Double dipping on CDs due to retailer-specific exclusive tracks?! - Page 2

Dick · 09-28-2006, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnthonyC

I absolutely hate the concept of exclusives, and this is one of the worst.

Probably the worst recent example would be Paul McCartney's Chaos and Creation in the Backyard. If you bought the album at Target, Best Buy, or Circuit City, you would get an exclusive download. Not a big deal, except that each store has a different song. The BB and CC ones can be bought on import singles, but the Target one is the Japan-only bonus track that costs $50 at Amazon.

I got the BB one and I'm pretty pissed...what's worst is that I bought the deluxe version which should theoretically include all the songs, but it doesn't.

This is why file sharing is so damn popular. CD companies are, I think, shooting themselves squarely in the feet in the long run...

Mike Frezon · 09-28-2006, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EricSchulz

Mike,
I agree...this was a "blind buy" for me...unanimously excellent reviews, paired with many of my favorite "contemporary" artists and a nice song selection made it a "must buy", but the Target tracks made it even better.

...but it IS a shame that the "average" consumer is missing out on the extra songs.

And, since my last post I've watched the bonus DVD featurette and it is pretty nicely done. I would like to have seen more (guess I'll have to tune in to that TV special in November). I wouldn't be surprised if a full-blown DVD release will also be forthcoming. Looks like they filmed most of the recording sessions.

Although a big fan of Sinatra's, I absolutely hated the execution of his Duets CDs. AFAIK, not a single one of those duets was recorded with the two artists in the room together...and it showed. These are very nicely done and produced. Am I thrilled with each track? No. I don't think anyone can be with this type of compilation. But there are enough terrific tracks to make it well worthwhile.

Mike Frezon · 10-10-2006, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Frezon

When I saw Diana Krall has a new CD releasing 9-19, I knew I had to look and see if any of the major retailers was issuing an exclusive track...and lo & behold, Target has one!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Frezon

Life would be easier if the entire practice just went away in the first place. I won't double dip again if I now find out I missed an "exclusive" track on a title. I won't give the artist/company the pleasure/$$$.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Frezon

I don't doubt for one second that the extra cuts are worth it, Philip. But isn't is still aggravating-to-the-max that all those songs from T-Bone could've been on ALL those releases...leaving you with just one purchase to make.

That's how I feel about Diana Krall. When I found out that some of her previous albums had bonus tracks, I went nuts and jumped through hoops to secure those tracks. I've also double-dipped because of the dual-disc releases....AND because of DVD-A releases, too!

Different formats are one thing, though. But exclusive bonus tracks are another altogether. Bad news.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kamyiu

And they wonder why people download music...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tarkin The Ewok

I don't mind the retailer-exclusive practice too much if the bonus content is limited to one retailer. It's when different retailers have different exclusives that I start getting angry. For example, Rascal Flatts' Me and My Gang had different sets of live tracks on the Best Buy, Target, and Walmart versions. Personally, I only bought the one that had the best bonus songs, but I'm sure that there are collectors that bought three versions so they could have everything. That is gouging the fans, plain and simple, and I hate that.

Wow. Here I am...thinking I'm a smart, informed consumer...and that I am way ahead of the game knowing that when the new Diana Krall CD was released on 9-19 I should purchase it at Target because they were going to have a bonus track of "My Shining Hour". For the past three weeks, I have been enjoying that CD like it's nobody's business.

And then....I'm in Best Buy last night...killing time while wife and daughter are doing some mall shopping. I wander down their main aisle with a short wall of new CD releases. I see the Krall CD with stickers that scream "BEST BUY EXCLUSIVE!". Yup. Best Buy has it's own bonus track: "Something's Gotta Give."

I am now pissed!

What are my options?

1.) Buy Best Buy disc...making for a $30 (approx) CD purchase?

2.) Don't buy the BB disc...meaning I don't have the full Krall canon.

Either way, I am left

This just sucks SO much.

One thing I'm sure of, I WILL be sending off a dispatch to Verve letting them know my displeasure on this issue...for all the good it will do. I should probably find some way to send one to Krall.

Mike Frezon · 10-10-2006, 11:17 AM

The following has just left my e-mail box:

Quote:

To: Verve Records
CC: Diana Krall c/o Macklam/Feldman Mgt.
Diana Krall Fan Club
Date: 10 October 2006

Diana Krall is one of my favorite recording artists.

I recently purchased her CD "From This Moment On" at Target...aware that I was fortunate to be getting a CD containing the bonus track of "My Shining Hour". I considered myself a smart shopper that I was aware of the Target exclusive track and was rewarded with full access to the Krall canon of music.

Imagine my displeasure when browsing through my local Best Buy store last night and discovered that Best Buy has its own exclusive track on the Krall CD, "Something's Gotta Give".

I do NOT understand how this practice of awarding EXCLUSIVE tracks to retailers is in the best interests of the fans or artist.

I am now left angry that I have to:

1.) Buy the "same" CD twice to secure the two separate exclusive tracks of my favorite artist. Or,
2.) NOT buy the Best Buy disc and not have access to the entire Krall canon of music.

How does this situation work to my best advantage as a fan?

It leaves me angry with the record company who manufactured this situation and extremely disappointed with the artist that she is compromising her musical integrity to engage in a marketing practice that disappoints her fans and leaves part of her music catalog unavailable to those who support her music through the purchase of her CDs and DVDs.

Would you please explain to me how I should access the right to listen to Diana Krall's track of "Something's Gotta Give"?

Thank you.

Mike Frezon

AnthonyC · 10-10-2006, 04:20 PM

Great email, Mike. I've said this in regards to DVD bonus discs; I've always disliked them but it's downright disrespectful for companies to allow different bonus content at different stores. And one of these days, it's going to backfire and people will just figure, eh, someone will put it up on YouTube, or I can go download the bonus track somewhere. (FWIW, I feel the same way regarding import CDs that contain extra tracks for certain markets; I realize that some in some countries imports tend to cost less and they want to add an incentive for their edition but it's still a bitch if you don't live there...but at least it's somewhat understandable).

Beck's new CD has different exclusive downloads at Best Buy and Target; I purchased the CD once and sorry, but I don't really see anything wrong with downloading the Target bonus track that I didn't get since there was no reason it couldn't have been included on the album itself or as a b-side on a single. I'd rather pay 99 cents at iTunes for a song than have to go through the trouble of deciding which "free" download I"d prefer.

Tarkin The Ewok · 10-14-2006, 12:55 PM

More news on the retailer-exclusive front: Keith Urban's Love, Pain, and the whole crazy thing will have a bonus track if you preorder it from iTunes. Who wants to bet that it won't ever show up on an official physical version of the CD?

Mike Frezon · 10-18-2006, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Frezon

The following has just left my e-mail box:

And more than a week later...not a single response from any of the three organizations to whom it was sent. Not even an auomated reply or form letter.

I thought, at least, Diana would have sent me a card....

Malcolm R · 10-20-2006, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Frezon

And then....I'm in Best Buy last night...killing time while wife and daughter are doing some mall shopping. I wander down their main aisle with a short wall of new CD releases. I see the Krall CD with stickers that scream "BEST BUY EXCLUSIVE!". Yup. Best Buy has it's own bonus track: "Something's Gotta Give."

Your life would be much more peaceful if you'd just stay away from Best Buy.

Mike Frezon · 10-20-2006, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malcolm R

Your life would be much more peaceful if you'd just stay away from Best Buy.

Darren Haycock · 10-24-2006, 02:28 PM

For iTunes fans, they've got a video exclusive for those who pre-order the new Tenacious D album (I guess it's more like the soundtrack to Pick of Destiny). You get to see the first half of the video for free, and it cracked me up. I gave in, guess I'm a sucker, oh well. As a rule though, I'm not a fan of different music exclusives either...