Matthew 7:7 Member since Nov 2008 3211 Points Moderator
They're releasing the files to an album this Friday, for free, which they've said that anyone, anywhere can press, burn, cut, release in whatever quantities they want...basically encouraging people to start their own record label.
Lend me ten pounds and I'll buy you a drink. Member since Feb 2012 7198 Points Moderator
I've seen much kerfuffle about this on social media. It's great that they're doing it but it's far from a new idea. US singer/songwriter David Rovics has been doing it successfully for years (his entire back catalogue is free to download), even going so far as to write a song called "Steal This MP3" (on his Meanwhile In Afghanistan album). I am sure there are other artists using the same model. This is higher profile I guess, hence the hubbub.
Still cool of course and I'm glad it's getting exposure, but I am a little surprised it's being hailed as some kind of revolutionary idea when it truthfully isn't.
Matthew 7:7 Member since Nov 2008 3211 Points Moderator
The big difference about the KLGW stunt is that they are actively trying to get people to set up record labels to sell the album, with no copyright or royalties attached, rather than it being the act of just letting people have it for free (which bands worldwide do thousands of times each day).
They're releasing the files in three different formats - digital download, cd mastered and (importantly) vinyl mastered formats, so as anyone can take those files and get them pressed up to the highest standard possible.
This is from a band who already have numerous highly collectable releases behind them, so as could be imagined there's been an almighty scramble from literally hundreds of would-be entrepreneurs trying to scramble onboard this seemingly no-catch gravy train.
The really interesting thing though is how it's going to pan out over the next 6 months - whether there'll be a big enough body of collectors who want as many variations as possible to keep the market flowing and mutating, OR if it results in total overload and devaluation of the album (which could even have the unintended consequence of putting some labels out of business due to over investment and unsold over stock !).
Either way, it's already been a huge success story for the band in terms of publicity. As an act that's able to release four albums a year, they can probably happily forgo the royalties on this one LP in exchange for the huge amount of product that'll flood the market and the exposure that will follow.
If you can't dig me, you can't dig nothin' Member since Nov 2013 2282 Points
King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard are not really popular enough to make this a viable enterprise. They have more of what I'd call an indie/cult following. Well, here in Australia at least are they huge elsewhere?
There are only 5 LP entries on 45 Worlds and they have a track on the Australian Nuggets CD. All of these were uploaded by me and 3 of them are also owned by a "private" site member but we are the only owners on the site.
So, I think starting my own label (Lee's Wreckords anyone?) would not be a wise move unless I could get the address of the private site member to double my production run to two copies. Anyone that starts a label on the strength of this stunt would be flat out like a lizard drinking trying to make it pay. What is great about King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard apart from their live shows is the effort they put into their limited edition vinyl releases which are essentially little PR stunts of there own.
I'd say it'd be more likely they don't want to spend the money they normally do on their releases so they just thought the artworks done, it's in the can so let's let it out. Seems the PR side of things has taken care of itself. Nice move.
Matthew 7:7 Member since Nov 2008 3211 Points Moderator
I'm not sure how you define "popular", Lee, but check the link I posted above. In two days the post has received 18k likes and been shared 3,322 times as of now.
And if you scroll down just a fraction of the 2.7k posts on the comments board, you'll see dozens of people wanting a piece of this action.
Also check Discogs :
Their first LP last sold for around £650 (VG+/VG+)
Their second LP last sold for around £200
Their third LP last sold for around £300
Their fourth LP last sold for around £350
To my knowledge there are at least another dozen LP's (this new one is KGLW's fourth this year alone), so the 45World is somewhat incomplete.
I totally agree it could end up being a disastrous financial graveyard for many an aspiring young label...but all the evidence points to the fact that it ain't gonna stop 'em trying !
Matthew 7:7 Member since Nov 2008 3211 Points Moderator
Here's a woefully incomplete list of release sightings so far (cut and pasted from a Discogs thread) :
Cassette version available from Pink Haze Records. Clear blue shell. Edition of 50. Pre-order now: http://bandcamp.com/pinkhazerecords
Vinyl Collective has an exclusive limited to 100 hand-numbered copies on MYSTERY variant vinyl. He also mentioned there would be a bonus of a print of some kind. Sounds awesome:
GITD w/red, yellow, blue splatter (Reverse cover draining into the vinyl) (200 copies)
https://nomadeelrecords.bandcamp.com
Test pressing (1 copy)
Lava Lamp Splatter - 180 Gram green wax with Hot pink and Bright Purple splatter. (50copies)
180 Gram Wax Pressed Pressed In Half Red / Blue, Numbered Sleeve (300 copies)
Mysticliquidrecords bandcamp, limited to 300 copies:
Limited Edition "Inner Cell" Splatter Vinyl
- Transparent Red Base & Transparent Yellow Splatter Paint
- Custom Labels & Back Cover
- 180 Gram
- Pressing takes about 6-8 weeks
- Comes with custom 3boobs "Melting Stu" painting (original is now owned by Stu)
A Auzzie website fan edition Pozible pressed by Zenith records - limited to Auzzie customers only:
The Loyalty edition - 'Split Red and Blue with White splatter'
https://pozible.com/project/polygondwanaland-vinyl-press-aus
Plus a standard vinyl and CD offering from Season Of Mist:
Stolenbody records (3 coloured vinyl versions) -
Ogre green with Blue, yellow, red and black Splatter - 250 (Sold Out)
Tri Color (Transparent Red, Mellow Yellow (Opaque) and Blue Monday (Opaque) - 250 (Sold Out)
Crumbling Castle Edition - Frosted Clear With Castle Grey And Blood Red - 250
Greenway records (1 coloured vinyl - & test pressing (sold out) -
Red / Blue Split / Splatter - (Pressed based on orders - ends in a week's time)
Test Pressing - ??? (Sold Out)
If you can't dig me, you can't dig nothin' Member since Nov 2013 2282 Points
Billy Two the prices you mention are eye watering but these really only reflect the band's early Australian very limited releases (500-1000 copies) on the Flightless label. From the fourth album on either Castle Face or ATO in the USA and the Heavenly label in the UK have been releasing their albums as well and these can still be had for regular price or thereabouts.
Once again though, the Australian Flightless releases are still the rarest and best. Why? Basically, it's down to this the Flightless limited pressings are just that, limited and not repressed at all and they are usually all sold before the album comes out. These pressings are high quality vinyl and usually laden with gimmicks such as heavy card sleeves, up to 5 different types of coloured vinyl (200-300 of each) for the same album and so on. The USA and UK releases may be limited runs but if they sell out the licencee labels seem to just knock out a different version of the album. Usually with different colour vinyl or some other minor variation and therefore the price of these remains at what you would consider normal retail price. So, I'd say the prices represent rarity rather than popularity. Similar to incidences when an Indie act is picked up by a major label and the major re-releases their back catalogue.
Now to the matter at hand here how do we list this kind of release? Do we have a single entry like Discogs has or list each of the myriad of releases separately? I'm in favour of following Discog's lead on this but it could lead to creating a very messy entry. Alternately, if we list them as separate entries we could end up with 100's of entries for the same album. Either way these types of releases will be hard to manage. What do the MODS think we should do about this kind of release?
By the way Billy Two, thanks for all the information you have supplied to this thread.
Matthew 7:7 Member since Nov 2008 3211 Points Moderator
I would still be of the opinion that 18k "likes" in a couple of days on a fb post, and a few hundred (at least) people clamouring to release your LP worldwide, suggests a certain popularity. It's not U2 maybe, but it's hardly Kashmir Twist.*
But their supposed popularity or lack of isn't why I started this thread - it was to do with the multitudinous numbers of expected entries (as seen on the list given so far). These will all mainly be exactly the same LP, sanctioned by the band, and theoretically as "official" as anything Flightless or Heavenly release. Sooooo...ought to be linked.
My guess is the Discogs listing will reach 100 within a week. 45Worlds works a little more slowly. But they're comin'...
Right, I'm off to download the files and create some variations of my own !
If you can't dig me, you can't dig nothin' Member since Nov 2013 2282 Points
I expect a few releases may appear from Wrecker's Wreckords or something similar. I might just do CD versions though as that will be much easier than getting LPs pressed. There is only one (expensive but good) LP pressing plant still going in Australia at the moment so most modern vinyl releases here are actually pressed in the EU and the local artwork is added when the albums are shipped over. It will be interesting to see how it all pans out.
Lend me ten pounds and I'll buy you a drink. Member since Feb 2012 7198 Points Moderator
Billy Two wrote:
The big difference about the KLGW stunt is that they are actively trying to get people to set up record labels to sell the album, with no copyright or royalties attached, rather than it being the act of just letting people have it for free (which bands worldwide do thousands of times each day).
They're releasing the files in three different formats - digital download, cd mastered and (importantly) vinyl mastered formats, so as anyone can take those files and get them pressed up to the highest standard possible.
This is from a band who already have numerous highly collectable releases behind them, so as could be imagined there's been an almighty scramble from literally hundreds of would-be entrepreneurs trying to scramble onboard this seemingly no-catch gravy train.
The really interesting thing though is how it's going to pan out over the next 6 months - whether there'll be a big enough body of collectors who want as many variations as possible to keep the market flowing and mutating, OR if it results in total overload and devaluation of the album (which could even have the unintended consequence of putting some labels out of business due to over investment and unsold over stock !).
Either way, it's already been a huge success story for the band in terms of publicity. As an act that's able to release four albums a year, they can probably happily forgo the royalties on this one LP in exchange for the huge amount of product that'll flood the market and the exposure that will follow.
Full album has been uploaded to YouTube: (Inserted as a link, because the YouTube option doesn't seem to be working at the moment, admins/mods).
I only got halfway through the first track before deciding that this is Not My Cup Of Tea. Besides, I am three years retired, and don't need to be arsing about (nor particularly have the readies for) organising disc duplication, insert printing, trademark registration, business name and/or company name registration, and all the other expenses required to set up a record label, especially for music that I have no enthusiasm for. Good luck to anyone considering doing this, though!