Intrada Soundtrack Forum

Congratulations - and thanks - to Intrada on another successful title. Space Camp.

Now, this is not a get bitter about the numbers thread. Please, we've had enough of those.

This thread is purely about ideas.

With Predator and Space Camp it is clear that 3,000 is becoming a low ceiling for certain titles. On the other hand if it was a 5,000 edition, maybe the 3,000 threshold might not even have been breached! (Scarcity does seem to stoke-up the buying.) And, let's face it, it's the labels that have to carry that risk, not us.

So, rather than starting to do 5,000 units (and taking the risk of carrying excess unsold stock), I wonder, where a title is 'at risk' of being in greater demand than the 3,000 limit, is it a practical solution to negotiate an option for a 1,000 or 2,000 unit extension, should the 3,000 units prove over demanded?

That way, if the 3,000 units sell slow, you don't take the option. But if they sell real fast, you can invoke the option.

The blurb could say, "Limited to 3,000 copies but we've retained an option to extend if it sells out too fast". That way people can't complain that labels "went back on their promise".

Just a thought / idea.

Cheers

Your idea is well thought, but I don't think such a deal can be easily negotiated with the studios. Plus, when you announce that a limited edition isn't so limited, you can considerably slow down the selling as the "limited" aspect of a release can be a high selling factor. That way you just end up with a title that never sells out (like BTTF and the Superman box which you would think are BIG sellers) and I don't think Intrada have the room and the structure to stock and distribute never ending piles of limited CDs for years like a major label...

I believe Intrada may have made a deal somewhere like that with the BACK TO THE FUTURE soundtrack, which is why the exact number is not specified.
BACK TO THE FUTURE was one of the biggest grails for film score collectors, so a 3000 copy run would have sold out in the time it takes a balloon to pop. (What a great release that is, by the way, including even Silvestri's first attempt to score the picture.) The reason the exact quantity might not be specified might simply be that Intrada has the right to print copies up to a certain limit, even though that limit may not necessarily be reached. Simply my guess though.

I got an idea: Intrada should charge a little more. It was a no-brainer "Predator" was going to sell out and fast, so if the profit is most assuredly going to be made, I think I speak for most (not all) people here when I say I would have easily paid five more dollars for it.
And the rest either would have begrudgingluy done so, or someone else who would, would have stepped in and done so.

$5.00 x 3,000 = $15,000.00 extra profit (which could also be used to shore up costs on more costly or ambitious projects -- a PLUS for all us)



And who cares how Intrada, or Kritzerland, or Perserverence Records word it -- since when do we or they cater to the complaints of a few eBayers? Screw 'em.

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Well, that's tackling the problem of "it sold out so fast that many fans missed out" by slowing sales down and dissuading fence-sitters. Yes, it does mean the more passionate fan is in with a better chance.

However, I wasn't really out to tackle the problem of "how do you slow sales down" or "how does Intrada make even more money out of a 3,000 run while still disappointing the same number of fans".

I was more out for tackling the problem of balancing supply and risk. For me, the answer is to have an option. Such an option could have a caveat like if the 3,000 run isn't sold out after 30 days the option expires.

Anyway, maybe it's a good idea and maybe it's not, but you definitely don't get anywhere if you don't air it.

Cheers

I have an idea on how to solve (or limit) the "it sold out so fast that many fans missed out, and now there are dozens of copies on eBay at inflated prices" problem.

So far Intrada have limited sales to one copy per customer when a title is selling fast, but by then the damage is done and often the title sells in 4 hours anyway... if a collector can get to a computer in a few hours, it's too late anyway.

So, why not do the opposite: for each new title, set the limit of one (or two) copies per customer immediately, and keep it for the first two or three days it is for sale... after that, either lower the limit of one copy per customer if only a few are left, or lift it if there are enough copies left for everybody.

All real collectors will have the best chances to place their orders; speculators, if any, will have to wait in line until we all have had the time to place our orders.

Is this crazy, or it might work?

Cesare

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Very well then, I contradict myself,
(I am large, I contain multitudes)

I think it would interesting if digital downloads were available as an alternative. I rather be able to buy MP3s for the normal price instead of have to consider buying the out of print disc for an outrageous price.

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Yes, I had thought about bona-fide retailers, business partners that have a long standing business relationship with Intrada. But I assume they have a standing order for either a specific quantity of each new title, or a quantity based on the total run - and they coild still get that.
For additional orders, they would have to wait until the window for individual orders has elapsed.

Cesare

_________________
Do I contradict myself?
Very well then, I contradict myself,
(I am large, I contain multitudes)

Thank you all for some intelligent points to ponder. One thing that factors in all of this, of course: We often have to negotiate and specify a quantity at the outset of the agreements, thus making a sliding figure of "3000 but possibly more if needed" a non-starter with many licensors.

Basically, the market is jam-packed with releases lately and consumers necessarily have to prioritize based on budgets and availability. As long as the competitive nature of this entire industry exists (meaning that all entertainment companies, DVD and Blu-ray labels, movie theaters, TV and cable companies, Netflix, soundtrack labels, download companies and whatever all hope to generate much-needed revenues from the same handful of people supporting all of this various media) consumers will see limited edition CDs from us soundtrack labels with a meld of fast sellouts and slow non-sellouts. Hopefully more of the former than the latter! It'll remain something of a guessing game on everyone's part. For labels it will be a guess as to how many copies to contract for without ending up with expensive surplus and for consumers it will be a guess as to how quickly they should order if it's a priority purchase without losing out entirely. I think its the nature of the beast... and it'll stay this way until physical CDs go the way of the downloading do-do bird entirely.

But I too am just guessing. I'm just one hamster here in the company (albeit the boss hamster) and my knowledge of the situation is tempered with both hits and misses.
--Doug