Grizzly Bear (@grizzlybear) is set to release their fourth LP, Shields on September 18 through Warp Records. Pre-sale for the album was recently launched for the follow-up to the Brooklynites’ stellar 2009 album, Veckatimest. In response to the pre-sale, founding member and multi-instrumentalist Ed Droste (@edwarddroste) has been tweeting his thoughts on album sales, record stores, packaging, merchandising and digital streaming services from the band’s official Twitter account. While the content of his tweets hasn’t been unexpected, it’s refreshing to see a band being so open an honest about the current state of the industry as it relates to album sales. Droste has been mostly waxing poetic, but has also been retweeting some replies, which are captured below.
pre-ordering ‘shields’ brings you good luck and fortune (from a fortune cookie last night! crazy!) —guess it’s advice worth taking!
Hope you all are liking it! #shields , if u do don’t forget to pick up a copy. The physical ones this go around are particularly nice! Xx
Not only is it a sensation of a record, but the @ CD and vinyl feels so damn ROBUST #packagingnerdsunite @
@ It’s extremely important to buy #Shields on LP or CD at real indie record stores too! We love @ to pieces. :)
We keep going on and on about pre ordering but first and foremost PLEASE support your local indie record store!!!!
It enriches the entire experience that much more! Some of my favorite memories are going to record stores on release dates to get new music
The new @ is exactly what I always hope for from a new record: evolution with familiarity. Can’t wait to get the vinyl! #Shields
Mog and Spotify do not help bands or labels or indie stores. Not shaming you, just stating the facts since someone asked
@ it’s great for previewing though, I bought the Veckatimest vinyl after listening on Spotify!
Buying an album helps a band ten fold over buying a t-shirt, no matter what format. Again, answering questions
Spotify might be good for exposure but after about 10k plays we get approx 10 dollars
The cool part aboutTwitter is being able to clarify where we stand! Obviously the most important thing is that people enjoy music, not €£¥$
But people keepAsking what helps a band and first and foremost that is just buying the album, plain and simple
But if u care, now u know
Also in what helps a band news since we are on topic is radio. It’s difficult, but requests actually DO make an impact and are free
grizzly bear whining about spotify! awesome! i will be sure to listen to them on youtube instead!
Listen I have a friend at spotify , it provides a great service for people. Does it help a band? No more than downloading from lim wire
Most important thing that spotify lovers forget is the dying independent record store which is something special for a band, label and store
Not saying spotify doesn’t spread the word, but at least radio and venues look at YouTube counts. With spotify, it’s nothing
@ I will always buy an album I want, on CD where possible. Art is valuable. Artists deserve a living.
Sorry if I pissed anyone off but I think it’s an interesting conversation to have #endtwitterrant
We’d love to hear what you think about Droste’s tweets. What are your experiences with streaming services? Do you buy physical products? Do you support local record stores? Does the artwork and packaging of an album still matter? Hit up the comments below or follow and tweet us at @Hidden_Track.
Research and Development Editor and Executive Producer, Andy Kahn, currently lives in Seattle (via Chicago) where he works in digital music. He helped start Chicago music blog Loud Loop Press before joining HT.
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It is a changing time now, musicians can’t survive on record sales alone, since they are constantly decreasing. this means artists must change with the times as well. tour more, put out your music yourself on your website and charge per d/l, etc.