Do you still actively purchase score releases?

[Quintus 5,391]

I used to love jumping on the train to Liverpool (although I'm originally from Merseyside I actually live in an old market town in Lancashire) and spending about an hour in HMV browsing the expansive film music section. I eventually amassed all my favourite scores from my childhood and some new ones too. I think Gladiator was possibly the last album I purchased from there.

Then I got online.

I (shamefully perhaps) haven't paid for a cd since. Actually that's a lie, I remember buying the first Harry Potter album from a local music shop, but after that, Limewire.

I used to purchase many scores simply because I liked and wanted the main theme, or a particular theme in the movie. Only the greatest of scores would be listened to from start to finish (usually JW stuff funnily enough), which was rare in my case. An example of this would be John Barry. I love his themes, but his underscore can be... boring.

Now I just download the themes and cues I want and be done with it. Instant satisfaction, but I'll always remember and miss those trips on the train to HMV. I haven't purchased a piece of music for more than three years.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,251]

The number of MP3's or AAC files I bought can be counted on less then one hand.

I still buy CD's, though most of them are purchased online these days.

[crocodile 6,294]

Three years?

I bought my latest CD last week. And I think that was a long time ago...

Karol.

[Quintus 5,391]

The last time I planned on purchasing a score was the complete LOTR:FOTR release. I really was intending to order that, but then it got released onto my favourite torrent site and that was that.

[crocodile 6,294]

Pervert!

Karol

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,251]

The last time I planned on purchasing a score was the complete LOTR:FOTR release. I really was intending to order that, but then it got released onto my favourite torrent site and that was that.

You settled for less then perfect.

I pity you.

[Quintus 5,391]

You're right. I'm low life scum.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,251]

You scouse bum!

[Quintus 5,391]

Hey I just realised I have all three of the LOTR osts sat on my cd shelf, so that means ROTK was the last score I paid for!

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,251]

Does that make you feel proud?

You parasite!

[Quintus 5,391]

I am sorry.

[MrScratch 292]

I still buy CDs, I will buy CDs until they stop making them. I've only downloaded one album and that's Silva's Indiana Jones Trilogy rerecording about a month ago. At the time, the CD was unavailable and the album only for sale as a download. Now its being rereleased with a new cover, had I known I might have waited. Also, because I have other Silva CDs I already had much of the album anyway. I do buy CDs online now and rarely purchase from brick and mortar, KOTCS was preordered weeks ago from amazon, you can't beat $9.99.

[Quintus 5,391]

Yes, the score to Indy IV will certainly be acquired legitimately by me.

Having said that, if it's leaked online before the release date, I'll of course be downloading it. But that won't stop me buying it, since I want the nice shiny case and artwork.

Oh and because John Williams is more than welcome to my money.

[pixie_twinkle 44]

I buy CDs all the time. I love the Exchange. I buy between 2 and 5 CDs a week on average. Having said that I found a new Exchange 2 weeks ago. No one had looked in the dollar bin for months and so I was able to buy over 40 excellent classical CDs for a dollar each.

I only download music from i-tunes if I can't find it on CD. To be honest i-tunes store has such a lousy selection it's very rarely worth the visit. They have nothing by the Beatles, or the BeeGees. I mean come on!

[Neimoidian 13]

I buy much less scores than I would like. Generally one or two at most per month, which isn't much. It makes me way behind especially with the new releases since I'm quite hesitant when it comes to buying something which I am not sure I will enjoy for long. My latest purchases were "The Ultimate James Bond Collection" and "The Perfume". Now I am finally attempting to buy McNeely's "Shadows of the Empire".

[Ray Barnsbury 8]

Not extremely frequently, but yes.

[King Mark 2,924]

I used to hunt at c.d. stores up untill 1999 for my all times favourites ( Williams,Goldsmith,Horner,Barry...)

Up untill 1999 my way to get "promos" (Poseidon Advenure,1941 ) was through mail exchange with specialised dealers .I remember this Mr.L Film Scores,an address I found in the classifieds of a geek movie magazine .

After that I completed my Williams collection with the help of MB members like Crushercommix.

In the past 4 years I have basically bought only the Williams releases and a few non Williams Intrada or Varese like Baby.

but my collection has greatly expanded due to to National Library which has thousands of film scores to borrow,and unmentionnable websites (my favourite one was shut down recently) .I never use Bit Torrent or programs like Limewire and Kazaa.

[Ollie 859]

Gone are the glory days of actually going out and bringing 10 CDs up to the checkout counter.

Outside of a major release that I really want and will be available in stores (Indiana Jones) I do all my CD purchasing on line.

[Richard Penna 2,082]

I only buy the CD for really, really important stuff (LotR, KotCS).

Simple reason is, the price of CDs is still artificially high, I don't physically use them after I rip them - I just bypass all that. I've legally purchased 8 albums digitally, I own about 67-70 CDs, and the rest is obtained from newsgroups or soulseek (and obviously there isn't much of an option with boots).

I mean I was in HMV today, and saw many soundtrack CDs going for £15-16, that's around the $25-30 region. That's too much, especially considering the DVD usually costs less.

[QMM 4]

I prefer to buy CDs and do so when I can. I legally download less so, usually if it's an exclusive, and I go the other route as a last resort.

[Richard Penna 2,082]

Hey I just realised I have all three of the LOTR osts sat on my cd shelf, so that means ROTK was the last score I paid for!

So apart from LotR, you haven't paid for a piece of music in 3 years?

Honestly, I can't blame you. The music industry doesn't provide a lot of incentive.

[Trent B 317]

I recently purchased Stargate: The Ark Of Truth on CD and it's been shipped to me. If there's something that interests me then ya I'll probably order it.

[Quintus 5,391]

Hey I just realised I have all three of the LOTR osts sat on my cd shelf, so that means ROTK was the last score I paid for!

So apart from LotR, you haven't paid for a piece of music in 3 years?

Honestly, I can't blame you. The music industry doesn't provide a lot of incentive.

I cannot think of one piece of music I've paid for since LotR. I don't object to purchasing cd's or anything like that, but for me to want own an original album it has to be something I really love. Indy IV is by John Williams and it could quite possibly turn out to be the maestro's last great score. I'll gladly hand over the cash to find out if it is.

War of The Worlds, Memoirs Of Geisha and Angela's Ashes are also by JW, but I wouldn't go out and buy them, because they would collect dust. Instead I just download the tracks which catch my ear, illegally.

Why bother with itunes when there are other, just as simple ways of acquiring a track for free?

[Trent B 317]

Oh ya, I did also preorder Iron Man's score...but other than that I haven't really ordered much the last year or so.

[MrScratch 292]

Outside of a major release that I really want and will be available in stores (Indiana Jones) I do all my CD purchasing on line.

I felt the same way until Prisoner of Azkaban was released. I thought surely, a Harry Potter soundtrack should be everywhere on the day of its release. First I went to Best Buy, they didn't have it. Then I went to Target, they didn't have it. I called a second Target store nearby to ask if they had it. After a frustrating conversation (the girl I talked to was barely able to discern the difference between POA and COS) I told her to hold it for me until I got there. Never again, everything is ordered online now - no more wild goose chases. The only time I buy CDs from stores is when I'm out and about browsing not looking for anything in particular and something catches my eye.

I was never into illegal downloads. If it's worth owning, its worth paying for.

[Trent B 317]

Good idea Mr. Scratch about ordering online. That's what I do with all my purchases now is order from online. I don't go to a CD store any more. I don't mind paying the shipping when you order online, I just hate going to CD stores these days.. too many people in most of them. Generally too CD stores end up having hire prices for CD's than online.

[indy4 152]

I don't listen to illegal music, even if it's unreleased.

I do purchase most of my CDs from Amazon, a few from eBay, and a lot from the Used section of this great CD store.

[Quintus 5,391]

I was never into illegal downloads. If it's worth owning, its worth paying for.

But what if someone only likes just one of the tracks on the album? Do they fork out 15 quid for the cd? No, Limewire is the far more affordable option here.

iTunes is an option of course, but you don't have anything you can hold in your hand for the money you pay, same as Limewire.

[King Mark 2,924]

so,if I handed you a link to the complete ToD you wouldn't listen to it?

[Quintus 5,391]

Of course he would!

[King Mark 2,924]

My first and only consideration when I aquire a holy grail piece of unreleased music is wether a studio is earning it's due share of the royalties.I'd never listen to an illegal MP3 of a Sfx free Underground Chaos knowing that Lucasfilm is not getting any money from it.

I'd also never download an OOP album illegally if I could buy legally on ebay at many times the retail price.

[MrScratch 292]

so,if I handed you a link to the complete ToD you wouldn't listen to it?

I said I was never into it, I didn't say I never did it. Of course I would download unreleased scores like TOD and the Star Wars prequels - pretty much any unreleased Williams. In fact, I just recently downloaded your ROTS expanded which is really great. I'd also be the first in line to buy these things if they ever get released. I guarantee you if I own it illegally it would be something I would pay for a legit release of. I would never download something illegally I could easily get on a legit release. My CD collection is HUGE, my bootleg collection includes: Last Crusade, ROTS, BTTF, Sugarland Express and that's it. And all three besides Sugarland have soundtracks that I bought legit copies of and I'd sure as hell buy Sugarland if it ever gets released. In the past I had boots of lots of stuff that eventually got released and I paid for them as soon as they came out. If a boot is the only option, then its ok with me. But being cheap and obtaining an illegal copy for free when a perfectly legit release is out there is what I'm talking about.

[Quintus 5,391]

I don't think downloading a three minute cue from Aliens for free makes me cheap.

In fact I'd say it makes me smart.

Stealing from your own mother, that's cheap. Downloading an mp3 is not.

[John Crichton 4]

I do as good as my money will allow me. And anything I've obtained by...less than legitimate means have almost always been through trades or friends here generous enough to share. I don't touch file sharing programs.

[MrScratch 292]

I don't think downloading a three minute cue from Aliens for free makes me cheap.

Let's just say then that the more you do it the cheaper you are.

[Ollie 859]

If it's been issued on CD legally and I want it, I have it, with the exception of 3 scores.

That would be the Black Cauldron, Spacecamp and The Accidental Tourist. And yes there are some un-mentionables that I have but not from files sharing sites. Only through trades.

[Quintus 5,391]

I don't think downloading a three minute cue from Aliens for free makes me cheap.

Let's just say then that the more you do it the cheaper you are.

Oh I've done it loads over the years, not so much recently though since I have acquired pretty much everything I was after and also because there's been nothing worth having for a good while now.

I have the money to buy cd's, plenty of it in fact, but downloading the odd cue or track straight to my pc is a lot quicker than waiting for the parcel to be delivered. Especially when I only ordered the thing for that one cue I like.

Like I mentioned above, I WILL purchase music if I adore it, but funnily enough, since I got online there hasn't been anything released which meets that criteria. I'm hoping Indy IV will fit the bill, so I can hand over the cash to the man who wrote it.

I ain't cheap, I just believe in value for money.

[Henry B 49]

You're like those people that don't vote because they figure one vote doesn't make any difference.

[Quintus 5,391]

Nope, that ain't me. How presumptuous of you.

[Melange 446]

Do you still actively purchase score releases?

I don't download CD's, and have always purchased originals when it comes to actual in print releases. Apart from brand new releases, I've in the last few years bought them second hand from Amazon Marketplace though. Bourne Ultimatum was the last one I bought, I think. This way, the money only went to the creator once with the first sale of the CD, I suppose.

But at least some money has gone to them at some stage. If a CD is second hand, in good condition, and a good price, then I'll buy it that way as I do with most books rather than pay a lot more just for the glossy wrapping and jewel case devoid of fingerprints. When it comes to unrelease scores, alternative cues, long out of print scores though, if I see them shared on a Blog or something I'll download it. Why not? It's not been released and in many cases never will be. Of course, those crooks who try to make a fortune out of burning this stuff to CD, making it look like some kind of official small time release and then sell them on Ebay or something, are never very happy about these blogs who share unreleased or out of print soundtracks.

[Richard Penna 2,082]

I agree completely that those burning these things to CD and putting them on ebay is completely wrong.

However, there's a difference between privately profiting from someone else's hard work, and privately enjoying that work. If the studios refuse to provide us with any way of remunerating them for leaked music, why should it stop us enjoying it? They're not being deprived of revenue because they decided themselves that it wasn't a revenue stream they were going to open.

[Trent B 317]

I'll never buy a complete score that won't ever get a legit release, I'll download it. I don't have any guilt about downloading a complete score. As long as I own the original release it doesnt' bother me.

Grant complete scores that have gotten a legit release if it's one I want I'll buy it.

[mahler3 353]

Now and again but primarily the Intrada, FSM or Varese releases and occasionally an interesting European score from Rombi, Franklin or Talgorn of which there are some very good ones!

[Koray Savas 2,095]

I hate downloading music. Why would I buy something from iTunes when I can have the physical CD in my hand to prove that I purchased it legally? About 99% of my CD's come from Amazon, about 1% from eBay. Buying in stores is just stupid and expensive, and doing online downloads is stupid because if you lose the files you're screwed.

I'll buy from iTunes if the score is an exclusive, such as a lot of the Medal Of Honor scores.

[King Mark 2,924]

I'd bever buy digital files if the c.d. is available and it's something I want to purchase.

And Apple with their files that are good for a "maximum of 5 computer" can go screw themselves .I'll never buy anything from itunes

[Koray Savas 2,095]

It's not that hard to just rip the files to a CD-R, and then you can put the score on any amount of computers you want.

[GoldsmithFanatic2000+ 0]

Well, I can say that apart from a few well known pals of mine on here... I own more scores on CD/Cassette/Vinyl than most other members here combined.

So my answer is yes.

I honestly haven't ever seen the point in buying a digital album. Your hard drive packs in? It's gone, because buying digital albums is a form of convenience/laziness so these same people will hardly think to back anything up and an iPod is hardly a reliable alternative. iTunes Store is utterly useless, especially here in the UK. Even if I did want to purchase material on it, their music library is pitiful. The only stuff they ever have is the overpopularised commercial dreck that I have no interest in.

It's just unfortunate that some scores are only released digitally because they never seem to come to the UK iTunes Store and even if they did you have to politic around finding ways to make sure it stays available to you.

That's the only occasion I see a digital release as having actual benefit.

[Melange 446]

I own more scores on CD/Cassette/Vinyl than most other members here combined.

Because most us need money for rice, bread, and water

[MrScratch 292]

The only stuff they ever have is the overpopularised commercial dreck that I have no interest in.

Exactly, that's the iTunes crowd in a nutshell

It's not that hard to just rip the files to a CD-R, and then you can put the score on any amount of computers you want.

...which defeats the purpose of downloading MP3s to begin with. If you are going to go to all that trouble wouldn't you just rather have the CD to begin with.

I agree completely that those burning these things to CD and putting them on ebay is completely wrong.

However, there's a difference between privately profiting from someone else's hard work, and privately enjoying that work. If the studios refuse to provide us with any way of remunerating them for leaked music, why should it stop us enjoying it? They're not being deprived of revenue because they decided themselves that it wasn't a revenue stream they were going to open.

Well said.

If the studio doesn't consider it a sufficient source of revenue then what's the harm in the music being passed around for free by people who will buy it anyway if it ever does get released?

I have bought bootlegs in the past, years ago, but I stopped doing that a long time ago. I'll download from somebody who likes the music as much as I do, like KM and ROTS, somebody who isn't trying to profit from it but who just likes the music and wants it to be heard.

You're like those people that don't vote because they figure one vote doesn't make any difference.

Funny you say that, because I don't vote. I'm not sure where you're from, but the voting system here in the US is crooked. If I vote for party A and party B wins my state, then my vote will not help the party A candidate. Presidents have lost the popular vote but won the election, sorry but I'm not participating in that scam. By the way, this isn't political which is why I said party A and B. This has to do with basic math and the voting process, not politics.

[Bryant Burnette 451]

This is an interesting topic.

I definitely still buy CDs, but I can't afford to buy as many as I'd like. Naturally, I buy every John Williams score, but apart from that, I tend to buy sporadically.

As for buying ditially, it's something I have done, but don't do often. I think the last things I purchased digitally was the iTunes thing from Memoirs of a Geisha.

"Illegal" downloading . . . I've not really gotten into that too much, but that may be primarily because I just don't use the internet enough to go searching for things. I've got at least some morals, so I wouldn't illegally download stuff that was readily available commerically. For example, I once owned every CD by The Beatles (amongst others); now I don't, because I had some money problems at one point and had to sell the vast majority of my collection. I'd love to have all of The Beatles again, but I wouldn't "steal" them online; it just wouldn't seem right. Artists deserve to make money off of me. All that said, I might indulge in some limited such downloading if I were making a compilation, or sampling somebody's work to see whether I liked them or not. I'm a little inconsistent in my morals, it must be admitted.

On the topic of things that are out of print or never got released in the first place, it's fair game, in my book. Most things in that category -- Elmer Bernstein's score to The Black Cauldron, for example, or the complete Hook, or the complete Star Trek: Insurrection -- are things that I would definitely buy legally if I were given the option. So I wouldn't feel bad, since whoever it is that holds those rights would still be able to earn money from me at some point in time. I'm not sure that's a solid rationalization, but that's my story and I'm sticking to it.