Masters Used in Record Club CDs

[Douglas]

I am reluctant to buy used CDs that say "manufactured by BMG" or "Columbia Music House" or whatever because I know with LPs the record co's tended to send a dupe of the master to the record clubs, resulting in worse sound quality. Is the same true for CDs?

[ December 04, 2001: Message edited by: jlomax ]

[Sckott]

No. That's not the case at all. However, clubs are just another payoff so that people in the outside world can pay to have your address, and although it might seem cost-saving, they soak you with P&H charges pretty badly.. You're better off trolling half.com and your used bins for better Cds, period.

Unless you have a small collection, please understand the only titles that seem to survive in club offerings are very mainstream, selections getting tighter. Just don't forget to graduate into real shopping on foot. Those expericences have not failed, never will.

[Unknown]

I don't know how this works exactly, but I read in an interview where Ty Tabor said the band doesn't make anything from King's X CDs sold through a record club. Something to think about.

And Scott is right about getting absolutely reamed on shipping + tax.

[RDK]

I dunno. Shipping is often excessive, but BMG just had a "free shipping" special and has a ton of really good discs in their clearance section at $2.99 a pop. I recently picked up over 25 jazz discs (several out-of-print) and the total came to less than $100 including tax. The club does suffer all the faults noted in previous posts, but it can be a great deal if you know how to "work it." I've been a happy member for years. And the quality of the discs are the same as at retail.
Ray

[Andrew]

I ordered an REM disc during the free-shipping sale, and since it was out of stock they sent me a store copy instead. But to the original point: all of the CDs from BMG have been pressed by the original label, with the only differences being no UPC barcode on the back card, and the selection number on the disc itself. :cool:

[Paul L.]

Concerning whether artists get royalties on record club CDs: All depends on the contracts. I know since Springsteen's early contracts were published in Down Thunder Road, that he signed a waiver for any royalties on record club sales. Typical situation in which anxious-to-be-stars are screwed. They're just thrilled anyone wants to hear them.
I can't believe that successful acts, though, would let their product be sold without any compensation.