Comments on: How Is The Growing Economic Malaise Affecting Your Musical Spending Habits? http://idolator.com/5079942/how-is-the-growing-economic-malaise-affecting-your-musical-spending-habits Music News, Reviews, and Gossip on Idolator.com Sat, 26 May 2012 18:17:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Elijah-M http://idolator.com/5079942/how-is-the-growing-economic-malaise-affecting-your-musical-spending-habits/comment-page-1#comment-759262 Elijah-M Mon, 10 Nov 2008 12:16:59 +0000 http://8944ec8572c0e76d251056a686ac72f9#comment-759262 <p>@<a href="#c8820131">Halfwit</a>: I still hang on to the idea that the physical product is important. I think the real problem is that a lot of artists don't necessarily agree with me. If the CD isn't mastered well (i.e. not brick walled like the TV On The Radio CD you mentioned), and the packaging isn't compelling enough to warrant a permanent place on my shelf, it gets ripped and sold pretty quickly.</p> @Halfwit: I still hang on to the idea that the physical product is important. I think the real problem is that a lot of artists don’t necessarily agree with me. If the CD isn’t mastered well (i.e. not brick walled like the TV On The Radio CD you mentioned), and the packaging isn’t compelling enough to warrant a permanent place on my shelf, it gets ripped and sold pretty quickly.

]]> By: Wasp vs Stryper http://idolator.com/5079942/how-is-the-growing-economic-malaise-affecting-your-musical-spending-habits/comment-page-1#comment-759192 Wasp vs Stryper Mon, 10 Nov 2008 10:43:00 +0000 http://8944ec8572c0e76d251056a686ac72f9#comment-759192 <P>Also, Hypem.com and Elbo.ws are two sites that scan through all of the blogs and link to the MP3s that are up for free download - and post them as well.</P> Also, Hypem.com and Elbo.ws are two sites that scan through all of the blogs and link to the MP3s that are up for free download – and post them as well.

]]> By: Wasp vs Stryper http://idolator.com/5079942/how-is-the-growing-economic-malaise-affecting-your-musical-spending-habits/comment-page-1#comment-759202 Wasp vs Stryper Mon, 10 Nov 2008 08:44:50 +0000 http://8944ec8572c0e76d251056a686ac72f9#comment-759202 <P>I've been buying less music and have been all about eMusic and LastFM.</P> <P>True story: Theres a guy who is slightly nuts that sings in the park near my apartment. Sometimes plays on his guitar, which has seen better days.</P> <P>Most of last fall and earlier in the year, he would call out, "if you enjoyed my music, a little change would be nice" or his general "change, please - change for my tunes!"</P> <P>By summer, he was saying "all I need is a quarter" or "if you like my music, just a quarter or dime"</P> <P>Last week, he was standing near a bench, which he had stashed his guitar under and was screaming in a fury "give me money! give me money! give me money" at everyone who walked past him.</P> <P>Granted, I know his mind isnt all there - but seeing him go from politely asking for change, to begging for a quarter, to downright screaming for money - was kind of the creepiest microcosm for what we and the industry are going through</P> I’ve been buying less music and have been all about eMusic and LastFM.

True story: Theres a guy who is slightly nuts that sings in the park near my apartment. Sometimes plays on his guitar, which has seen better days.

Most of last fall and earlier in the year, he would call out, “if you enjoyed my music, a little change would be nice” or his general “change, please – change for my tunes!”

By summer, he was saying “all I need is a quarter” or “if you like my music, just a quarter or dime”

Last week, he was standing near a bench, which he had stashed his guitar under and was screaming in a fury “give me money! give me money! give me money” at everyone who walked past him.

Granted, I know his mind isnt all there – but seeing him go from politely asking for change, to begging for a quarter, to downright screaming for money – was kind of the creepiest microcosm for what we and the industry are going through

]]> By: Anonymous http://idolator.com/5079942/how-is-the-growing-economic-malaise-affecting-your-musical-spending-habits/comment-page-1#comment-759222 Anonymous Mon, 10 Nov 2008 07:53:08 +0000 http://8944ec8572c0e76d251056a686ac72f9#comment-759222 <p>I buy all my music off Amazon MP3, mostly albums from my favorite artists and a few singles from obscure/up-and-comers. I love Amazon. They have a great collection and are often cheaper than iTunes (plus it's all MP3s! Duh!). I'd say I've spent a good $100-120 on music for 2008.</p> <p>I still torrent/P2P shit at times. Most of it guilty pleasure/Top-40 stuff.</p> I buy all my music off Amazon MP3, mostly albums from my favorite artists and a few singles from obscure/up-and-comers. I love Amazon. They have a great collection and are often cheaper than iTunes (plus it’s all MP3s! Duh!). I’d say I’ve spent a good $100-120 on music for 2008.

I still torrent/P2P shit at times. Most of it guilty pleasure/Top-40 stuff.

]]> By: Poubelle http://idolator.com/5079942/how-is-the-growing-economic-malaise-affecting-your-musical-spending-habits/comment-page-1#comment-759232 Poubelle Mon, 10 Nov 2008 07:19:28 +0000 http://8944ec8572c0e76d251056a686ac72f9#comment-759232 <p>@<a href="#c8801086">Chris Molanphy</a>: @<a href="#c8801222">AL</a>: You're both probably right. I guess part of it is that I did have a job (which was crappy, but usually paid all right), and my fear that my major will be useless and the economy won't be much better when I graduate.</p> @Chris Molanphy: @AL: You’re both probably right. I guess part of it is that I did have a job (which was crappy, but usually paid all right), and my fear that my major will be useless and the economy won’t be much better when I graduate.

]]> By: breedavies http://idolator.com/5079942/how-is-the-growing-economic-malaise-affecting-your-musical-spending-habits/comment-page-1#comment-759242 breedavies Mon, 10 Nov 2008 05:43:51 +0000 http://8944ec8572c0e76d251056a686ac72f9#comment-759242 <p>I haven't bought music in years...unless it's at a show, directly from the band themselves. I feel terrible about ripping everything by the artists I love directly off of the internet for free, but when you're a late-twenty-something who's college degree gave you a job at the mall and a room in your mom's basement, what do you do?</p> <p>Oh yeah. You write about music all day long for free for several online publications in exchange for tickets to shows. And so is the life of a hipster.</p> I haven’t bought music in years…unless it’s at a show, directly from the band themselves. I feel terrible about ripping everything by the artists I love directly off of the internet for free, but when you’re a late-twenty-something who’s college degree gave you a job at the mall and a room in your mom’s basement, what do you do?

Oh yeah. You write about music all day long for free for several online publications in exchange for tickets to shows. And so is the life of a hipster.

]]> By: SomeSound-MostlyFury http://idolator.com/5079942/how-is-the-growing-economic-malaise-affecting-your-musical-spending-habits/comment-page-1#comment-759212 SomeSound-MostlyFury Mon, 10 Nov 2008 04:24:59 +0000 http://8944ec8572c0e76d251056a686ac72f9#comment-759212 <p>I still buy an album per week or so, not all that different from my previous spending habits. I do tend to torrent albums and buy them afterwards if I like them. I've been burned by crappy recommends/reviews too often.</p> <p>And ditto about the Amazon deal of the days. That site really knows how to sell.</p> <p>However I have almost entirely given up going to shows. I used to go to 6-10 per year, but in the last year I've gone to a Radiohead show and a Ryan Adams show and that's it.</p> I still buy an album per week or so, not all that different from my previous spending habits. I do tend to torrent albums and buy them afterwards if I like them. I’ve been burned by crappy recommends/reviews too often.

And ditto about the Amazon deal of the days. That site really knows how to sell.

However I have almost entirely given up going to shows. I used to go to 6-10 per year, but in the last year I’ve gone to a Radiohead show and a Ryan Adams show and that’s it.

]]> By: Halfwit http://idolator.com/5079942/how-is-the-growing-economic-malaise-affecting-your-musical-spending-habits/comment-page-1#comment-759252 Halfwit Mon, 10 Nov 2008 02:58:03 +0000 http://8944ec8572c0e76d251056a686ac72f9#comment-759252 <p>@<a href="#c8820526">Elijah-M</a>: Yeah, they mastering(?) on that album is a little... intense.</p> <p>I guess it's not even that the albums themselves are not worthwhile. But if I'm only ever going to listen to them in a lossy form, why am I spending $5 extra for a fold-out picture of the band ("Dear Science" has a slightly better booklet, but generally...)?</p> <p>Having said all of that, I've actually bought (on average) an album every two weeks since September. One-click shopping is kinda dangerous.</p> @Elijah-M: Yeah, they mastering(?) on that album is a little… intense.

I guess it’s not even that the albums themselves are not worthwhile. But if I’m only ever going to listen to them in a lossy form, why am I spending $5 extra for a fold-out picture of the band (“Dear Science” has a slightly better booklet, but generally…)?

Having said all of that, I’ve actually bought (on average) an album every two weeks since September. One-click shopping is kinda dangerous.

]]> By: Halfwit http://idolator.com/5079942/how-is-the-growing-economic-malaise-affecting-your-musical-spending-habits/comment-page-1#comment-759272 Halfwit Sun, 09 Nov 2008 11:18:09 +0000 http://8944ec8572c0e76d251056a686ac72f9#comment-759272 <p>After paying $13 for the (non-deluxe) "Dear Science", ripping it, then leaving the disc to collect dust on my shelves, I've kinda gotten over the whole "physical product, MAN!" ideology. It's all shifted to Amazon (I'm thinking of picking up Emusic again next year).</p> <p>I'm kind of an RIAA wet dream, though, since I'm opposed to piracy and (for some stupid reason) worry that buying used doesn't benefit the artists.</p> <p>Note for the editors... is idolator still on the Gawker network? I thought the site got rolled with stereogum this year?</p> After paying $13 for the (non-deluxe) “Dear Science”, ripping it, then leaving the disc to collect dust on my shelves, I’ve kinda gotten over the whole “physical product, MAN!” ideology. It’s all shifted to Amazon (I’m thinking of picking up Emusic again next year).

I’m kind of an RIAA wet dream, though, since I’m opposed to piracy and (for some stupid reason) worry that buying used doesn’t benefit the artists.

Note for the editors… is idolator still on the Gawker network? I thought the site got rolled with stereogum this year?

]]> By: Anonymous http://idolator.com/5079942/how-is-the-growing-economic-malaise-affecting-your-musical-spending-habits/comment-page-1#comment-759292 Anonymous Sun, 09 Nov 2008 08:02:03 +0000 http://8944ec8572c0e76d251056a686ac72f9#comment-759292 <p>Wow, this thread is making me depressed. I know times are rough, but I really feel obligated to purchase the music I listen to. Maybe it's because I'm a writer myself and nothing, NOTHING, makes me feel worse than someone coming up to me and saying, "Yeah, I saw your book in the bookstore...I read the first chapter there. I'm broke, y'know."</p> <p>Yeah.</p> <p>Anyway, I buy less now for sure, and hunt for used more seriously than I used to, but I still buy.</p> Wow, this thread is making me depressed. I know times are rough, but I really feel obligated to purchase the music I listen to. Maybe it’s because I’m a writer myself and nothing, NOTHING, makes me feel worse than someone coming up to me and saying, “Yeah, I saw your book in the bookstore…I read the first chapter there. I’m broke, y’know.”

Yeah.

Anyway, I buy less now for sure, and hunt for used more seriously than I used to, but I still buy.

]]> By: Elijah-M http://idolator.com/5079942/how-is-the-growing-economic-malaise-affecting-your-musical-spending-habits/comment-page-1#comment-759282 Elijah-M Sun, 09 Nov 2008 02:37:45 +0000 http://8944ec8572c0e76d251056a686ac72f9#comment-759282 <p>A year ago, I typically bought six to eight CDs a month, and I've just about cut that in half. I've been acquiring the remainder in the form of used vinyl, downloads from eMusic/Amie Street/Amazon, and my local library's surprisingly deep collection.</p> A year ago, I typically bought six to eight CDs a month, and I’ve just about cut that in half. I’ve been acquiring the remainder in the form of used vinyl, downloads from eMusic/Amie Street/Amazon, and my local library’s surprisingly deep collection.

]]> By: T'Challa http://idolator.com/5079942/how-is-the-growing-economic-malaise-affecting-your-musical-spending-habits/comment-page-1#comment-759352 T'Challa Sat, 08 Nov 2008 12:59:03 +0000 http://8944ec8572c0e76d251056a686ac72f9#comment-759352 <p>@<a href="#c8802858">RaptorAvatar</a>: You said it. I too try to financially support my favorite bands, which usually ends up in a concert ticket. But with all of the reasons you laid out, it becomes such a discriminatory purchase now.</p> <p>For the AWESOME TVOTR show at the Wiltern, I bought my ticket via their website, which allowed me to do so without most of the crappy extra fees TM hits us with. Thankfully, TVOTR made it more than worth my while!</p> <p>Happily, more and more acts are selling tix directly to their fans, and at least eliminating those extraneous fees. Plus I've gotten really good at finding free parking (even here in LA), and I generally roll with a flask to save the outrageous drink prices at shows.</p> <p>Again, I'm not proud, just honest...</p> @RaptorAvatar: You said it. I too try to financially support my favorite bands, which usually ends up in a concert ticket. But with all of the reasons you laid out, it becomes such a discriminatory purchase now.

For the AWESOME TVOTR show at the Wiltern, I bought my ticket via their website, which allowed me to do so without most of the crappy extra fees TM hits us with. Thankfully, TVOTR made it more than worth my while!

Happily, more and more acts are selling tix directly to their fans, and at least eliminating those extraneous fees. Plus I’ve gotten really good at finding free parking (even here in LA), and I generally roll with a flask to save the outrageous drink prices at shows.

Again, I’m not proud, just honest…

]]> By: RaptorAvatar http://idolator.com/5079942/how-is-the-growing-economic-malaise-affecting-your-musical-spending-habits/comment-page-1#comment-759362 RaptorAvatar Sat, 08 Nov 2008 12:48:43 +0000 http://8944ec8572c0e76d251056a686ac72f9#comment-759362 <P>I still consider it a moral obligation to buy any record I end up liking. That's the price of what, two fast food meals or a movie ticket for something that's gonna keep enriching my life for at least a few weeks? The major contraction has been concerts I'm on the fence about (Okkervil River at The Fonda being the most notable casualty.) If tickets were actually $20, then I'd probably make it out to more stuff. However, when the whole experience (tix+ticketmaster rape fees+parking+bar tab) ends up being closer to $50-60, that had better be a fucking transcendant experience. Plus, I get most of my (meaningful) work done at night, meaning that the whole bill has to rate losing 4-6 hours of writing time in addition to everything else.</P> I still consider it a moral obligation to buy any record I end up liking. That’s the price of what, two fast food meals or a movie ticket for something that’s gonna keep enriching my life for at least a few weeks? The major contraction has been concerts I’m on the fence about (Okkervil River at The Fonda being the most notable casualty.) If tickets were actually $20, then I’d probably make it out to more stuff. However, when the whole experience (tix+ticketmaster rape fees+parking+bar tab) ends up being closer to $50-60, that had better be a fucking transcendant experience. Plus, I get most of my (meaningful) work done at night, meaning that the whole bill has to rate losing 4-6 hours of writing time in addition to everything else.

]]> By: Anonymous http://idolator.com/5079942/how-is-the-growing-economic-malaise-affecting-your-musical-spending-habits/comment-page-1#comment-759372 Anonymous Sat, 08 Nov 2008 12:12:44 +0000 http://8944ec8572c0e76d251056a686ac72f9#comment-759372 <p>I'm finally learning about Bit Torrent sites.</p> I’m finally learning about Bit Torrent sites.

]]> By: michaelpop http://idolator.com/5079942/how-is-the-growing-economic-malaise-affecting-your-musical-spending-habits/comment-page-1#comment-759382 michaelpop Sat, 08 Nov 2008 12:07:46 +0000 http://8944ec8572c0e76d251056a686ac72f9#comment-759382 <p>For the past 8 years I probably spent on average $150 a month on music. But since my girlfriend moved in with me earlier this summer and we've been living on one income (longer than we hoped -- stupid job market!) I haven't had extra money (or time, if we're being honest) to shop for music. And it makes me sad because it's the time of year I usually start gearing up for year-end lists and I haven't heard SO MUCH.</p> <p>So really, it's the poor economy which is making it hard for my girlfriend to find work that's affected my music-buying. Once she gets a job my music-buying will probably go back to where it used to be. (Although maybe slightly less, since girlfriends are expensive.)</p> For the past 8 years I probably spent on average $150 a month on music. But since my girlfriend moved in with me earlier this summer and we’ve been living on one income (longer than we hoped — stupid job market!) I haven’t had extra money (or time, if we’re being honest) to shop for music. And it makes me sad because it’s the time of year I usually start gearing up for year-end lists and I haven’t heard SO MUCH.

So really, it’s the poor economy which is making it hard for my girlfriend to find work that’s affected my music-buying. Once she gets a job my music-buying will probably go back to where it used to be. (Although maybe slightly less, since girlfriends are expensive.)

]]> By: Lax Danja House http://idolator.com/5079942/how-is-the-growing-economic-malaise-affecting-your-musical-spending-habits/comment-page-1#comment-759392 Lax Danja House Sat, 08 Nov 2008 12:01:31 +0000 http://8944ec8572c0e76d251056a686ac72f9#comment-759392 <p>I'm making more money than I was this time last year so I don't really see what all the fuss is about.</p> I’m making more money than I was this time last year so I don’t really see what all the fuss is about.

]]> By: unperson http://idolator.com/5079942/how-is-the-growing-economic-malaise-affecting-your-musical-spending-habits/comment-page-1#comment-759302 unperson Sat, 08 Nov 2008 08:18:26 +0000 http://8944ec8572c0e76d251056a686ac72f9#comment-759302 <p>I hardly buy anything these days - the two Target stores near me seem to have almost entirely eliminated their Latin music sections, and that was where I was getting a bunch of norteño, reggaeton and Latin pop discs in recent months. Metal and jazz I get for free in the mail, and yes, I download, but pretty much everything I download is out of print anyway.</p> I hardly buy anything these days – the two Target stores near me seem to have almost entirely eliminated their Latin music sections, and that was where I was getting a bunch of norteño, reggaeton and Latin pop discs in recent months. Metal and jazz I get for free in the mail, and yes, I download, but pretty much everything I download is out of print anyway.

]]> By: RaptorAvatar http://idolator.com/5079942/how-is-the-growing-economic-malaise-affecting-your-musical-spending-habits/comment-page-1#comment-759312 RaptorAvatar Sat, 08 Nov 2008 06:26:25 +0000 http://8944ec8572c0e76d251056a686ac72f9#comment-759312 <p>@<a href="#c8803018">T'Challa</a>: It seems like more people are booking through brownpaper tickets as well, which is nice because what they charge is actually commesurate with their expenses.</p> <p>I can do the flask at stuff that's DIY or Echo Park area. At Hollywood shit it seems like they always do a patdown, which pretty much reveals a flask instantly.</p> <p>There's also showing up for just the headliner and downing an entire bottle of Cisco in the car right before going in. We did this for Marnie Stern last summer and it was one of the best shows of my life. In fact, chugging cisco before any occaision is generally a good move. It's $4 and the CIA puts crack in it.</p> @T’Challa: It seems like more people are booking through brownpaper tickets as well, which is nice because what they charge is actually commesurate with their expenses.

I can do the flask at stuff that’s DIY or Echo Park area. At Hollywood shit it seems like they always do a patdown, which pretty much reveals a flask instantly.

There’s also showing up for just the headliner and downing an entire bottle of Cisco in the car right before going in. We did this for Marnie Stern last summer and it was one of the best shows of my life. In fact, chugging cisco before any occaision is generally a good move. It’s $4 and the CIA puts crack in it.

]]> By: chartreuse http://idolator.com/5079942/how-is-the-growing-economic-malaise-affecting-your-musical-spending-habits/comment-page-1#comment-759322 chartreuse Sat, 08 Nov 2008 04:14:41 +0000 http://8944ec8572c0e76d251056a686ac72f9#comment-759322 <p>I am a bit torrent junkie. <br> Haven't purchased a physical CD in years. I do buy indie downloads on band sites though.<br> And I go to more live shows now than ever, too.</p> I am a bit torrent junkie.
Haven’t purchased a physical CD in years. I do buy indie downloads on band sites though.
And I go to more live shows now than ever, too.

]]> By: fabulousrobots http://idolator.com/5079942/how-is-the-growing-economic-malaise-affecting-your-musical-spending-habits/comment-page-1#comment-759332 fabulousrobots Sat, 08 Nov 2008 02:11:33 +0000 http://8944ec8572c0e76d251056a686ac72f9#comment-759332 <p>Since I am stuck in a low-paying state job (HR) where I have no chance of a raise EVER, I have had to cut back slightly, but not much since I am addicted. With my significant other getting a part-time job at our local record store I am now entitled to awesome discounts and will probably spend the same amount as I have been lately($40-60 a month at the store, which is down from $75+) but just get <i>more stuff</i>.</p> <p>I am an eMusic subscriber, and I get most of my new music there, and hit the record store for used LPs and CDs. My friends at the record store also pull promos for me, which is really really nice of them and saves me $$.</p> <p>We are finally getting some good shows here, but I have skipped a couple lately due to lack of funds. I love the experience, but the anxiety and being out til one am on a weeknight isn't always worth it. I also try to get in gratis as often as possible; I volunteer to write things for the local arts mag sometimes for free tickets.</p> Since I am stuck in a low-paying state job (HR) where I have no chance of a raise EVER, I have had to cut back slightly, but not much since I am addicted. With my significant other getting a part-time job at our local record store I am now entitled to awesome discounts and will probably spend the same amount as I have been lately($40-60 a month at the store, which is down from $75+) but just get more stuff.

I am an eMusic subscriber, and I get most of my new music there, and hit the record store for used LPs and CDs. My friends at the record store also pull promos for me, which is really really nice of them and saves me $$.

We are finally getting some good shows here, but I have skipped a couple lately due to lack of funds. I love the experience, but the anxiety and being out til one am on a weeknight isn’t always worth it. I also try to get in gratis as often as possible; I volunteer to write things for the local arts mag sometimes for free tickets.

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