How Important Is a Studio Album?

[BeagleFaceHenry]

In this day and age, is the studio album what it once was?

My band has been together for 8 years. We have over 40 fairly-awesome, original tunes. We have our own "recording studio", nothing fancy but definitely effective. We play out, but due to our schedules, etc. we don't play out often, maybe 2-3 times a year at small venues.
As a band, we're substantial, but our resume is weak.

Personally, I feel like only the lucky few get to make an album. Making an album immortalizes you.
The other 3 guys don't want to put in the time to make an awesome album. They'd rather focus our attention on developing new tunes, etc.

We were on the verge. We started out to record 24 tunes and make 2 studio albums. But they bailed. The project was "too daunting". I'm devastated. I wanted an album.

Am I being too emotional? Are they being too shortsighted? Does an album matter as much as I feel like it does? Is this the age of the "single"? Should I lighten up?
What are your thoughts?

[Chili]

If you're a band playing originals, you need something to sell at your gigs. You want your audience leaving the venue with your songs still on their mind. A CD, download site, USB drive, etc, will keep your music going after the show is over. I do not know what the norm is but I say at least 5 songs.

As for full length albums, they are fun to do and something to be proud of, but few listeners are buying full length albums. Streaming and downloads are where it's at.

[BeagleFaceHenry]

That helped, Chili, thank you.
I'm getting more comfortable with the idea of releasing singles for download, but I'm confused as to how you finish the product. An album has cover art, liner notes, packaging, etc. How do you package a single? Is cover art a thing anymore? Where do you put credits and lyrics?

[mjbphotos]

I agree with Chili, HOWEVER ... if you guys are only playing out 2-3 times a year ... well, maybe its time to start a side project and record your own stuff.

[miroslav]

I get the whole streaming singles thing...and that should certainly one option for fans...
...but there's no reason not to also churn out a studio album.

Sure, if you are going to make a CD, it's going to cost some, especially if you go for the full-tilt CD case with sleeves, etc, and you would usually get like the 1000 CD pressed & printed for the best pricing...though you can also opt for the "on-the-cheap, and use those "make-your-own" online options where you can get as few or as many, but it's just a typical CD burner copy and the printing is not like a commercial quality job.

While I do agree that everyone is into the single download thing...if you have a decent fan base, they might very well like the option of buying as physical CD at your gigs. You can still sell singles and even the full album in electronic format too, online.

I think for a home rec musician, the physical CD route is dead...but if you are regularly performing, there's still something about the physical CD appeal...something your fans get to take away from a gig, rather then be given a link to a website to download.
AFAIK...most cars still have CD players...

[RFR]

So what if streaming and downloads are the current state of affairs.....

An album is an accomplishment akin to a writer having an actual book. Everyone can be a 'blogger', thats writing.
But you publish a book, that ends up in a coffee table, bedside table, etc, that makes you legit.

Same thing with music


There's just something rewarding about something physical that has your name on it.

I'd say go for it. Even better, do vinyl also.

One question however.(or a couple) You only gig 2 or 3 times a year because of time? How often do you rehearse? How can you be a good solid band if you're not constantly doing your craft??

[DM60]

I agree with everyone that is is a "singles" market. But me, I have to do albums, I like the whole concept of a set of ideas/music wrapped into a package. Guess I am just too old school, but I think many artists think that way.

Even if you only get one play from the release, they could come back for more.

[gecko zzed]

Whether a CD is important or not depends on the perspective of the musicians. Personally, I think it is important; it is something that you can hold in your hand and say "I did this". It is something to be proud of, and a record of achievement.

However, I do know of people who are simply not interested in recording. They enjoying playing, they are good at their craft, but the idea of recording their material barely skims their consciousness.

[Battlegun]

I agree with the others in saying that having both options, a physical CD as well as online streaming, is important to appease both sides of the spectrum. We are no longer in the era where vinyls and CDs were the only way to play your music, so a band today must adapt online if they want to survive. Still, having something physical can win over a few more fans.

[keith.rogers]

Most of the folks I know doing CDs, or at least as common, EPs, have two concrete reasons, and they are to have some "merch" to sell at gigs, and to open some doors at venues that may have that as a kind of "check-box" on the list of things they want the acts they book to have. The latter is getting a little fuzzier with more and more folks accepting streaming as the main form for music distribution, but, still, the folks running the clubs may have some dated views, and it's their venue. (If you don't have a physical CD, a presence on iTunes, Spotify, et al, is still a good thing.)

Of course, there's often some internal motivation that doesn't have any consequence other than "it feels good" I suppose, but I probably wouldn't make that a driver if you're trying to get other folks on board since they don't seem to share that view so much.

Since you don't have a lot of gigs, having "merch" is probably not going to make a big impact, or possibly even pay for the cost of recording, so I'd really consider a lower bar, like a 6-10 song EP or single CD, depending on the length of your material, or, just streaming/download options of "finished" songs.

And, realistically, I think a half dozen songs is plenty, and then do another in a year, but consider getting some studio or live videos for promotion to get more gigs. Whether you/any of us like it or not, "social media engagement" is all about having video, or at least where it starts these days. (I don't think you can get most folks to listen to your music if you don't have a video first. And keep that video short, BTW.)