I don't know about you guys but when I read this statement on the DB website regarding the 75th birthday and all parties involved to make that corporate money making machine deliver .... Celebrating 75 years of David Bowie — David Bowie
Current worldwide capacity is circa 160 million units, pipeline demand is viewed as double that. The strength of that pipeline is caused by a sharp increase in sales in 2020 and record companies pushing back release dates. This has all been compounded by COVID and more recently the Apollo masters fire, the texas freeze and no doubt other unforseen events. I suspect this was the cause of era 5 being shifted from 2020 to 2021 and the non appearance of the 40th anniversary scary monsters era picture discs and who knows what other Bowie delights. Interestingly nobody seems interested in building a new large plant to attempt to address the demand issue, all the new plants that have come on stream. Parlophone seem to have optimal media in germany as their preferred supplier, which i guess limits their flex to overcome localised problems. I am puzzled as to why Parlophone decided to stretch era 5 to 2001 given the stresses in the system, they could have saved 5 LPs per box which would have made it similar to era 1 in size. Who knows what goes on in their planning sessions! Incidentally Billboard reported that vinyl pellets used to make records went up 17% in April. I hate to think what the next Bowie box will cost. The pricing on the era 5 breakouts will be interesting.
how much does it cost to press a record? I would suggest a 17% increase in the cost of raw materials would have very little effect on retail price.
Well, it was sort of done for the Kinks’ RSD releases several years running… but they were mostly EPs.
. Way back in 2013 there as the “1965” RSD 7” ep David Bowie – Bowie 1965! (2013, Vinyl) Also in 2013 there was the somewhat random appearance of the Toy Soldier 7” ep The Riot Squad – The Toy Soldier EP (2013, Vinyl) But as far as standard UK Bowie single reissues, there’s only been the “anniversary” picture discs.
It's easy enough to get prices to press records online, albeit not from optimal media. Although that component starts off small in value, as each layer of profit margin is added on it compounds......unless companies in the chain decide to absorb the increase.
So we have moved from asking people to wake up in the middle of the night to order an empty box to fill up with albums bought (maybe) on other different nights to asking people to travel to London or New York to buy the same "exclusive" items. Fantastic. I think the best move for my mental health has been the choice to completely ignore any musical product that is too difficult to buy. The idea of musical products is to allow the music to be heard. The more they do this the more I will end up listening to music only on streaming services.
You forgot the different exclusive David Bowie Is exhibition vinyl available on some days at the respective museum around the world.
****. How will I live without that record? By the way, I am happy to go to the London pop-up shop once a day, buy whatever you want and sell it to you at 10x the price I paid. I am a true Bowie fan, I will be happy to help.
The Rolling Stones shop in London does mail order, I'd hope it would be the same for Bowie 75, although you would still miss out on the experience elements.
Pop-up shops. What in the world is going on? Just how ridiculous and stupid can the Bowie Estate allow things to get? What's the benefit to the buyers of all this stuff? Can we all stop with exclusive this, colored that, limited edition nonsense. We're literally at a point where all this limited edition nonsense is only being sold through limited websites - and now on to limited shops that only exist for a day or two. Are we supposed to feel privileged? Are we supposed to get so excited we sleep outside the shop the night before the opening in the vague hope we might be able to pick up a 6 track EP of Is It Any Wonder? WTF. Frankly, it's embarrassing. I can't visit the Bowie store online because I cringe at all the satin and tat. Just shameful, it really is.
Led Zeppelin fans would've killed for pop-up shops in 2018. Instead, we got nothing...apart from that amazing rug.
Does it matter if it's a new thing? 30 years ago we didn't have the internet, where you can find most everything by typing into Google. Regardless, it's still ridiculous, imo. They're creating exclusivity from thin air, to the detriment of their customers. Unless you actually manage to be at the right place and time and feel privileged at being given the honor of being in the precense of..... store clerks. Hell, you may be able to buy something no-one else has - oh joy. Who sponsors this type of rubbish, Ebay?
These kinda pop-up shops could make sense in Barmbek for Lotto King Karl, but this is beyond my understanding.