Popular Problems in the music industry

Sometimes, I feel like I’m the only dink out there supporting the CD industry.

I don’t purchase as many as I once did. Maybe one every two weeks. Once upon a time, I bought roughly 10 new CDs a month. I guess I would purchase more; I’m just not that interested in a lot of new bands. So I’m just purchasing albums from artists I already love, whenever they release new albums. I’m that guy who goes to HMV to purchase the latest album on the release day.

But I’m still out there, supporting the CD industry.

Call me dumb, but I’d rather pay $12 and get a physical CD than pay $9 and only get the mp3 version. 

Earlier, I picked up Leonard Cohen's new album, "Popular Problems". Leonard Cohen has always been some sort of a visionary. Or maybe it might be more accurate to say he carries an aura of wisdom. Anyhow, I like to think his aptly-named album carries a secondary meaning that relates to the recording industry...

Physical versus digital; purchase an album or pirate it; try to sign with a label versus stay independent... 

"Popular Problems" in the music world indeed!

The Mustache Club, Phase 1 : Customized vinyl

The music industry is in shambles. 

I know that. You know that. Everybody knows that!

Why purchase a CD when you can get the mp3 for free? 

That’s the dilemma the industry is facing.

So, what's the answer?

I don't claim to have THE answer. But I have one that works for me.

I like to think in today’s world, one thing that makes a release valuable is its packaging; how unique the presentation is.

As I’m establishing The Mustache Club as a label, I could completely bypass physical releases and go for strictly-mp3 releases.

But I’m still attached to physical releases; I still enjoy them. There’s something sensual when you hold a release from an artist you enjoy. There’s something more engaging about holding an album versus downloading an album in two clicks.

My solution: customized vinyl

For The Mustache Club's first release, I decided to go with a vinyl release.

Vinyls look great.

I only printed 100 copies because, let’s be honest, Pantaloon Descendo is a no name band. And 100 copies is the lowest amount of copies I could print.

However, with the 100 copy limitation, an opportunity arose: the amount is low enough to allow for customization. Instead of having 100 jackets pressed, I decided to order 100 blank jackets and hand-draw all of them. 

To make it more of a “collector’s item”. To make every single copy unique.

So, that's why the intial release on The Mustache Club will be Pantaloon Descendo’s recording debut on vinyl:100 hand-drawn and hand-numbered 7-inch vinyls.