From: owner-music-issues-digest@smoe.org (music-issues-digest) To: music-issues-digest@smoe.org Subject: music-issues-digest V1 #2 Reply-To: music-issues@smoe.org Sender: owner-music-issues-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-music-issues-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk music-issues-digest Tuesday, September 1 1998 Volume 01 : Number 002 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Inexpensive CD Packaging Alternatives? [Joseph Zitt ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 31 Aug 1998 00:36:10 -0400 From: Joseph Zitt Subject: Inexpensive CD Packaging Alternatives? Hi, all! I'm currently looking into the possibility of lower-cost alternatives to the jewel box for a small release (max 1000 copies). We'd need something that's sturdy enough not to get crunched too easily, and it would ideally have a spine to make it visible on shelves. One thing that I've seen and liked was the cardboard package that Thingmakers did for Tortoise's "Millions Now Living Will Never Die" on Thrill Jockey. I'm also intrigued by the packaging of Morton Feldman's "Neither" on Hat[now]Art and Annea Lockwood's "The Glass World" on WhatNext? Does any one have any insight/info/ideas on this stuff? - -- - ---------1---------1---------1---------1---------1---------1---------- |||/ Joseph Zitt ===== jzitt@humansystems.com ===== Human Systems \||| ||/ Maryland? = <*> SILENCE: The John Cage Mailing List <*> = ecto \|| |/ http://www.realtime.net/~jzitt ====== Comma: Voices of New Music \| ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 31 Aug 1998 10:50:46 -0700 From: "Adam D." Subject: Re: Inexpensive CD Packaging Alternatives? Hey there, >Hi, all! I'm currently looking into the possibility of lower-cost >alternatives to the jewel box for a small release (max 1000 copies). That right there is a catch-22, given the type of packaging you're looking for. Generally speaking: the standard issue jewel-case *is* the least expensive form of packaging if you hope to include a legible spine. Anything else (digipaks, EP-jewel-cases, etc.) is definitely going to cost you more. Often as much as $0.15 more per disc. >One thing that I've seen and liked was the cardboard package that >Thingmakers did for Tortoise's "Millions Now Living Will Never Die" >on Thrill Jockey. I'm also intrigued by the packaging of Morton >Feldman's "Neither" on Hat[now]Art and Annea Lockwood's "The Glass >World" on WhatNext? Haven't seen any of these. My only benchmark is stuff we've put out with alternative packaging (Download's albums "The Eyes Of Stanley Pain" and "III" and Sarah McLachlan's "Rarities, B-Sides And Other Stuff".) And possibly weirder stuff like Pearl Jam's last couple of albums, but most notably "Vitalogy" and "No Code". IN the case of our releases, it cost as much as $0.24 per copy to make the packaging using an all-card (i.e.: no plastic) version of the digipack casing. The biggest drawback I heard about - and believe me I heard about it a lot because I was doing the info mail for Nettwerk at the time - was that people were all upset that they had to keep the disc in something made of cardboard. They often *much* preferred a regular jewel case and in a lot of cases they actually took the time to slice up the packaging so they could force it into a regular jewel case just to make it fit with the rest of their collection. :/ The Pearl Jam releases I mentioned above are the extreme case because - on average - the per-copy cost for each of those titles was $2.45 (for Vitalogy) and $3.35 (for No Code.) The reason? THese were very specific and customized packages which unfortunately meant that there was no way at all to automate the insertion of the disc, other liner note material, packagin assembly and wrapping. This means that you needed a team of actual people to grab the package, glue it together, put in the book, grab a disc, carefully place it inside a sleeve, etc. Since people need to be payed this costs even more at the end of the day. So there ya go. That's what I know. The above costs are all in US funds, in case anyone was interested. That's enough from me I think. :) Bye for now, ad - -- /''' adam@nettwerk.com Adam Drake c .. Senior Web Developer \ http://www.nettweb.com Nettwerk Productions - "If you take me to a concert, it'd better be great enough to make me forget that I want a cigarette, and I haven't seen anybody lately who can do that." -- Joni Mitchell ------------------------------ End of music-issues-digest V1 #2 ********************************