Band CDs and Why you need them
Are you an artist and wondering if band CDs are still relevant? It’s true; the digital landscape has changed how artists release music.
But CDs are still essential for any musician looking to promote their art.
In this blog post, I’ll share key reasons why bands need physical releases, the enormous benefits of selling them and how they can be used as a powerful promotional tool.
Quick Facts
- Band CDs generate revenue, provide sonic benefits, and offer a tangible presence that helps build an artistic identity.
- Albums on compact discs have more potential to promote an artist than digital platforms due to their format, which offers more superb sound quality, wider dynamic range and access to radio campaigns.
- Physical albums also act as collectable assets for fans, with special edition versions such as picture discs providing unique nostalgic experiences..
- CDs allow artists to monetise their music through merchandising options at performances or online store sales while leaving audio footprints along their creative journey.
Despite the growth of digital music, CDs remain an essential form of income for bands as they generate revenue from touring and concerts, online sales contribute to their earnings, and physical copies provide artistic value.
Band CDs and live shows
An essential part of each tour is the bands’ merch table, and CDs are a must-have for each and every artist.
Fans want to be able to remember the gig by buying a CD and having it associated with the memory.
Usually, you can sell your album on a CD for around £10, which gives you £8 profit.
Online sales contribute to income
Bandcamp and your band’s website is a great place to connect with your fans, but its even greater when you include your CD release to be available to your listeners.
You can mail the physical disc for as little as £1 and keep all the profits by having your CDs on your web page.
Physical copies provide artistic value and visual appeal
CDs provide a tangible presence, allowing fans to hold and appreciate the album physically.
Physical releases are also essential for creating longer-lasting implications with fans who can be reminded of the artist due to seeing artwork or packaging on shelves long after they are initially released.
Packaging artwork adds another layer of work that furthers an artist’s visual message and gives fans something more than just sound waves.
CDs are essential for major radio campaigns
Radio is still regarded as one of the most important promotional tools for musicians, and CDs are essential for getting songs played on air.
CDs have several advantages over other music formats when it comes to major radio campaigns: they’re easy to source from record labels and simple for stations to provide samples of a song or album;
Allow for longer-lasting artistic statements
CDs are essential to creating definitive artistic statements that represent your identity and last beyond a single record.
Music albums can act as long-term investments in yourself and your artistry – they let listeners take their time with your release and enjoy the music over many years.
Better sound quality compared to streaming or vinyl
Audio encoding is the process of transforming sound into a digital form for streaming or to be heard on physical formats like vinyl and CDs.
Encoding audio onto CD can produce better sound quality than either streaming or vinyl; this is because when audio tracks are encoded onto CDs, their lossless audio quality offer greater clarity and detail that can’t be matched by other formats (only recently, Tidal introduced Master Quality listening at 96khz which – well done Tidal).
CD booklets and artwork enhance the listening experience
Adding artwork to physical copies of an album or EP creates a visual presence that extends the experience beyond just listening alone, making CD collections more memorable and enjoyable.
Artwork provides your fans with immediate insights into what message the artist is trying to convey through their music- whether it’s political, personal or simply aesthetic.
CDs are cost-effective to produce and sell as merchandise
CD production and manufacturing is relatively inexpensive compared to downloads or streaming content, which often have hefty fees associated with them.
It’s also beneficial to bundle CDs with other pieces of merchandise such as t-shirts or posters; special packages provide value incentives for fans and retailers alike.
Nostalgia and appreciation for physical music formats
Physical music formats have a unique charm and offer an experience that is not easily found in more digital mediums.
Nostalgia plays a large role (hence the return of vinyl) in our appreciation of physical music formats like records and CDs, which appeal to those who grew up with them.
There is something special about owning that physical copy – it feels like you’ve been gifted with something permanent, unlike streaming services where you only rent access for a moment in time.
Not surprisingly then, vinyl records are now quite popular among both older fans looking for nostalgia but also younger generations seeking out something different than just mp3 files or mobile phone playlists.
All in All
CDs are here to stay. CDs getting bands amazing profits (up to 500% profit margins – hard to compare with any other merch) and are still something that fans want.
If you want to get your music out to your fans on a CD, send us a message or browse or options, and we’ll happily help you out with your release.
Cheers, Josh
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Hello, I’m Josh, and I’ve been honing my graphic design skills for almost 15 years now, catering to the needs of bands and businesses alike. What really fascinates me is the business aspect of the music industry. In addition to my design work, I also happen to play the Hammond organ, and I strive to share my knowledge through helpful articles that I write exclusively for you all!
