I'd say even these days I'd hesitate to do anything but CD. They still sell fairly well for Double Crown, you're much more likely to get radio play with a CD, and if you work with CD Baby (which I highly recommend) they primarily deal with CD's. Also, doing a CD will make getting your music into iTunes and other download sites much easier.

If it's in your budget, I'd recommend doing a CD and a 7" - you can do 500 packaged CD's for about $800 through the company I use, CD Experts. For the 7" I'd recommend including songs not on the CD, and making those available for free download with purchase of the 7". I think for a new band putting out music for the first time, coming out with a CD and 7" at around the same time will show the world you mean business, plus you'll have two things to sell at your merch table at shows (I'd recommend a short run of t-shirts too).

Sean
Double Crown Records
www.doublecrownrecords.com

Surf CD's / Vinyl / Fanzines / DVD's
Aloha Screwdriver - Lunar Wobble CD
The Nebulas - Euphorion LP / CD
Supertubos - The Fourth Drive CD
Continental Magazine - Issue #38 w/17 Song CD

Well Danny I would buy anything that that The Tomorrowmen put out, and that's because I like the music. I think it's a cool idea to release a 7" w/the free downloads. I'm not sure how it will benefit you guys financially. Because I'm not sure of "other than Surf fans, and ect..." that would buy Vinyl. But I find that after I buy a CD I put the album into my iPod. And I usually don't play the CD, so it's just sitting ther. And I've recently started to buy more Vinyl(surf and other) and I'm positive that I will play it. I don't like the idea of just buying MP3's because I want the art work as well. If you guys are planing on releasing 2 songs, for some reason it doesn't make sense to me to release a CD with just a couple of songs. If you are planning on a whole album then yeah it makes sense to release a CD. The Phantom Jets released a Vinyl LP with a free Cd of the whole album and some extra tracks. I think you should ask Ted of the PJs how their format has done in sales. Are you guys gonna be recording a whole albums worth or just a couple of songs?

The Deadbeats

I would buy anything you guys put out, hard format wise.
I don't download anything.

I say cd is the best idea.
45 with rare songs.
maybe 2 from the cd 2 not on the cd.
or just 2 only, not on the cd.

and I would buy Vinyl LP also, but I'm sure I'm in the minority there.
Sean is right cd is still the dominant seller for surf.
unless your in Europe.

The Creepy Creeps in San Diego
have both vinyl and real cds (not cdrs) for sale.
I bought both.
cd to play in my truck.
and LP to play at home and to DJ with.
they got twice the money from me.
but gave me a t shirt.

Jeff(bigtikidude)

Looking forward to a TomorrowMen recording!

I like the idea of vinyl but voted CD because I've got a player in the car, home, a portable for when I'm working outside, and I can listen via computer during working hours. Having just vinyl or downloads would limit my listening opportunities.

Don

I like what Sean said.^^^^^ Good plan.

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Last edited: Sep 27, 2009 19:56:10

From the perspective of a former DJ, there's nothing better than being able to riffle through your rows of records and throw on the right thing at the right moment. But as a consumer of music, I think vinyl is just a pain in the ass.

Sure, I have a pile of it from years ago, and the Gene Vincent boxed set of Capitol recordings is a treasure I'd never part with. But in reality, these days, I buy a CD and save it on Real Player; the computer is more convenient but can't be trusted, so I like to have both formats. As much as I dig old stuff in general, it's just a fact that the bulk and fragility of records made them obsolete as soon as the CD was perfected. The last record I bought has a pic of Gene and the Blue Caps on it and will probably never be played.

I'm afraid so! But I'm loving the irony of this discussion. 'Computer Guy' thinks vinyl is obsolete, but 'Vinyl Guy' considers Real Player old hat. Not that I qualify as a real computer guy.

Now I have to try to make sense of all this. Could it be that the word obsolete is obsolete? I mean, I use Real Player because it gets the job done, and -- if I'm remembering this right -- you like the warmth of vinyl after having tried CDs and found them wanting. Maybe pragmatism and personal taste know no obsolescence, and thank the gods for that; that's why we're all still here playing surf on our cool antiques.

MissingLink
I'm afraid so! But I'm loving the irony of this discussion. 'Computer Guy' thinks vinyl is obsolete, but 'Vinyl Guy' considers Real Player old hat. Not that I qualify as a real computer guy.

Now I have to try to make sense of all this. Could it be that the word obsolete is obsolete? I mean, I use Real Player because it gets the job done, and -- if I'm remembering this right -- you like the warmth of vinyl after having tried CDs and found them wanting. Maybe pragmatism and personal taste know no obsolescence, and thank the gods for that; that's why we're all still here playing surf on our cool antiques.

I used Real Player for years and wouldn't use anything else. Now I can't use anything but itunes or windows media player. WMP takes care of my streaming to my TV needs, and itunes handles my burning, ripping, and uploading to ipod/phone.

There is a new program that is in a beta testing called Songbird that is supposed to be the best of all worlds. I am interested in that.

Looking forward to it, Danny!!

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