Things are looking up in the music industry.
Cumulative album sales in the United States increased by more than 4% through August. catalog album sales were up while new releases were down. The 4 percent decline in physical album sales was less than the 19 percent decline in the same period last year.
The recent proliferation of box sets is one factor that contributes to this growth.
Some box sets in the late ’80s consisted of multi-CD packages combining the artist’s best-known recordings with a selection of previously undiscovered tracks. Many box sets are much more elaborate today. The most involved packages are designed to appeal to the artist’s most dedicated fans. Box sets are more than just retrospectives. Many of them are dedicated to the same album. A box set for Pink Floyd’s seminal album Dark Side of the Moon was released in September. A replica backstage pass and tour ticket from the Dark Side of the Moon tour are included in the collection.
The box set for Pink Floyd’s 1975 album Wish You Were Here was released in November, and a set based on 1979’s The Wall is due for release in February. The Pink Floyd “Discovery” box set was released in September and features the band’s original 14 studio albums. The Promise: The Darkness On The Edge of Town Story was released in 2010. A concert DVD from his 1978 tour, a 90-minute documentary on the album, and a DVD performance of the entire album are included in the set. With digital sales continuing to rise, the influx of deluxe box sets might seem to be a last gasp attempt by record labels to exploit the connection older music fans have with physical products. The decline of brick-and-mortar retail outlets for recorded music and the growth of internet sales and marketing have allowed labels to invest in the creation of box sets.
A way to let consumers know about our packages is being explored. Mass distribution is not going through mass merchants. We decided to build the best product we could and find a way to get it to the consumer because we don’t need to rely on the mass merchants to find a rack home for these box sets. The box set is limited to 3000 pieces and features the influential ’80s British rock band’s eight studio albums remastered on CD and vinyl and their entire output of 257′′ vinyl singles. Fans of the Smiths are the most passionate when it comes to the band’s box set. There’s definitely a growth in the collectible market, according to the president of Rhino UK. There is a new generation of fans who are not used to physical packaging and that drives us to make sure they are aware of this and that it is represented in its best form. We have to make sure we add enough value to justify the prices. The box set story has a price. “Unfortunately, we can’t recommend this lovely item to you as the price seems to be either a misprint or a satire,” Elvis wrote on his website. Our attempts to have this number changed have been unsuccessful. The set is currently priced at $262.26 at Amazon.com, which makes it the most expensive set in the world. A box set is constructed based on available material and what makes the artist special. The Dark Side of the Moon was considered an essential experience. There is a lack of filmed concert material from this time. The state-of-the-art surround sound that’s represented on its DVD andBlu-ray discs is emphasized in the box set. The Beach Boys’ 1966 Pet Sounds album was supposed to be the follow-up to the band’s 1972 Beach Boys’ album, but it was never released. The entire album is pulled together with demos, alternate takes and instrumentals. The Smile and Dark Side of the Moon projects can be found in less expensive versions. In the fourth quarter of 2011, there were box sets devoted to albums by the Rolling Stones, U2 and the Who. The Doors’ L.A. Woman will be the subject of a two-disc set in January. There are eight never-before-heard versions of songs from the classic album included in the set. L.A. Woman: The Workshop Session is a double album that features all of the material from the CD collection. Former Doors guitarist Robby Krieger says that people want to have something tangible in their hand. There will always be demand for vinyl. There’s a resurgence of vinyl. “These types of box sets have a life for a few years,” says Gagnon. In 15 to 20 years that consumer may be consuming music differently. If we want to remain relevant, we need to be there to meet the emerging technology challenge. We’re doing the same thing now. Jon is a writer based in Los Angeles.