Forum Thread

Don't think this'll work but I posted a thread in this lame The Student Room website, asking similar questions to before..

Oh shit! It's worked really well.. I've had about 20 replies within the last 3 minutes check out the thread here

Here's some of the answers i got

1. What CD's/albums would you choose to buy rather than download?

2. What (other than money) puts you off buying CD's?

-Mainly if you actually buy the CD you have to turn out to get it or wait for it to be delivered....download is instant!

-If you buy a CD, and it breaks, you're ****ed. So you'd rip it to your PC, which takes time, so why not just download it?

-I always buy the CD. It is so much nicer to have the physical copy, the artwork, the lyrics etc. For some bands it's a whole package and art. Being a massive Manic Street Preacher fan I think I love looking at their artwork and the quotes they include, it brings what the band stand for and who they are to life. My CD collection also looks pretty.
It is also a great back up of the music if the computer dies or whatever.

The people who actually answered the questions..

1. i would buy an album, which is cheap, but if filled with songs i like, not just like the odd one or two which are good

2. the prices of cd's put me off, and they arent very efficient. downloading is, and mp3/4 players are also

-I am more likely to buy albums if they have exclusive artwork or that's special in some way. For instance Manics having very htought about quotes and pictures. Maybe a limited edition insert sleeve or if that CD has exclusive songs on the CD version.

That said, I do always buy the CD anyway.

1. Albums by bands that i'm a huge fan of, or things that I want to dance to (because the sound on my laptop is crap compared to my hi-fi thing)

2. If I don't know the band well, how do I know i'll like the whole CD? Its easier to download something to try it out, if I dont like it then I can just delete the files... if i've bought the CD ive wasted at least £10 and im too lazy to put it on eBay or whatever

1. I'd prefer download everything, and not buy any CDs at all =\ Mainly cos of money issues but also, CDs take up space and I don't really see the point in having them.

2. You can copy the songs off the CD into, say, iTunes with your other tracks.. and then won't need the CD afterwards. I don't use my CD player anyway and prefer music on the computer tbh..

For me I only ever buy on CD if its an album I cant find a download for, which doesnt happen too often. I buy the occasional vinyl record, but thats only for albums that I alreay know and love, and mostly because of the better looking packaging.

Retro Collectables

Kavel Raferty collects old record envelopes and this is her site, 'Record Envelope' the little library of factory sleeves. I feel that maybe something of this stylee would only appeal to niche audience of maybe art students??

Talking to some students...

So these probably need revising but I've been sticking with a few simple questions for my student friends in order to see what they sort of thing they would be swayed into buying rather than downloading...

Gail, University Student, 21

What sites/programs do you usually use to download?

Limewire and Itunes.

Is there any albums/CDs you would choose to buy rather than download, and if so, why? 

The Fabric CD's are the only one's really because of the metal case, if it's just a standard case i'm not really into it. If it was just the standard case it would have to have cool illustrations or shit i could stick on my wall. I would want to get something back from the product.

(..other than music I guess.?..?)

What - other than money - put's you off buying CD's?

I always lose CD's or they get scratched..that doesn't happen with mp3's.

Jack, Art College Student, 21

What sites/programs do you use to download?

Blogs, Rapidshare

Is there any albums/CDs you would choose to buy rather than download, and if so, why?

None really, unless I really wanted to support the band. Or unless it was something I really wanted on vinyl.

What - other than money - put's you off buying CD's?

Rubbish album artwork, but money mainly.

Johanna, University Student, 20

What sites/programs do you use to download?

UTorrent or Blogs

Is there any albums/CDs you would choose to buy rather than download, and if so, why?

Something with a cool design that I can put up on my wall or something thats not a normal CD box. If its something I listen to alot that I've downloaded, I'll usually go an buy it. Its only fair.

What - other than money - put's you off buying CD's?

Having the option to download it, I buy most stuff online any way so its basically there to download in the same place.

Fabric/Fabriclive collection

I pretty much always download music. But the one thing i avoid downloading are the fabric and fabriclive mix series cos I want to wait until I can afford to buy the CD's. There's something about the little tin cases and how nicely they look in numerical order that makes it seem worth while spending £10/£12. I know a few students who are also quite into collecting them, a couple of whom have joined the 'Fabric First' club even though they don't live in London, so just to get the CD's - which they receive monthly...

So I emailed from the contact section of the official Fabric website asking them if they could tell me whether or not a majority of their fabric first/customers are students or give me a rough percentage. They've yet to write back, that might be information they're not willing to disclose :SSS

Craig Armstrong- Collectable Album?

I like how this (not so) limited edition album artwork is actually a little booklet with various photography and an insert for the CD. Although someone could easily download the music on this album, the package is something you can only enjoy when actually purchasing, it comes with a number on the inside (see second pic) which makes it seem like a collector's item. However, the music on this album is definitely something a 40-something customer is more likely to buy, and may not necessarily appeal to my target market.

My Brief

Context

Download culture is at an all time high, students would much rather spend their loans and grants on nights out than music and film which they can acquire online illegally for free. Although Itunes controls 70% of legal music downloads, a majority are now illegal with estimations as high as 95% of all online music.

Brief

Design and create a collectable item(s) that will persuade students to own/collect rather than download.