I think the model can sustain in some instances (Durturo, NER, Tursa and
World Serpent) but I don't believe its a smart general practice. You need a
great buzz (not necessarily good or interesting music) and some serious
trainspotters to back you up. I bet a regular IDM listener wouldn't go near
a "Hearts of Space" CD but if the same style was being sold by FAX (big buzz
label who are IMHO releasing HOS-sound music), they might be inclined to
drop $15 for it. Just one person's view...
----------
quoted 5 lines From: Lazlo Nibble <lazlo@swcp.com>
>From: Lazlo Nibble <lazlo@swcp.com>
>To: armchair music <idm@hyperreal.org>
>Subject: Re: (idm) Limited Pressings...
>Date: Thu, May 21, 1998, 7:59 PM
>quoted 22 lines On Thu, May 21, 1998 at 10:55:15AM +0000, Rodney Perkins wrote:
>On Thu, May 21, 1998 at 10:55:15AM +0000, Rodney Perkins wrote:
>
>> Simple market laws also show that if the supply is smaller than the demand,
>> you get MPEGs and CD-Rs distributed across the world and you get nothing.
>> People are eventually going to realize that while selling small quantities
>> at high prices increases cash flow, it ain't no way to sustain a business.
>
>On the contrary, you can sustain a business just fine by producing a large
>number of very limited pressings. This is Fax's business model, and I don't
>see them going away anytime soon.
>
>On the other hand, the history of the music business is littered with labels
>that overpressed stuff they couldn't sell and went under as a result.
>
>You can argue against limited pressings from a lot of standpoints, but the
>cashflow standpoint ain't one of them. They don't produce a *huge* flow, but
>they produce a *steady* one, which matters more.
>
>--
>::: Lazlo (lazlo@swcp.com; http://www.swcp.com/lazlo)
>::: Internet Music Wantlists: http://www.swcp.com/lazlo/Wantlists
>