How/Why Do You Buy Music?

Walter Stettner · Post by **Walter Stettner** » 6 Apr 2004 11:49 am

This is a follow-up to the file sharing thread.

Let's find out: How do you buy music? Do you use the internet to buy per download? Do you still buy regular CDs (at the store, through the net?)

What makes you buy a record? Do you listen before buying or rely on other's advise etc.?

As for me, I don't buy single songs per download, I am a album freak, that means the record as a whole is important for me (cover, recording information). I buy a lot in stores, but also through the internet (Amazon!). I like to listen to sound examples, just to get a general idea, but I also follow recommendations of others (like here on the Forum). I definitely do not follow any trends, I buy something if I like it, no matter if it's old or new, if I don't like it, I won't waste any money on it, no matter if someone else tells me that this one is a "must have".

Let's hear about your way to buy music!

Kind Regards, Walter
www.austriansteelguitar.at.tf

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John Pelz · Post by **John Pelz** » 6 Apr 2004 12:13 pm

For the past 18 months or so, I've bought just about all my CDs from amazon.com. Purchases over $25 get free shipping, so I just wait until my list exceeds that total. Prices for older releases are quite reasonable. (I recently got Jimmy Day's 2 CD-set, "Golden Steel Guitar Hits/Steel Strings" for $14.99.) In the case of a couple foul-ups, Amazon bent over backwards to keep me happy.

I used to use E-music.com for downloads, but I've pretty much gotten all that I wanted from their catalog. I think they got bought out not too long ago, so their catalog has since developed; I continue to keep an eye on them. They charge (or did) a flat monthly fee (with a 3-month minimum subscription), so I'd just let my "want"-list grow until I could justify spending $45 (the cost of a 3-month subscription), and then I'd download like a madman during those 3 months, and then cancel my subscription. One drawback with such downloads is that they're MP3s, which is a lossy format

-- I want the entire original signal, not a compressed file!

I research albums at allmusic.com and have had pretty good luck with their recommendations.

Those are the how's and why's of my music purchases, Walter...[This message was edited by John Pelz on 06 April 2004 at 01:16 PM.]

Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 6 Apr 2004 12:24 pm

When I hear a tune that grabs me, I want it. I want my own copy to play over and over again until I'm sick of it for a while, and then I'll put it aside and go thru the same drill months later.

The radio typically induces (seduces) me to by a tune. Satellite Radio's XM-13 (Hank's place) has put the impetus on Country Oldies, if for no other reason than I hear so much of the "classic" country steel backup that I so desire to be able to play.

I typically have a target tune or set in mind when buying. I buy from WalMart, KMart, FYE, Songsearch.com, Amazon.com, and where ever else the target material is available. The local pawn shop is a good source too. I just hope I never find myself buying back my own CD's.

You gotta watch out at Walmart though, I've been thru $80.00 worth of Haggard Collection CD's in the last year, and not a darn one of them has the ORIGINAL tracks of Mama Tried, Today I Started Loving You Again, or any of the originals from the '70's albums. They're all remakes. You don't find the disclaimer in the fine print until you open the CD case, and that stinks.

Downloading a song on the internet is not my preference 'cause I'm dissatisfied with .MP3's bandwidth. If I'm gonna get the tune I want all 30 megabytes for 3 minutes of audio. Compression algorithms and transonic masking don't impress me, I want the whole bagel so I can toast it as I please.

Besides, .WAV files are almost universally acceptable to audio (and the audio side of video) editors. Roxio and Nero will both pull tunes off CD's for .WAV editing, which I've found necessary in the past couple of years. I spun tunes for my daughter's 5th grade dance at the elementary school 2 years ago and was happy to be able to edit out some of the offensive lyrics from what were otherwise catchy tunes for the kids.

The future is still in 8-track :>)

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 6 Apr 2004 5:45 pm

Ray's first paragraph says all I wanted to say.

Janice Brooks · Post by **Janice Brooks** » 6 Apr 2004 5:55 pm

I get a lot of recomendations from folks here and at Take Country Back etc.

I mostly order from Amazon and if possable Texas Music Roundup. I also make it to Waterloo Music every time I'm in Austin.

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Janice "Busgal" Brooks
ICQ 44729047

David Cobb · Post by **David Cobb** » 6 Apr 2004 7:36 pm

I've never downloaded anything (OK, just one song, but it was free).
I need to hear a little of what I'm buying, so if it sounds good on radio, a movie soundtrack or even if it's weather channel background music, I'll take a chance on the album.
There's something about being able to look at the album's cover art and read the liner notes, even if it is squeezed down to CD size, that you can't get with single song downloads.
And if you're lucky, the lyrics will be included in the album liner.
I pay anything from sticker price at the store on down to $3-7 dollars at pawn shops, garage sales and eBay. [This message was edited by David Cobb on 06 April 2004 at 08:37 PM.]

Tom Olson · Post by **Tom Olson** » 6 Apr 2004 8:53 pm

I am only interested in older stuff mostly from the 60's and 70's (and maybe some 50's and 80's), and generally country, rock, pop, and bluegrass.

I haven't bought any new music for probably 10 years or so.

I agree with Walter that there are some albums that are important as a whole. But, to me, they are somewhat far and few between. Mostly, I'm interested in individual songs. However, with that said, most of the CD's that I own, I like and regularly listen to everything on the CD.

I am interested in the individual song purchase download concept, but I haven't tried it yet -- mostly because I haven't had the time yet and I haven't upgraded my hardware to include a CD burner or MP3 memory or whatever.

The reason I'm interested in the individual song purchase download concept is because there's a whole lot of old stuff out there that's a one hit wonder or two hit wonder and I just want the song, not the album, and if you can find them on a Various Artists Compilation, the other stuff is usually pretty lame and alot of times there's a lot of overlap from CD to CD which ends up being a waste. But, I don't even know if the stuff I'm interested is available through the download systems. I still have to check that out.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 7 Apr 2004 2:42 am

I don't download, I go up to Rhapsody and listen to songs or artists, then if inclined I buy a few CD's now and then. I do buy used off of EBAY for the most part..

I buy new CD's very rarely and only for very specific artists..I hate paying $16 for a nonsense CD that can't be returned .

I don't download any music for free anymore..

t

John Bechtel · Post by **John Bechtel** » 7 Apr 2004 1:41 pm

A strange coincodence happened to me last night. I very seldom buy any music at all, unless the mood or certain tune really strikes me as a potential “tune to learn as an instrumental”. Last night I was doing an interview at our n.t.s.g.a. Super Jam XVII. I mentioned as part of my Resume, that back in ’67–’68 I had worked for Song Writer and Artist, Jimmy Payne, who co-pened along with Jim Glasier, the song ‘Woman, Woman, which was the biggest hit song for Gary Puckett and the Union Gap! On my way home, I stoped at a Truck-Stop here in Nashville for a bite to eat. On my way out, I got to scanning the Cassette-Rack. And believe it or not, there it was stareing me right in the face! {Gary Puckett and the Union Gap, Greatest Hits} for $5.99, and I grabbed it post-hast! Now, after 37 years, I finally have my own copy, and I think ‘Woman, Woman’ will make a great Steel-Solo, especially for me on my non-pedal Fender T-8 Custom or anyone on PSG! BTW: There are really a lot of fine songs on that Album!

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“Big John” Bechtel
Franklin PSG D–10 (9 &

Fender ’49–’50 T–8 Custom
Fender ’65 Reissue Twin-Reverb Custom™ 15
http://community.webtv.net/KeoniNui/WELCOMEBigJohnand

Wayne Carver · Post by **Wayne Carver** » 8 Apr 2004 4:20 am

Thrift stores, Goodwill, Flea Markets, Yard Sales, Ebay, and Borders

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 8 Apr 2004 5:11 am

If I see a recomendation here, I sort of remember the general tastes and apparent knowlege of the poster, and compare with my general tastes, which are EXTREMELY wide anyway :
Alison Kraus, Bela's Bartok & Fleck, Murph, Taraf Des Hadouks, Big E./Beavers/Jernigan/Ristrim/Tyacks/Cohen/Dodd, Connie S, Hawaiian Slack Key, Andi Iona, Drowing Pool, Occitan, roumanian, Irish, Astor Piazolla tango, Tchavalo Schmit manouche, and on and on.

I almost never am disapointed in this motus opperadni.

At this momment I am listening to the Marcel Dadi cd that just arrived, I found it from a post by Crowbear, and responces by others. I an real happy and I am only on track 5 so far.

I buy on Amazon a lot from neccesity, but also bins and used racks sometimes.

I sometimes check a download, for a few seconds and cut it, just enough to know if I am interested on not, but not long enought to be a thief.[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 09 April 2004 at 12:00 AM.]

Bill Llewellyn · Post by **Bill Llewellyn** » 9 Apr 2004 6:27 am

Over the years, I've gotten at least half of my CDs from a local used CD/record/video store. Recently I've moved mostly to iTunes for 0.99 downloads. Occasionally I'll buy a new CD, but I try to find them used either at the local shop or on Amazon. I've never used the Napster-esque file sharing sites.

I keep thinking about satellite radio but I don't want a monthly payment.

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 9 Apr 2004 8:18 am

i often try to listen to samples of tunes or artists so that i can eventually buy the cd if i dig 'em.
ebay, cdnow, ernest tubb record shop, steel guit'Fo', etc...
i did download at one time when napster was happenin' and i do happen to cop some tunes from the record lady - otherwise i don't consider myself a downloader wantin'to cop as much Musik as i can for free.
shucks ! i'm a sinner since Andy V posted that link on them Ol'Bob Wills 78s.

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 10 Apr 2004 8:20 pm

I've been a member of BMG Classical since it was The International Preview Society - over 20 years ago! As a long-term member, I get pretty good deals from them on all kinds of CDs. That's my main source of new music.

Now and then I'll buy from Amazon, when I want something right away.

My "local" record stores are in Santa Rosa, 30 miles away, so I don't visit them as much as I used to. Still, I make the trip every month or two and buy a few CDs and a concert DVD.

And of course I get plenty of steel CDs from the Forum catalog!

Why do I buy particular CDs? Well, I'm loyal to a few artists and buy everything they make. I'll often buy reissues of LPs from my youth, because I want to hear them again. I buy music to fall asleep to, when I see a title that seems like it might do the trick. But mostly I buy on impulse because I have a continuing interest in an artist or genre, or to fill gaps in my collection.

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<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/Hotb0b.gif" width="96 height="96">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (C6add9),
Sierra Laptop 8 (E6add9), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6),
Roland Handsonic, Line 6 Variax

Leon Grizzard · Post by **Leon Grizzard** » 12 Apr 2004 5:05 am

I buy most of my music in the form of vinyl LP's from Half Price Books. This weekend I used Ripvinyl to put two Cubby Wise, a Bill Monroe, a Buddy Spicher and a Rufus Thibodeaux on CD. A couple of bucks each.

For CD's, the local store Waterloo, and County Sales, and sometimes Amazon.