Record Industry Discussion

[TheSadDebaser]

Does singles really have any significance in the record industry at this point? Or are people just clinging to an archaic format in the record industry?

[johansen smith]

50,000 Bright Eyes fans can't be wrong.

[vesper]

Originally posted by TheSadDebaser
Does singles really have any significance in the record industry at this point? Or are people just clinging to an archaic format in the record industry?

what exactly makes you think that this is the case?

[Patrick]

Commercial singles are nearly dead, except in the dance market (and to some extent hip hop). Bright Eyes bucked the trend.

Sales of individual digital tracks finally outstripped the sales of physical singles in the US in 2004. Probably 90% of those sales were via iTunes.

Patrick

[george]

i would hope that indie singles still do ok. i would hope there's still that mentality of wanting to get all of a band's b-sides and such. maybe not though, what with science and technology and all.

[TheSadDebaser]

The thing about a single is that it has to be really really good. I have about fifteen seven inches, maybe, and I like them because they look cool more than anything else I think. There are about five that I really really think are solid records that I want to listen to. But I really don't put them on that often. If I put one on, I generally put a bunch on, but sometimes I think about what people did before the shift went from a singles-based industry to full-length based. Were jukeboxes common? Or did people just listen to singles constantly for the 1.5' to 2' duration?

[Patrick]

People listened to 45s constantly. There were changers for them.

Prior to the LP they listened to 78s constantly. They were 10" or 12"es so had more room than 45s, but spun faster which wiped out much of the gain in playing space. Also the grooves were wider. You could buy whole symphonies and concerti on 78s. One movement could be split over 4 or 5 sides. This meant that a single symphony might take 12 heavy, breakable shellac 78 RPM discs. These were packaged in books like photo albums, hence the term "record album." These were commonly played on changers.

Patrick

[TheSadDebaser]

Oh neat. I want one of those changers. I've seen record albums. I've also seen the term used in different contexts, I think, but never knew the origin.

[the Pawnbroker]

Originally posted by Patrick
Prior to the LP they listened to 78s constantly. They were 10" or 12"es so had more room than 45s, but spun faster which wiped out much of the gain in playing space. Also the grooves were wider. You could buy whole symphonies and concerti on 78s. One movement could be split over 4 or 5 sides. This meant that a single symphony might take 12 heavy, breakable shellac 78 RPM discs. These were packaged in books like photo albums, hence the term "record album." These were commonly played on changers.

Patrick

On the subject of 78s, I have heard that 78s are quite fragile. My grandmother has some 78s that have sat in her closet for maybe 40 years. Is there any chance they are still in playable shape?

[Miss Tasty Princess]

Originally posted by TheSadDebaser
Oh neat. I want one of those changers. No, you don't. They're very bad for records. 'tis much better for vinyl to be manually flipped and switched rather than dropped by a changer. Or, at least, that's what I've always been told. Feel free to correct me if I am wrong, Patrick.

Originally posted by TheSadDebaser
I've seen record albums.I'm listening to record albums right now (and feeling old). :)

[Patrick]

Changers are TERRIBLE for records. Avoid at all costs. Unless you don't care how your records are gonna sound in a few years (or months, or weeks).

78s are both more and less fragile than vinyl. Shellac is very, very hard. This means it's harder to scratch, but much easier to shatter. At the end of the 78 period they were made of vinyl just like LPs and 45s. These vinyl 78s are identical to modern records for care and maintenance purposes.

People tended to put their fingers all over 78s and so on. Condition varies a lot. In general, 78s sound pretty fantastic when played on period players. They used a different equalization curve (actually many different curves) from the RIAA curve used to make LPs and 45s. This means they don't sound their best with a modern phono preamp. You need one from the period, or a special modern one that equalizes them correctly (available from KAB and other sources). They also benefit from a wider stylus to track the wide groove properly. They have a certain immediate midrangey sound all their own that can be enormously loud and satisfying.

Fun fact: the Sex Pistols singles came out on 78 in India, which was much later to drop the format. Talk about rare!

Patrick

[tinobeat]

Didn't John Fahey release an album (in the old sense) of 78's sometime in the early 90's?

off to google...

EDIT:

yes, yes he did:
http://www.johnfahey.com/pages/78.html

apparently the label that released it also released a Sun City Girls 78.

how awesome...

OK, sorry for the digression...

[River Tigris]

I predict a shift back from full-length albums to a single based industry, with digital downloads being the new format. Obviously, the album will survive, but more among passionate music fans.

For better AND for worse, the era of the song is soon upon us.

[TheSadDebaser]

--------: Do you agree with that?
TheSadDebaser: I don't know.
TheSadDebaser: a lot of people say they prefer just one or two songs on albums
--------: It seems like most casual type music fans are usually after just the lastest hot track
TheSadDebaser: yeah
--------: And technology is making it easier to get it
--------: So maybe that guy's right, maybe albums will fall to the wayside
TheSadDebaser: Hm
TheSadDebaser: well
--------: (guy/girl)
TheSadDebaser: Maybe in the mainstream industry, which I certainly wouldn't mind.
--------: Yeah
TheSadDebaser: Because I can tolerate particular sigles and things
TheSadDebaser: But I think albums will remain the format of choice with bands that have lots of good songs.
TheSadDebaser: but it's definately easier to release a solid single or EP than an entire album.
-------: yeah I can agree with all of that
TheSadDebaser: But I like the idea of digital singles becoming the new market for the mainstream industry.
--------: Yeah me too
TheSadDebaser: because that's more accessible I think to smaller comanies, as well.
--------: I could dig that for sure