Re:FunkWhale: Decentralized Music Server
by casi on Thursday January 21, 2021 @07:18PM
(#25866604)
Royalties is probably the wrong word. What i mean is that i can buy an album for $5 on bandcamp and the artist will get more money than if i stream the album 1000 times on spotify. Album sales (especially in no-tour lockdown times) are an important part of funding musicians. Streams dont cover bills. Neither does merch.
[ Parent
| on HN ]
Re:FunkWhale: Decentralized Music Server
by comprev on Thursday January 21, 2021 @07:42PM
(#25866781)
You have described precisely the reason I support artists on Bandcamp - my single €5 purchase is worth 1000s of streams. Although I'd argue artists are promoting merch because selling albums/EPs doesn't pay the bills. It's fascinating what merch people will buy too - tapes, signet rings, €30 caps, bags...
Re:FunkWhale: Decentralized Music Server
by musicale on Thursday January 21, 2021 @07:55PM
(#25866878)
> artists are promoting merch because selling albums/EPs doesn't pay the bills. It's fascinating what merch people will buy too - tapes, signet rings, €30 caps, bags...
Pretty much this. The music is basically promotion for the merch, which actually makes money.
Cassette and vinyl sales are also important because in addition to the nostalgic (hissy/scratchy but also warm and saturated) "analog" sound the physical recording is a fun collector's item and something you can show off.
Hopefully live shows will return at some point as well.