Why is the stuff only showing up on Itunes?

[korova1]

OK, I guess I can't really complain since the stuff is getting released in the first place, so at least we get a chance to listen to it... BUT this has been bugging me for a while. That said, why are groups like Talking Heads, The Cure, REM, The Pretenders reissuing and releasing stuff ONLY on Itunes and other online services??? Don't they realize if they just put it out on limited edition CD or vinyl we would snap it up like crazed maniacs?!!? Talking Heads put out about 18 rare tracks (16 if you count remastered tracks as an "exclusive") and demos a couple weeks back BUT you can only get them on Itunes. Now the Pretenders just put three of their earlier b-sides as BONUS tracks on Itunes that you can't hear on their new box set that is out. U2 sorta started this crap a few years back, why can't the bands just release the rarities (remastered or not at this point) on CD?? I mean it is great, we get a chance to have it on our Ipod, we get a chance to finally listen to the stuff, but don't they get it, we are fans, we want rare stuff to actually hold in our hands! I buy a few things on Itunes but it is just so UNFULFILLING in the grand scheme of things. It makes music just a bare bones commodity... no more, no less. I like the old days I guess.
I like to think the record companies know we want CD's of the rare tracks we had on vinyl when we were kids, we want the crusty old 7 inchers like "U2 - A Celebration" that you can't find anywhere, we want to see the old videos when their hair was large and in charge (and so was ours), we want the dubby b-sides and the instrumentals that went nowhere (for the most part). I also like to think most people still want to pick up a CD with liner notes and read a little bit about the track and have some type of ownership with the music instead of this anonymous Itunes crap (oh gee, where did this song come from?? Was this recorded during the "Remain In Light" sessions or the "More Songs? sessions?).
Why is it that some bands like GBV, BRMC, or Sonic Youth can make a living off rare and HTF stuff sold on their online shops while Top 40 bands (in the 80's) like Talking Heads, U2, Pretenders, REM, the Cure, etc. only offer stuff on ITunes???
AAAAAh, time to relax now, I've vented a little. Feel better now...gots to run.

[Frau_Blucher]

[quote]Originally posted by korova1
[br]OK, I guess I can't really complain since the stuff is getting released in the first place, so at least we get a chance to listen to it... BUT this has been bugging me for a while. That said, why are groups like Talking Heads, The Cure, REM, The Pretenders reissuing and releasing stuff ONLY on Itunes and other online services??? Don't they realize if they just put it out on limited edition CD or vinyl we would snap it up like crazed maniacs?!!?
[/quote]
Yeah, "we" would...and after that they'd have sold "us" 100 copies to show for their re-releasing efforts. [:D]

This is just a way of getting it out there with very little overhead. But you're right, the irony is that the real fans won't want it because we do want the hard copy, while the casual population won't be that geeked out to begin with. Kinda damned if you do, damned if you don't.

[obs]

If I was buying exclusive download crap, I would buy it and then make sure it is out there for everyone to leech for free. The artist/label can lick my ass for not releasing it on CD.

I recently found out that Depeche Mode released some download only remixes ... sort of a fourth CD for Remixes 81-04. You can't even buy them as downloads now. Well, it wouldn't have made a difference for me since I wouldn't pay money for MP3s, but the files are available on P2P places. Too bad for them because they lost a sale from me had they released it on CD.

[coop41]

It's just an outrage! Just like when they started making recordings on cassettes only and not on my beloved 8 tracks.Oooh, I loved to hold those big boxy plastic cartridges![;)]

Seriously, I agree with all that has been said but come on, I think it's very simple:

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$




It's faster to the market, way more economical (average music consumer does not need to hear the 18th demo remix of an album track that was never played on the radio - therefore is not going to buy it), cheaper for the labels and most likely, I'm guessing the artist is going to make as much from the download as they do from putting out a CD. In fact, you should embrace it, you may be able to get things that would have never seen the light of day otherwise.


Face it, you and I might not like it but reality is this next generation will most likely never own a cd or record player. No Need. They want their mp3's!

As far as why iTunes only, again, $$$$$. They have to negotiate deals to stay ahead of the competition. Only the strong survive.


Again, I don't disagree necessarily with what has been said, in fact I still value my LP's as much as my CD's and have not downloaded anything from iTunes nor do I intend to.
...but I'm sure the day will come (soon?) when I just have to have something and I will do it![:0][xx(]




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[British]

Wasn't there a thread a while back on here(or somewhere) where several of us were asking/demanding certain albums(small indie releases) be officially released on CD, only to be told no due to lack of projected sales?

Sad, really. Long live the vinyl rippers & mp3 traders. If we can't buy it, piracy is the only option. the RIAA still has not figured this out yet.