Every day this week, I’ve blogged about a new single and I’ve added it to the Pundit Player for you to check out before purchasing– one from Jason Nelson, one from Deon Kipping, and one from Brian Courtney Wilson.
But today it dawned on me– y’all aren’t really buying the singles, are you?
Commentators agree that the music industry has become a singles-based market. Now that people have the ability to bypass album fillers in exchange for “the good songs,” they do.
But, I’m also aware that gospel music consumers are several years behind the trends of the music industry as a whole. Gospel consumers still purchase physical CDs more than digital albums. So, I wouldn’t be surprised if you guys are NOT following the singles-market trend, and are actually still buying full projects.
Out of curiousity, how many of you buy singles before the album is released?
I personally do not purchase singles for any genre of music because I tend to find greater gems in other songs. Singles are based on what the record company believe will catapult of sales. Music is still in the hands of the consumer. Also, I like the physical CD because it gives me the opportunity to learn the background of the project. Yes, I'm anal. LOL
I buy about 10-15 gospel CDs per year, and as bizarre as this sounds, I'm more likely to buy the single of an artist who I will most likely NOT buy the full project of. For example, a while ago I purchased Deitrick Haddon's "Love Him Like I Do," because I usually don't expect to buy his full album--at best a couple of songs (he's very talented, but I'm just kinda old school). But when Ricky Dillard released "God is Great" I didn't purchase it, because I expected that would be a full-CD purchase, and it was. I'm never really in a rush to buy a single, especially these days when you can preview them on iTunes or listen to just about anything on YouTube.
Excellent question, lol! I've had several conversations with friends about this. I just love to experience great albums! I feel that is more telling more telling of an artist and their artistry than a single I just happen to like does. For this reason I rarely purchase singles before the album, especially if the single is going to be on the album, I don't want to pay for it twice. Now if I like the single and I listen to the album and find that I don't like the album, I neither buy the album nor the single. I know that's a bit "music snob-esque" of me, lol, but I just love supporting great artists and great bodies of work. Plus it looks better, organizationally, in my iTunes library to have several albums from artists I love than to have random singles from inconsistent artists, lol. Now I do make exceptions occasionally, I purchased Mali Music's new single "The Job Experience" because I couldn't wait till next year for the album, I'd pay more than .99 cents for the utility I gain from his music, I respect him as an artist and minister, and I am certain that I will be purchasing album when it comes out next year :-)
I buy singles depending on the artists. So that is a rarity because very few artists WOW me anymore. I grew up on gospel(only) so I was always WOWed when records came out then. Everything is so cookie cutter now. Where's the authenticity? I'll buy that. It's way too many wannabe artists now and not enough real artists. Artistry is about what an artist does originally and presents that to the world. Being visionary. Where's the vision? I do believe that there are some here now that will lead us into the future, but the industry as a whole seems off.
I like purchasing the singles and when the albums come out and there is a longer version of the same song, I will purchase that too. I LOVE, LOVE Gospel music. I can't wait for Jason Nelson's song to come out on November 1st. Thanks for letting us hear it before the cd is released. ITunes is the best!!
to be honest im a singles girl, before this year, i hadn't purchased a physical cd since 2003! I mean i loved iTunes once i discovered it! and even then i wasn't buying full albums on iTunes! i think though you do a diservice to yourself and the artist only getting a single or two or three! i like now getting a whole album, and seeing how each song ties into each other. and i feel better buying the whole album either a physical copy or on iTunes. so i say if you get a single still check out the whole album, you never know what you could be missing out on!
Yes I do and No I don't. A prime example is Jason Nelson's latest offering. The single is a P&W tune, which I am sure is nice. However, last year YouTube leaked a rehearsal of his with a traditional tune that I fell in love with.On the contrary, I loved YRM by Donald Lawrence and bought that single. If anything, I should have the option of choosing which single I want to buy. Usually, I don't care for the single because it does not reflect my personal taste.
Personally, I do buy the single before the single before the CD comes out, and, once the CD is released, I buy the CD too. I believe in supporting the artist in all of their musical efforts.