The Issue with “Deluxe” Editions of CDs
Here’s an email I got from Alex last night:
Hi Alan,
You know what I hate? Deluxe album prices.
So I bought Babel by Mumford & Sons this weekend. I’m still a nostalgic sucker who loves the tradition of going to the store and buying the physical CD.
There’s not many of us left Alan. You know this.
The regular release is $12.99. But wait! The deluxe cd has three extra songs for $17.99. We went for the deluxe (The Killers didn’t get my extra $5 for their deluxe). Luckily, it was worth the money.
My question is why are loyal CD buyers getting pushed into paying more money? If anything, we should be getting kudos for being dumb enough to pay for what many people get for free.
What’s up with this?
Alex
Great questions. Let’s throw it out there to everyone for comment.
But wait: The price of the deluxe edition of Babel was EIGHTEEN DOLLARS? For three extra songs?
It's not just physical cd's. Deluxe versions on iTunes will cost you more too. If you like an artist spend the money.
Music is all about overcharging and undercharging. Labels will always overcharge when they have a chance.
You said it yourself, so very little people go out and buy the album nowadays. The labels know that when someone does… they are either:
a) someone buying it as a gift to someone
b) someone who loves the band so much that they are willing to pay the extra money
So they do-it when they can. If you really want to support the artist, I recommend going to their actual website and ordering through there or buy it at their concert.
TenClub, is a great website that caters to Pearl Jam fans that have had the same members for two decades now! I just signed up for the Vault Collection through Third Man Records. If you really want the rare fun stuff of your favourite acts, I highly suggest joining their fanclub, and give them your dollars first-hand.
I don't mind paying extra for deluxe versions, what I can't stand is re-releasing an album that came out 6 months ago with even more tracks. Metric did this with Fantasies charging incremental sums depending on the package you ordered. Super duper deluxe vinyl with a song only available to that package was the grail. Go ahead six months later and they released the album with 10 extra tracks. Some of the bonus tracks where on the new version but not all. It's an insult to your fans to think they will buy your album twice over. Things like this make me not want to buy your album and go download it for free. Just my 2¢.
If you're just an avid fan of a band and happen to like a couple of singles you're heard on the radio, you may go out and purchase the album for whatever the lowest price is.
But if you are a big fan of a band, a completist and have to have everything they've ever recorded, chances are you'll shell out for the deluxe.
And bands know this and that's why they do it – they cater to both the casual and massive fan and know they can always squeeze a little extra out of the big fans.
It's like back in the day when big fans of a band would shell out up to $20-$30 extra for an imported Japanese version of an album because it was almost always guaranteed to have 1-5 extra tracks tacked on opposed to the North American version of the same album..
I went to the store last week and bought:
Mumford and Sons' Babel deluxe for $17.99 – three bonus tracks.
No Doubt's Push and Shove deluxe for $17.99 – bonus CD of 8 tracks (also available was a version for the same price but instead of a CD, you got a magazine).
Band of Horses' Mirage Rock deluxe for $17.99 – bonus CD of a live performance.
I'm not complaining; obviously I chose to buy all three albums. I just want to know who decides that three songs should cost the same as a whole extra disc.
Just a note on ali's comment re: buying direct from a band's website – problem is not all bands have direct control over their online store like Pearl Jam does.. And not all fanclubs are run by the band or their people.. Sometimes a fanclub is run by a company like Artist Direct so that profit goes to that company rather than more directly to the band.
If you are on the fence about the deluxe editions, sample the extra tracks at hmvdigital.ca or itunes (if you must use itunes) and decide if the extra tracks are worth it before you drop the extra few bucks.
Think thats bad, I paid 22 bucks for Green Days "Deluxe" box for Uno! What a ripoff. No extra tracks, just a stupid cheap box to hold all 3 cds and a stcker.
I don't mind the idea of a deluxe version with extra tracks – as someone noted above, you can sell more to a more dedicated fan, or sell cheaper to someone who just wants the singles, fine.
The ones that annoy me are releasing a "best of" with a few extra tracks. I already have all the others on your albums, but you want me to buy them all over again so I can get that extra track or three you've tacked on to try and lure me in? How about you just release an album with those on it?!
When they do "Deluxe" albums I have to wonder what constitues the "real" album. The standard or deluxe one? (I feel the same with regular or director's cuts of movies).
Good point Jay. I usually only buy online with bands that I'm a longtime fan of. The newer acts that go through other channels won't get as big of a profit as the other bands/orgs that do it all in-house (Pearl Jam, Third Man Records).
Although for the smaller acts, I always make it out to their show. Chat with the band and buy as much as I can. Always good to do it for your local favourite, but especially for the touring bands… these guys/gals are coming to your city and may never come again. So please show them your dedication. itunes sales is one thing for them… but a person who shows up to their gigs, buys their music/shirt/whatever… will give them more coin for their music… and most importantly it shows them that someone gives a shit.
I've done this for countless bands. Especially working in music heavily… I may have never seen Black Flag live… but at least I was apart of the whirlwind that was The Monotonix.
So in end… who cares about Deluxe Issues… go out and see live music. If you don't think it was a waste by the time the lights go back on… go to the merch booth, tell them that and buy something… even a sticker for a dollar.
For those stuck on Deluxe Issues, buy a record player and buy vinyl re-issues, there's a lot coming out now, and it makes the listening experience a lot better.