In one of our merchandise topics, we had suggested that distributing songs in a digital format at shows could have some potential but the process was most likely hazardous since you would need a laptop handy and ask your fans to bring USB sticks. The idea is far-fetched but one company found the solution to spin it in the right direction.
Discrevolt is an online music store that offers a very cool distribution method for bands who want to level the field for their digital sales. They manufacture unique download cards that bands can sell at their shows, or simply give away for promotional purposes. This makes sense in the current state of affairs as CDs aren’t as viable these days. Digit
al music formats are making major head-way sales-wise but due to their intangible nature the product is not easily promotable in the offline world. These cards sort of make up for that as they are customizable. Bands can create and submit their own designs and have them printed. This encourages a new form of collectible items fans can relate to. When bands meet and greet with their fans after the show they could hand away these cards creating healthy post-gig buzz.
I find this to be a great solution bands should consider. Mp3s are rising very high but CDs are not dead and vinyls are still in the loop. People need to see and feel their product so cutting the cake in two gives you download cards. They very well may become the next big thing
I have been using discrevolt as a way to hand out free downloads. Though as far as selling the cards….not much luck. People still prefer the actual CD. I am curious to hear if other bands have had luck selling the cards and what their stratagy has been.
Well it’s true that this card model is only a temporary item the fan would need. He goes home, enters the code, downloads his song and voila. After i’m guessing that if the band makes it look really good, fans could keep them, and well use them as collectibles or whatever.
Would be cool if those cards were reusable. I imagine the band having card slot device at shows. Slip in your card, buy some credits and take it back home.
Could be a good solution to sell mp3s at shows…
Or maybe I’m just way over my head here.
thanks alot
:)
If bands are putting on their own show for a CD release party or venues looking to sell tickets online – take a look at http://www.ticketscene.com – Free for the promoter and he gets to keep 100% of all the sales revenue…
We have like many other labels have been using download cards to supplement our vinyl releases rather than a stand alone thing. That way when people get the record (or in our case cassettes even_) they dont have to manually re-record them to listen to them on their ipod. Works pretty good. a place called posterdisc does it for us. they host the files and send us a pdf to print out with all the coupons.
I use fanband, software I use with my laptop at shows to sell mp3 files to people at the show. They pay cash, or I sell songs for free, they receive an email when a sale is made, that has download links to the mp3 file.
I don’t work or endorse the product, but it is cheaper than mp3 cards, and effective enough.
http://www.fanbandsoftware.com
@ben i just checked out fanband, and have trouble seeing the value in the software: it essentially replaces taking an email down in exchange for $$ ?
Was interested in knowing what you thought of this since you use it.
Hey paisible,
I have tried USB thumb drives, and considered MP3 cards but I see benefits in the shows I have done using FanBand for a few reasons. You are getting the fans email address for either free or a sale based on your preference, but in my opinion it is easy for the new fans at shows because they don’t need to do anything else.
All they need to do is enter their email address, pay for the songs, and they receive the links to their email address along with MapQuest links to your next show. The fan at the show can also add themselves to your myspace page with a simple click & login.
I like the whole idea of MP3 cards, but that makes the fan have to do something (go to a website). All the fan has to do with FanBand is just check their email like they always do anyway. Plus, with MP3 cards, you might be giving away half of what you bought, or fans might not even go to the website if they simply forget or lose the card. Disc Revolt charges $90 for 100 cards and that is not much different than getting CDs manufactured at DiscMakers.
I don’t mind giving freebies away, but I can’t give away 50 cards & hope the other 50 people actually downloaded my songs if they weren’t to lazy to redeem them at a website.
The only drawback with this software is that you need a laptop, or someone in your band needs a laptop. And as to date it is PC only. I hear a MAC version is coming out. It cost me $20.00 and I already made that amount back in a month from doing 4 shows. But I also gained the fans contact information and invite them to all my new shows. And, if I give away songs for free, it costs me nothing.
I see benefits of using MP3 cards being good for people who don’t want to intergrate technology at the merch. table. For me, this software is easy to use & attracts more people at a show than I think a card could do.