Amazon’s 50 $5 Albums For September
When Amazon announced 50 $5 albums for August I thought it was a one off deal, but September has dawned with 50 new ones, and just like last time, there are killer names right beside the mainstream ones. I mean maybe Hank III and Wayne Hancock are to be expected, but Devil Makes Three, and Roger Alan Wade? Whoa!
Essential:
Other Gooduns:
CHECK OUT ALL 50
Now listen. I am fully aware that every time I peddle Amazon’s wares, some grumble that somehow that makes me a sellout. The simple fact is that Amazon, CD Baby, and other online distributors of music are not the enemy. The enemy is major labels, who before online distribution had the monopoly on distributing music, meaning only signed artists that labels wanted to push had access to distribution channels. Digital distributors are helping to erode that infrastructure and erect new ways to buy music that put the power back into the artists’s hands.
I understand that Amazon is a big company, and yes, the REAL music customer understands that the best way still to buy music is from the artist directly or local music stores. But one of the reasons I am glad Amazon is doing this is because they’re putting independent artists names right beside the mainstream ones. This is something country radio won’t do, the CMA and ACM’s won’t do, CMT won’t do. Only Amazon is offering a fair playing field, and good on them for that. Some of these albums will be purchase simply because they’re cheap. The artist may not receive much, but a new fan will be made who will buy more albums, support the band on the road, tell their friends.
Demonetization of the music industry is killing off the dinosaur infrastructure that has corrupted music for too long. But artists still need to get paid and still need support structure, and REAL music fans should want that to happen. Amazon is on the cutting edge of finding ways to keep some money flowing, and using price points as a promotional tool. And I applaud them for that.
September 7, 2010 @ 5:10 pm
That is pretty cool. I wonder how it is that Devil Makes Three made it on a 1 of 50 list? I mean, I’m a big fan of theirs, but they seem not well known. But then again- I’m from Michigan, are they larger on the west coast?
I’m a subsciber to Rhapsody music, and I’ve always wondered how well these smaller independent artists fare thru these type of music outlets. One thing for sure- they helped me find music that I may not have found otherwise.
September 7, 2010 @ 5:27 pm
Devil Makes Three album “Do Wrong Right” made it to number 1 for Bluegrass on Billboard charts and apparently was on the charts for 33 weeks.
Their shows here in the NW are usually sold out or close to it.
September 7, 2010 @ 6:30 pm
I’m sure the bluegrass purists were having a hissey over that. That’s not a hard chart to top though.
Pete Bernhard’s solo stuff is excellent as well.
September 7, 2010 @ 7:37 pm
I figured that Alison Krauss would be at the top for the rest of eternity.
Damn, I haven’t listened to Pete’s solo albums in a couple months now. Totally forgot how fuckin awesome his latest one is.
September 7, 2010 @ 6:27 pm
I guess that’s my point. Yes, they are really big on the West Coast, but they’re still solidly underground. That’s what cool about what Amazon is doing. My guess is either bands are requesting to be part of this, or Amazon is choosing them. Not sure how it works but the bands must have some sort of approval. TONS of people are going to be checking out these 50 albums, and they’ll see them and Roger Alan Wade right beside Rascal Flatts and all the other douches.
When I lived in southern Oregon, I was lucky that a band I was in got to open for DM3 once, and it was the biggest crowd we ever played in front of.
September 8, 2010 @ 4:46 am
It would be interesting to see some numbers of what this Amazon sale would do for these bands.
September 8, 2010 @ 7:43 am
Another cool thing about Amazon is their sales rankings. If you click on any of those albums and scroll down, you’ll see what they’re overall sales are and for categories. DM3 is #4 in traditional blues, #2 in acoustic blues, #11 in traditional country. I would guarantee this album would not be ranked like that without this promotion.
September 7, 2010 @ 6:43 pm
I love Amazon. As far as how there able to do it, if it’s the same as with books about a year ago all the online book retailers got into a price war causing new hard back books by top authers to fall from around $35 to around $9. The way they did it was the publishers & authers got there regular price amazon was willing to take the loss to get more people to the site & buy other things. I’m sure this is about the same for music.
September 8, 2010 @ 7:46 am
Amazon has virtually no overhead. That’s how they can make everything so cheap, and why major labels in Nashville have to make everything so expensive. When you have a posh skyscraper full of overpaid marketing gurus and sales managers, it takes a lot of cash to keep that going. The bigger they are, the harder they fall.
September 8, 2010 @ 7:25 pm
I’m off to download some DM3 and Roger Alan Wade!
September 9, 2010 @ 7:06 pm
Both great albums I have to say!