No, that's not a breathing devise Bob is using there...

I made mention on the news page that I was considering a change to my upcoming recording project. The original plan was to record a full, 12-15 song traditional CD complete with liner notes, pictures, lyrics, and a jewel case. That seemed like the best way to package songs and have a tangible product to sell, but like Bobby said, "The times they are a-changin'."

Watching how my own songs sell, I've noticed that the digital downloads are now selling faster and more often than the traditional CD. I wondered why, but it's really pretty obvious: it's a new world out there. I did a little industry research and then compared it against my own observations and tendencies.

Already, in the last 10 years or so, the CD buying public began to become more song-oriented rather then artist-oriented. That is, they hear a song and buy the song, but don't necessarily become invested in the artist. That doesn't mean they won't take a chance in the future on a particular artist and buy their new CD without hearing it first, but it does mean that it's a "harder sell" to get someone to actually invest in the full CD.

The Big Labels are smart enough to recognize which artists will develop a following and who will be a one-hit wonder. They analyze trends in the buying public and talk to (or bribe) radio programmers to make sure that Taylor Hicks is on the radio. Can you guess who they put their money behind? Yup, a small stable of artists who through promotion, media blitz, and product placement at Wal*Mart, insure that they've got a platinum release.

Add in the fact that the entire industry is geared towards moving product (you do see it's not about art, right?). That means that songwriters, artists, bands, etc. are in a squirrel's wheel to produce a CD, support the CD through media efforts and touring, and then produce another CD before the public forgets who they are. As a result, many industry-watchers say that, in general, CDs tend not to be as strong throughout. In other words, there may 3-4 truly great songs and another 3-4 good songs on a CD accompanied by a bunch of filler. Folk artists, in particular, suffer from this cycle because they are already in a slimmer margin business (let's face it, folk music ain't mainstream) and are forced to tour and record constantly in order to earn a living. Maybe the buying public is smart enough to recognize an inferior product or maybe there's just too many CDs out there for the public to effectively make a choice.

Now, take that thought one step further. With the improved quality of home-based recording anyone with a shred of talent and a couple of grand can be a recording artist. But that happens at the same time that the industry is closed to most new artists because radio is programmed, the Big Labels won't take a chance because it costs too much to develop new artists, and the buying public is confused as hell. The glut of CDs in a crowded, song-oriented market make the possibility of cutting through the "noise" even harder.

In my opinion, the advent of the iPod and legal downloadable music sounds the death knell of the traditional CD for most artists. When the average Joe can get a song they like for 99 cents, load it on their iPod, and then don't have to store a CD they'd very likely only listen to occasionally, why produce a CD that you have to charge $15 for just to pay all the people who helped make the thing in the first place?

So where does that leave me? I'm thinking a series of mini-CDs is the answer. As the new project looms, I expect to record only 5 or 6 songs and then make a limited run of CDs packaged very simply. Why? It's a more cost-effective way of producing a CD. Second, I'll charge $1 a song for the CD just like a download. Third, I'll have an affordable, tangible thing to sell at gigs and $5 is easier for most people to part with than $15. Next, I can then make the same songs available on iTunes and get new music out there. Lastly, I can produce a mini-CD every year and stay in front of radio programmers, deejays, and other industry types on the off-chance that my songs somehow become the flavor of the day. So, tell me, am I crazy?

Note: This song is pretty obvious, huh? Well, here's a different version...