In this age of downloads...are we losing album art? Andy Warhol's talent was displayed on this 1982 album by Billy Squier...is this becoming a lost art?
In this age of downloads...are we losing album art? Andy Warhol's talent was displayed on this 1982 album by Billy Squier...is this becoming a lost art?
All that's left of what we were is what we have become.
I see them..odd
But still..my question?
All that's left of what we were is what we have become.
Ask not what bears can do for you, but what you can do for bears. (razz)
When one is in agreement with bears one is always correct. (mae)
bears are back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I don't know if popular, mainstream artists focus on cover art enough for there to be widely recognized, iconic album covers; I think the average listener may have left that in the past, unfortunately.
As for me, I very much crave the tactile experience; album art is a significant component of that. My favorite bands typically offer (in addition to downloads and regular CDs) editions housed in books (sometimes 5" x 5", but sometimes 10" x 10") with bonuses like extra tracks and video material, always with extra artwork (as pages in the books). Even without the extra music and video content, I would still want the book with art; it's just a great experience.
Of course, this is really only for the music that is very important to me, not the things I listen to casually, as they cost $50 - $100. But even with the other things, it's a CD (hopefully with a booklet!) for me.
You can't be aloof until you advertise.
Paying for a music download just seems kind of...wrong. I need a physical format to properly invest myself in an album, be it a CD or a record. Downloads are utilitarian IMO. They serve a purpose but I'll listen to downloads mostly while I'm doing something more important or while driving. If I truly want to not just listen, but hear and enjoy music, I'll do what I do when I want to read a really good book - I'll set time aside specifically for that.
And no, I don't think legitimate downloads are killing the physical format. Record labels are killing the record business with their ridiculous prices. Why does a Radiohead LP in this gazillionth pressing cost $40 is beyond me.
Hearts are tough, she said, most times hearts don't break, and I'm sure that's right . . . but what about then? What about who we were then? What about hearts in Atlantis?
I personally have bought less than 5 downloads, usually for something where I know I'll never want the full album etc. In one case, a band added a track to an album over a decade after I'd bought it; not wanting to buy another CD, I just bought the extra track through iTunes.
You can't be aloof until you advertise.
Exactly. That record has paid back the band, the record label, the distributers, lawyers, roadies, record pressing plants etc. a million times over. Want to sell more records? Lower the price. The actual manufacturing cost is less than $10 per unit. Metallica "Garage Days Re-Revisited" is $50. Bonkers.
Most records nowadays have download codes so that works out for me. Records for home, downloads for when I'm on the go.