credit is due.