IDM Mailing Archive

On Tue, 2 Jul 1996 owner-idm@hyperreal.com wrote:

quoted 1 line From: Alex Reynolds <polygon@jhu.edu>

> From: Alex Reynolds <polygon@jhu.edu>

quoted 2 lines I would prefer to think that RDJ is putting out a limited run of Caustic

> I would prefer to think that RDJ is putting out a limited run of Caustic > Window out of artistic integrity, rather than for reasons of cash flow.

I obviously don't know how the economics work over at Rephlex, but I'm fairly sure that Rephlex isn't another of RDJ's aliases. So, the fact that James may or may not have cash doesn't have to mean that Rephlex does, depite the fact that he helped start the label. And far be it from me to give Mr. James economic advice, but the lending of cash from artist/co-owner to independent label hasn't always been the best thing for either party (see "Factory Records" and "New Order"). Besides, if Rephlex spent all their cash on promoting their best-known artist, that would go against the whole idea of bringing _new_ music and _new_ artists to the world. Where would that leave us?

quoted 2 lines The real truth is that *noone*, save for the man and the label themselves,

> The real truth is that *noone*, save for the man and the label themselves, > knows why this is a limited release. This thread is all speculation.

Yes. But there _are_ facts involved. And Grant has gone on record on this very list saying that there's more to Rephlex than AFX and Caustic Window. Warren -- Warren Lapham (ceremony-owner@monkey.org) laps@monkey.org (laps@umich.edu)

Date: Tue, 2 Jul 1996 21:54:45 -0400 From: Discreet <discreet@generation.net> To: Alex Reynolds <polygon@jhu.edu> Subject: Re: (idm) econoaphex thought

quoted 59 lines From: discreet@generation.net (Discreet)

>> From: discreet@generation.net (Discreet) >> >> I can't speak for Grant at Rephlex, but as a person who runs a label I can >> certainly understand why people release limited editions of records. When >> you press up a record the fact is your tying up a good deal of your money. > >I'm not sure that RDJ is a good example of someone who is forced to put >out limited editions due to economic pressures. He appears to have made a >good deal of money from the music business, and a limited edition would >most likely *hurt* him, profit-wise, due to his mainstream popularity. > >> Obviously this increases with the more records you press. > >No doubt. But then, we're not dealing with someone who has to work a day >job like the rest of us. No dis to Mr James (I collect his wonderful >music where I can find it) or you (this post is, in general, true) but he >is under no pressure to release large or small quantities of music. The >choice to put out 1500 copies is his (and/or Rxs) and it is most likely a >decision based on anticipated demand for a *rare item*. > >> Next you sell to your distributors on 30 or 60 day terms. Most >> distributors are well meaning, but ask any label how prompt most are >> with payments... Fact is, your lucky if you see any money back on a >> release for close to 90 days. > >I would prefer to think that RDJ is putting out a limited run of Caustic >Window out of artistic integrity, rather than for reasons of cash flow. >If you get to own one record out of a small bunch, it makes the music that >much more special -- to know that it is (close to being) "unique." I'm >sure that he is just as aware of this mentality as we are. > >> If your a small label this can cripple your release schedule for 3 >> months if you do a large run on a release. I personally would rather put >> out more releases than just flog one for that long. How about not >> dissing labels for this until you've tryed to run your own. > >No dis to Rephlex, AFX, or you. Putting out a small run just makes the >job of tracking a copy down that much more difficult (and rewarding). Any >kind of economic explanation for a RDJ release falls apart, though, when >you consider that he's already wealthy enough (to put out ltd. editions >for other reasons). > >The real truth is that *noone*, save for the man and the label themselves, >knows why this is a limited release. This thread is all speculation. > >> As for all the childish fighting shit going down, I've got better things >> to do than delete these messages. >> >> Discreetly >> >> Wig >> >> >> Discreet / Indiscreet Music : The Sound of Music Updated by the Music of >>Sound > >Take care, >Alex Reynolds >polygon@jhu.edu

Fair enough on those points. As a DJ I'm just as guilty sometimes of playing the "I must have it and no one else can" mentality. Of course a conflict of interest arises as I work for a distributor during the day where it's my job to make music available to as many people as possible. Anyway, on that note... working for a distributor gives a certain insight as to the sales possibilitys of certain releases. I'm fairly sure that when I bring this release in to sell, I'll be lucky to get more than 50-75 copies in to shops across Canada (this would be considerably more if on CD, but...). I think it's to easy to get caught up in a scene and imagine that it's much bigger than it is. I would suspect that the people who bought the more commercially available Aphex releases really couldn't give a fuck about tracking down some side project. With any moderate effort I would suspect that anybody could track down this record when it's released. Back to economics...even though Grant runs a reasonably successful label I'm sure that even he has problems paying the rent some months. Also, I suspect that Richard James has a massive archive of unreleased tunes that I'm sure he just wants to see released, hence a limited one off pressing. I'm sure they would go out of business very quickly if they tryed to release all his archive and keep it in print for everybody to find. One of the saddest economic facts is that you can go out of business from making to much money. Anyway, you're right it's all speculation. The original post was more just reactionary because of the lame argument going on. If people would spend as much time in record stores or sourcing mail order avenues as they do bitching on the computer you would think that their problems would be solved. I always maintain that every record can be found if you're willing to take the time. Discreetly Wig

Alex Reynolds wrote on Wed, 03 Jul 96 14:32:53 BST :

quoted 5 lines If people

> If people > would spend as much time in record stores or sourcing mail order avenues as > they do bitching on the computer you would think that their problems would > be solved. I always maintain that every record can be found if you're > willing to take the time.

Hear hear. I'm as guilty as the next man when it comes to whingeing about availability of certain records, but I wholeheartedly back this sentiment