i understand that.

thats why I havent asked anybody to fileshare me, say, the Riviera lbum (evn though i want to hear it); i'm just gonna have to get off my happy ass and order it.

Don't you have to qualify as a label first before making this comment? It seems more like a hobby to me.

Unfortunately, I'm the same way. I thought it might be a generational thing, but I believe you're a youngster compared to me.

Steve

I'm very much like the Twilightkid, as far as buying habits are concerned:

For the most part...mt strategy is this...

Hear about a band that interests me in a on a BB or an ezine or wherever...

Secure a trial copy or
Download it, play it a few times...

if i like it, i buy it....i'm a purist and want the actual cd.
if i dont like it, i delete it.... or pass it on to a friend who I think might like it.

With over a thousand CDs bought, I think I've contributed to the music universe enough in order to be more selective.

Cheers,
audiobill

That's good to hear, because you should!

Do you really want to have a discussion about this or are you just pushing buttons? I don't really understand what "qualifies" a hobby or label in your eyes.

It's just an observation. I try to compare you to labels like Glorious Noise and Play The Assassin and it just seems that they are a bit more professional. They seem to have a goal and try to stick to it as much as you can under the circumstances. It just seems, with you, and this comes from an outsider's point of view, that you're more of a rich kid trying to spend daddy's money. I'm not saying you are, but that's what I see you as. I'm not trying to be mean, but I can't put myself in a position to support a label who doesn't seem to stick with it's bands and works to developing them. You can't even seem to do that with any of the bands you've been involved with. You have a new band every couple of months it seems like.

Basically, it just seems like you really couldn't care less if you lose money on this project, but just something to keep you busy. If that's the case, then that's fine too.

even with that spiel, I still don't understand how Spade Kitty is not a "label."

I smell a mega-thread.

Oh man, this is one of the best OPA posts ever. I knew I'd get something like this, but man I never thought I'd get something this good.

shit I hope not. At least if it is, I hope it's just that everyone has bright ideas about what they look for in music.

i think that opa just went home to put some water in Spade's Momma's dish.

I believe in supporting independent labels.

Whenever possible, I order directly from the artist's web-site.

If it's a major label deal, I buy used through Amazon or Half.com.

The only music I've ever downloaded is the Ike Reilly "Sparkle B-Sides" because that's the only way to get it. I paid for my download, under the assumption that Ike'll get a cut or some kind of benefit from it.

Unless an album is out of print and a CDR is the only way to own the songs, I do not traffick in recorded/downloaded music. I compile mixes and artist samplers as a promotional effort, in the hopes that folks'll find something they like and then go out and buy that artist's work.

You can have your soapbox back, now.

This is exactly how I feel as well. Well said, Bill.

i think that the cost of ownership of physical product is more than the benefit gained from owning it so i do whatever i can to avoid buying anything on disc.

me too. plus, buying directly from an artist's web site is usually cheaper than buying 'em used.

my routine was like this at least once a month or so:

1. my list of cd's i want, old or new.
2. check bank account to ensure i have at least $100 or so
3. fight traffic up to la to amoeba
4. park on sunset blvd.
5. walk in amoeba, go on a rampage.
6. used bins first: for older stuff. check to see if new releases are there... in case some kid decided to sell it back. then the regular aisles.

then i realized that i ended up buying a bunch of stuff i never listened to because i found it for $3 or whatever... so i just ended up selling it back.
also being that lately i've been strapped for cash, i can't go music-shopping as much anymore and lately i've been getting albums thanks to the awesome people on this board. if i don't like it, i'll delete it. but if it's an album i REALLY like, i'll go ahead and buy it because i too, am a cd purist and want the artwork/lyrics, etc. i don't base my judgements from reviews (or at least i try not to)... i just look into myself by riyl and try to sample some of the songs to see if i'll like it.

i try to avoid buying albums on a major label unless it's certain bands like radiohead...where there's an exception to the rule. if it's warner or any label that's distributed through them, thank goodness my best friend works there because i can take advantage of $3 albums and $20-25 boxed sets. i definitely like to buy albums from artists that are on smaller labels, especially because the music is harder to find... so usually i'll get the album at their show or on their website.

i feel like it's an even trade since i go to plenty of live shows to support the bands i like and i'll buy their merch too.

See, I'd love to be that carefree. I'd be afraid my hard drive would crap out on me.

1. read about an artist

2. download tracks from artist

3. if i dig, i buy. always

4. then i champion the hell out of them till everyone at least checks them out

5. i always first try to purchase my music online from independent sites/labels

Boy, that's putting it mildly. You scare me sometimes.

If I hear good press about an album or band, I check AllMusic. If they give a disc a rating of three stars or higher, I read the review and download a couple of their selected picks tracks. If I hear 3 songs off an album that I like, I add it to my list.

I occasionally buy cd's from eBay because I figure, with all the competition on there, it's bound to be the cheapest place to find something. But more often than not, I like being able to walk into a store with money and walk out with a cd, without having to wait three weeks for the mail to arrive. So I do that most times.

i know i know. i'm passionate about it. sometimes it can get scary.

AMG isnt a bad resource, but I never even look at the stars--many records I love they give low ratings and I see utter shit ranked highly. But their descriptions are generally informative.

Shit, between your sharing /introducing of new artists and my spinning them at my Bingo nights and distributing my (in all modesty) awesome mixes, we should be billing these bands for promotional work.

Exactly. These bands never had it so good.