Musician Forum - Band Discussion Board - BandMix

Going through a pile of stuff the other day, because I am fresh out of the military now and back home. My friend said, "man you have a lot of CDs."
To which I replied: "Well of course, I like to support the bands that I like. So I usually go out and buy hard copies of their music."
He came back with: "What makes you think that buying CDs supports a band?: So of course I came up with a text book economic answer, saying that piracy and had negative effects on the music industry.
So he summed it up with: So what your saying, is that by purchasing CDs bought by the record companies, shipped out to music stores, and then consumed by the people helps a band? Think about this instead: Most bands sell directly from their own webpages. They also sell stuff that the record companies wont buy because they believe it to be unprofitable. So in reality, buying solely from stores hurts bands because creative ideas they have may not be pasted on to the consumer and future musicians.

This really got me thinking how great the internet really is, and how good of a point he led on.

Well, thats my rant this month... hope you enjoyed it.
Anything to add to this? Debate maybe?

My general understanding is that a band is paid to make CD's beforehand. With few exceptions, they recieve no bonus from how well the CD actually sells. (The exceptions are easy to spot... Metallica, for one. Just look for bands with their panties in bunches about piracy).

To support bands, buy merch and concert tickets. That's why I have 80-90 t-shirts at the moment.

Are U kidding? Merchandise and concert tickets? They don't help the band; those profits go directly to the promoters and producers/ Labels. The band may see a teeny-tiny bit of that but the label is absorbing most of what they figure what the band's percentage will be. Sucks, but we keep writing music and dreaming on, don't we? Go figure.. Won't stop me either tho..

ZXYZ wrote:Are U kidding? Merchandise and concert tickets? They don't help the band; those profits go directly to the promoters and producers/ Labels. The band may see a teeny-tiny bit of that but the label is absorbing most of what they figure what the band's percentage will be. Sucks, but we keep writing music and dreaming on, don't we? Go figure.. Won't stop me either tho..

From what I've heard, Promoters are paid by commission, and Merchandise at concerts and off the Band's website pretty much finance the band. I'll have to find where he said it, but I'm getting this from Tim Lambesis.

actually tour is the only time we have made money.
bars dont pay crap.
record companies are bigger flakes than rhythm guitarist.
the business is hard no doubt and a lot of ideas are filtered out.

You are so funny Dizz!

dizzizz wrote:My general understanding is that a band is paid to make CD's beforehand. With few exceptions, they recieve no bonus from how well the CD actually sells. (The exceptions are easy to spot... Metallica, for one. Just look for bands with their panties in bunches about piracy).

To support bands, buy merch and concert tickets. That's why I have 80-90 t-shirts at the moment.

The way it works is bands get an advance to record the album which must be paid back before they ever see a nickel.

You want to support a local band. Put a twenty dollar bill in their tip jar.
Otherwise your just supporting the middle man and the tax man.