Digital Album Artwork affects sales

I saw this mentioned by @thornybleeder at the end of last week and then had someone else ask me about it this morning to see if we agreed.

It's an article about how album (and single) artwork is changing in the digital age and how those changes can actually affect sales success.

The basic premise is that since we are approaching the point where the majority of album sales are digital downloads, the most viewed version of an album sleeve is the thumbnail size version on iTunes and Amazon.

Artwork designed to stick out at this small size (especially when people are browsing the shop category areas) really can help make people click through and listen and perhaps buy your music.

We have been simplifying our sleeve designs for most of our artists for several years for this reason and you should consider it too.

Of ourse, there is still  place for intricate and detailed artwork but be aware of the choice you are making or perhaps cretae a simple version for web sales and a more complicated version (of the same art) for physical sales.

I love great packaging when I buy CD or vinyl, but don't let that cloud your judgement!

Read the piece here.

A vinyl record crowdsourced label

I love the idea of this new label/site from the people at Plugola.

I'll let them explain it:

After roughly a year and a half of bootstrapping and slowly building, we are finally able to announce a soft (beta) launch of Hifidelics.What we have here is essentially an online record store built on top of a crowdsourcing platform. Our focus is to release limited edition, creative vinyl records from some of the freshest, up-and-coming talent. When I say ‘creative’ records, I mean something extra special in the packaging or the record itself.

Go and read their post about the idea here.

And, you can check out the Hifidelics site here.

It might be that it's a great place for you to release a record, or it might just inspire you to make an extremely creatively packaged record - these resonate with true fans very well.

 

Offer vinyl as a part of a your release?

Image by Karola Reigler Photography

Check out this long post about the continued resurgence of vinyl and what it means, both culturally and for you as a mucsician.

It's a great piece that links out to various other articles to look at the whole picture of what is currently happening with vinyl sales - the truth being that they are on the increase but are a tiny fraction of music sales overall.

Cutting a vinyl record today is about making a physical artefact of a release. It carries with it prestige. Its scarcity is part of its value, with exclusive 12″ releases again returning to the days when DJs were judged by the obscure gems in their collection, not the disposable digital hits.

But, for the DIY musician, this format is something special. When you have a fanbase that can support the cost (somewhere between 2500 and 5000 people on your email list - actively interested in your music) there will be a core number amongst them who adore the idea of a physical 7" or 12". I see it all the time with my clients where we get a steady stream of email asking for various records on vinyl. OK, sure, it's genre dependent to a degree (all those trip-hoppers and electronic fans love vinyl more than some other niche fans) but, for all artists, the market is there.

Learn about vinyl - it's tactility, warmth, superior sound, heritage etc - and when the time is right, make a big deal about offering it to your fans.

Read the whole piece here.

What's the best time to release your album?

Photo by PPandM

If you're a budding DIY musician the issue of when to release your lovingly crafted record can be a vexing one. Misinformation abounds.

This post should help you make sense of your options.

I particularly agree with the suggestion that you shouldn't start promoting until you have any actual physical product in hand. Every major fuck up I have ever made on a record release has come down to something that we needed in a release cycle being delivered late - so get it all done and ready before you start!

All too often, musicians rush their new album’s or EP’s release without considering what the best time-frame for that release may be. Just because your album is done doesn’t mean you have to rush it out – there are numerous factors to take into account before you confirm your release date.

Here are some tips on how to schedule and promote your album’s release:

Read it here.

 

How to self-release your album

This is a mammoth set of posts that should be kept at hand as a reference for the diy musician planning an album release - really, there's not much he's missed!

It covers planning, recording, manufacturing, distibution and promotion in extreme detail. Brilliant work.

The self released album plan.

 

You should make vinyl!

If it has any relevance in your genre and if you can muster enough fans to buy it, you really should make vinyl versions of at least some of your releases.

We try to do it as often as possible - fans love it and the very act of your material being available on vinyl marks you out as being serious and aids your music promotion.

The article below was another that I picked up from @BuzzSonic and looks at the resurgence of vinyl's popularity.

We live in the age of new technology. It seems the face of music, and the way in which we receive and listen to it, is constantly changing. CD’s can be listened to on thousand dollar sound-systems with multi-disk changers, or a stereo sitting in your mom’s kitchen. CD’s themselves are quickly on their way out, with the creation of MP3’s and products like the IPod. In the face of all this change, however, lies a huge contradiction to our generation’s seemingly constant urgency to go bigger, better, newer and shinier. This is of course, the resurgence in popularity of vinyl records.

Read the whole article here.

Vinyl releases growing in popularity - offer them to your fans

When you're making a special package for your fans on your next release it seems that you aren't forgetting to offer the tactile analogue pleasure of vinyl. It's one of those music marketing tips that has the happiness of the fan as it's aim.

Although a lot of the growth in vinyl sales is from established artists creating a premium package for diehard fans the trend is even more obvious among new acts wanting to embrace the coolest of all formats.

Offer a digital download immediately and send the vinyl in the post. Instant gratification and long term pleasure for your fan.

Seventy-two years ago last week, the 33-1/3 long-playing vinyl record was invented. And while most music fans have moved on to streaming Bluetooth audio, MP3s and other digital music formats, LP sales are higher today than at any time in recent history.

According to Nielsen Entertainment, vinyl record sales have been booming over the past four years. In 2009, 2.5 million albums were sold in the U.S., up from 1.88 million in 2008.

Read the stats on vinyl here.