...just wanted to take a poll of this - when you hear of a good song or new song or new good song, do you Google the artist's name and go to their site, and are the MP3's always available?
...and, most importantly - do they COST LESS than on iTunes or whatever 3rd party service??

Most artists that I'm aware of don't sell the actual music on their own site. They have a link to itunes or amazon.

Suppose you want a physical cd, that would be a lot of work and expense for the artist to mail out the cd's to all their fans. So I think it's easier for them to use a third party supplier.

Depends on the artist and what they offer. Acts like Pearl Jam. Bruce Springsteen, etc. sell live concert downloads and CDs. Those I buy.

EmmaMcG said:

If the option was available, and for most artists, it's not, but if it was then I would rather buy music directly from the artist that go through the likes of iTunes or any other store. That way, you know that the artist in question is being properly paid for their work. Especially if they're selling through Bandcamp.

I buy music through Bandcamp for artists who don't sell it any other way.

Only if the music isn't available officially elsewhere. I've done so for Springsteen, TTD/Sananda, Barenaked Ladies and Barry Gibb before.

[Edited 6/4/17 10:28am]

I prefer buying music through direct-to-consumer platforms when the option is available; artists generally do not see much revenue from iTunes sales.

I buy anything Van Hunt put outs from his website.

I try to, but it depends on the artist. I did buy directly from fDeluxe, Dr. Fink, Wendy & Lisa, St. Paul. I've bought from Prince's sites in the past, and actually got my orders.

If they're way overpriced compared to another retail outlet, I'm going with the lower price. The OfficialPrinceMusic.com page is a good example of the artist site being too high.

It seems to be more available with older artists who GET that you do not need that middle man a chart to do it now, it seems with younger artists its a youtube link and they are attached to labels and itunes etc

i've bought radiohead and nine inch nails direct from their sites,
plus some more obscure acts like chad vangaalen and windmill.

EmmaMcG said:

If the option was available, and for most artists, it's not, but if it was then I would rather buy music directly from the artist that go through the likes of iTunes or any other store. That way, you know that the artist in question is being properly paid for their work. Especially if they're selling through Bandcamp.

I'm not African-American or anything, but.....iight! You a COOL little chick! And most of the rest of you guys too, from the above comments - please keep it up and going forward - ie. buy from the artist's own site WHENEVER you can.

TrivialPursuit said:

If they're way overpriced compared to another retail outlet, I'm going with the lower price.

Could somebody please explain this to me? Surely, if you buy direct from the artist's own site, it'll be the cheapest ANYWHERE, cause it's cutting out all possible middlemen??!!

lastdecember said:

It seems to be more available with older artists who GET that you do not need that middle man a chart to do it now, it seems with younger artists its a youtube link and they are attached to labels and itunes etc

Eh??? Surely it should be the other way round??? It's the millenial-types who are net-first???

If the vinyl release is not available in my local record store (record store owners have to eat too) then I make an effort to purchase directly from the artist's website or bandcamp page. If it's a digital only release then I definitely will look for those sites first since often digital files are offered there at a higher quality that what's sold on iTunes and definitely Amazon.

sexton said:

If the vinyl release is not available in my local record store (record store owners have to eat too) then I make an effort to purchase directly from the artist's website or bandcamp page. If it's a digital only release then I definitely will look for those sites first since often digital files are offered there at a higher quality that what's sold on iTunes and definitely Amazon.

That's a good strategy. I have drifted away from my local record stores due to delays in stocking the releases I want but I should be more patient and go back to that.

I'll check the artist's website as well.