How much is too much for a DJ Mix CD?

[MarkK]

Recently I purchased a mix CD from a prominent local DJ in washington, DC. For what its worth, this person (I think) makes DJing his profession.

I was willing to pay for the mix CD. While I often see local DJs giving out their CDs, I understand this particular DJ runs his CDs as a business.

However, I was actually a bit shocked at the price, $20 for a single CD (12 songs), with ok cover art. This was also not really a CD of all new/rare stuff either.

Do you think $20 is excessive? I know this is his business, however I seriously doubt he is paying royalties for these songs.

What do you think

['Magic' Juan]

Damn! That is way too much. I think I see them here for about $16 or so (at least the last time I checked). I don't know why they charge so much, considering that all it is is a burnt Cd. That's why I buy the vinyl and do my own thing ..

magic_juan

[And]

I say that's a lot for one burnt cd with 12 songs.
So far the vote's 50/50 for $5 or $10 dollars.

[ November 18, 2003, 09:05 AM: Message edited by: 6 23 ]

[MarkK]

Originally posted by 6 23:
I say that's a lot for one burnt cd with 12 songs.
So far the vote's 50/50 for $5 or $10 dollars. Yeah you know who I am talking about....

[Edmund White]

I sell 8 CDs for $16.99, plus shipping smile.gif

[mhd]

this is foul

[MarkK]

Originally posted by mhd:
this is foul oh jeez Mark. What is it now?

[MarkK]

Originally posted by ewwhite:
I sell 8 CDs for $16.99, plus shipping smile.gif But it looks like you also give away very high-quality MP3 versions as well. Am I correct?

[Edmund White]

Yes, I do. Everything is available in mp3 and Real Audio. There's no pressure to buy my CDs. People do, but they certainly have options.

[sezy]

highway robbery.

but if the dj can get ppl to pay that much for a cd, more power to em.

[sezy]

come to think of it, i have a hard time paying $20 to go see top djs play for hours. just my opnion.

[JL]

Mark, unless that dj paid for the rights to redistribute each of the 12 songs, that's just plain fucked up. No blank cd, case, and cover art costs $20.

[darrow]

I guess to me, "too much" is determined by the highest price that no one is willing to pay. I've known people to buy CDs from DJs for $30 or more.

[Jamie 3:26]

What's all the fuss?If 20 bucks was too much,you did have to option to say.."Thanks,but no thanks..."

[MarkK]

Originally posted by Big Sexy:
What's all the fuss?If 20 bucks was too much,you did have to option to say.."Thanks,but no thanks..." No fuss, just a discussion of what is fair. You see I want to support local talent. But when I feel that I am getting gouged, thats not right.

[ruse]

Originally posted by MarkK:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Big Sexy:
What's all the fuss?If 20 bucks was too much,you did have to option to say.."Thanks,but no thanks..." No fuss, just a discussion of what is fair. You see I want to support local talent. But when I feel that I am getting gouged, thats not right. </font>[/QUOTE]The $20 may go towards more than just the CD. I knew a great DJ in DC who sold his CDs for $20. He threw one of my favorite weekly parties with a minimal cover charge. As far as I knew, DJing was his full-time profession. So if I spent $20 on one of his CDs, then I felt that my money would go towards supporting what he does, in addition to buying a great mix. And I'd rather spend $20 and get a mix CD than drop $10 in a tip jar.

[soul-g]

Originally posted by MarkK:
Recently I purchased a mix CD from a prominent local DJ in washington, DC. For what its worth, this person (I think) makes DJing his profession.

I was willing to pay for the mix CD. While I often see local DJs giving out their CDs, I understand this particular DJ runs his CDs as a business.

However, I was actually a bit shocked at the price, $20 for a single CD (12 songs), with ok cover art. This was also not really a CD of all new/rare stuff either.

Do you think $20 is excessive? I know this is his business, however I seriously doubt he is paying royalties for these songs.

What do you think I know people that are willing to pay $50. bucks for a mix cd with no art work.... And they insist on paying that much... If you like the way the dj moves you, and you want to support him, buy the cd....

In buisness there are a few reasons why cost of products are high.
1. the product is rare... maybe only 2 in the world....
2. the product is produced and sold in limited quantities..... which also refers back to 1..
3. the producer of the product believes his product is that good and thinks and has people dishing out the money he suggest.

now eventually if no 1 buys his product, he might rethink his prices...

Does this hurt the music industry because royalties are not being payed YES and NO , Now my coworkers and I disscussed this before i posted.... If there is a track listing it helps the industry while it hurts it.... my reasons for saying this is because you raise awareness of the artist or producer and the label, but the label gets no royalties.

Now most 12"inch vinnyl singles do not come in form of a cd.... and there might be a chance that as a consumer of music without a turntable you might never get the track you are looking for unless its from your local jock's mixed cd....

How does that help the industry, the dj will always buy the music...if the dj is a good buisness person and invest the money he receives from selling his unlicensed cd back into the industry by buying the domestic sigle which at this point is avaraging $7.00 domestic and $11-12. import.... thats either 1/3 or 1/2 of the cost you just purchased your cd, for one single......

I given away about 100 cd's in the past 3 years that i've bee spinning out.... very rare stuff for me....

Does that hurt the industry? Me giving the music away for free... Some people might argue that....

my 3 cents.... I know im the minority....

[MarkK]

If he is selling CDs for $20 to reduce the cover charge, then the small number of people who buy CDs are subsidizing those who come to the party but don't buy CDs. Those who come to the party should be doing their part too.

I just think $20 was excessive. Yes, I did buy one, but won't ever again. Thats too bad, but I still like the DJ and will continue to visit his Wednesday parties when I can.



Originally posted by ruse:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by MarkK:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Big Sexy:
What's all the fuss?If 20 bucks was too much,you did have to option to say.."Thanks,but no thanks..." No fuss, just a discussion of what is fair. You see I want to support local talent. But when I feel that I am getting gouged, thats not right. </font>[/QUOTE]The $20 may go towards more than just the CD. I knew a great DJ in DC who sold his CDs for $20. He threw one of my favorite weekly parties with a minimal cover charge. As far as I knew, DJing was his full-time profession. So if I spent $20 on one of his CDs, then I felt that my money would go towards supporting what he does, in addition to buying a great mix. And I'd rather spend $20 and get a mix CD than drop $10 in a tip jar. </font>[/QUOTE]

[ November 18, 2003, 02:20 PM: Message edited by: MarkK ]

[beaniboy67]

to make a cd for promotional use it costs me

disc - 7p
box - 8p
centre sticker - 3p
paper for sleeves - 2p
ink- roughly - 2p

total - 22p

converted to cents - around about 35 cents

(excluding my vinyl obviously!)

this guy must be loaded.i say good luck to him because he must be severly brass knecked and i bet hes not paying royalties either!i wouldnt have the bottle to ask someone to pay me for a cd unless it was someone i didnt know!

i would told him to go away and have a word with himself. smile.gif

[ November 18, 2003, 02:28 PM: Message edited by: beaniboy67 ]

[hippy74]

Well it better be tracked disc at once .. i dont want to hear each track with clicks everytime the tracks change .. i really dont care for cover art but if your gonna sell your cd's dont use cheap cdr's .. get the silver ones .. make it look proffesional .. dont write all over the cd .. now if its a promo cd then i understand ..

[Light Skinted Wif Good Hur]

If this was in a store then the store is probably getting a cut too. I used to sell CDs for $16--I was making $11. Plus I spend way more money on records than I will ever make on CDs!

[YoRel]

20 bucks for a CD, hummm maybe too much. I sell my CD's for 5.00, but give a way more then I sell. I have charged 20.00 for a custom mix, being my time is money. :D

So Markk if the CD you brought was a special mix. 20.00 is not too much.

[C hristian]

Mark, when I find it in my room here, I'll make a copy of his very first demo tape for the 2 marks.

For free! Bonus.

Good karma . Priceless.


But I have to find it again first. It's here, I know it. But it's a casette, and since I moved, it's thrown in with the other casettes.

Organized room. Priceless.

[lyot]

I would never ever in my entire life pay such a ridiculous amount of money for a mixtape..

Also, I thought there was quite some agreement here that you can't sell mixtapes if you don't pay royalities (Markk hinted at that)..

Further, I'm really getting sick of that whole 'More Power to them if they can get away it' attitude..

And last but not least, with all these fantastic mixtapes online , why on earth would you still have to buy mixtapes ? (no offence of course Markk) . But one can easily convert these mixtapes to .wav format and you have perfect sound..They played a cd of Rahaan on national radio in Belgium that I had ripped from BTH and converted to .wav format.. Perfect quality..


greetings