Well, I've noticed a trend of downloading music instead of ever buying it recently. I've always believed in collecting, so I have to have a hard copy of an album to say I own it. I do, however, prescreen stuff by downloading it first to see if it's worth buying. I then only buy the stuff that's worth buying, a tactic I've begun to use afterr the Nevermore/Kamelot fiascos last year. Therefore my answer is "yes, but only the stuff I enjoy most," which is the answer I hypothesize that most people will be choosing. Thus far I've bought eight albums this year.

How about you guys? [and to the hardcores who buy all their albums, try not to persecute the rest of us ]

Well I buy most of my albums but never from internet. If it is an album that isn't even available in Finland I download it. If I see a CD that is very hard to get I usually buy it. I also try to buy whole discographies like I own all Ensiferum albums except 1997-1999 (but I'm also a fanboy ) and All Bodom albums until their newest even if I don't enyoy their newer stuff as much as their older. Nowadays it's rare to buy an album before I have listened to it, I did that before when I was more new to Metal.

I think that one should support bands even a little, buy an album now and then, Metal albums are in general cheaper than pop and rock albums so it isn't much money that you "throw away"...

I download all my music, however, I buy the CD's that I enjoy the most. I wish I could buy everything that I listen to (whether I really like it or not) but because it becomes expensive I can't (for now).

Written by MetalSpider on 16.08.2011 at 22:21
I wish I could buy everything that I listen to.

Familiar with that song "If I had a million dollars"? Well if I had a million dollars, I'd buy every album I ever listened to, as many copies and versions as possible. And if I had any money left over, I'd just save it to spend on albums I hear later.

And I'd buy tickets to concerts and give them away to people on here who would actually go.

Written by Troy Killjoy on 16.08.2011 at 22:24

Written by MetalSpider on 16.08.2011 at 22:21
I wish I could buy everything that I listen to.

Familiar with that song "If I had a million dollars"? Well if I had a million dollars, I'd buy every album I ever listened to, as many copies and versions as possible. And if I had any money left over, I'd just save it to spend on albums I hear later.

And I'd buy tickets to concerts and give them away to people on here who would actually go.

Ah yes....very familiar with that song. I'd definitely buy every album I ever listened to.

I buy music if I know and like the band, if a completely new tr00 kvlt band... I'll download for the time being and buy later if I like it. Generally whats happens is, I listen to one song by a band and end up blindly buying the album.... I've wasted so much money doing that.

I prefer to buy though because back when I only downloaded, I had so many albums I never listened to them.. I lost my passion for music at one point. I prefer buying because I prefer to focus on one album for months at a time.

I've bought a lot of clunkers in my past... with the advent of the internet, in general, i've taken to checking out albums as best i can before plunking cash.

if i am a big fan of the band - Clutch, Darkthrone, Enslaved, etc - they've earned my trust and i'll shell out the coin without a second thought. (basically anyone on my profile)

otherwise i will check stuff out. if it's good, i'll buy it. if it's even ok and i listen to it enough, guilt kicks in and i'll buy it (see the Blind Guardian and Marduk in my collection - and my collection is legit. either i own the physical disk or at least a legal download via the band or record company) ...

amusingly while the internet has lead to a collapse in album sales, after pissing away so much cash on bad cassettes back in the day, being able to check stuff out online (illegally or via stuff like spotify) has actually spiked my album purchases. i've bought more albums from 2004 to now (since joining MS) than i did from 1995-2004. partially because i have more coin to spend, but mostly because I feel more secure in my purchases.

Because metal isn't sold here, my entire collection is downloaded from the internet.

Granted, when I'm older and have a more secure and better-paying job, I'll be able to buy even more. I have an addictive personality. I probably buy more than most kids my age already. And BitterCOld brings up a good point: with my favorite bands, I buy entire discographies and new releases whether they're good or not.

Written by Guest on 17.08.2011 at 02:03

I had so many albums I never listened to them.. I lost my passion for music at one point.

That's what happens with me always....

I wish I had more money though

My collection of CD's only ever get used when i'm working out or driving. So usually, I only buy a few a year at most.

I've been buying a lot of CDs lately, mostly albums I know and like, but with a few pretty big misfires. I get really krieg when I get into record shops and gravitate toward stuff that I've never heard of before...

I buy everything and download nothing.
That's a bit of a lie since I downloaded a couple of albums presented by some bands for free and I've got some Cdr's.

I usually buy the albums from my favourite bands. That is my priority. I need to have them in order to live, or I would spent all my money on music

I do occasionally buy some gem that is outside of my favourite band's list. I have been buying quite a lot of that this year and it also feels good. I remember when I started buying CDs, I still bought those unknown albums that I have no idea if I would like them or not. It was just for the discovery. I really can't do that now.

EDIT: I also look for bargains everywhere.

Started collecting last year, I buy cds when I can - but so far only albums that I already listened to (and try to find them on discount ). Collection's about 40 CDs big, I should order a couple more in the next few days.

When available i buy my Cd's but unfortunately 90% of metal Cd's are either not available or not original only copies over here in Syria

I buy which are "classic" ones for me. And sometimes I also buy if the price is really cheap for giving it a try. I've already got nearly 500 cds in my collection.

I only buy stuff, never downloaded an album, sometimes trade/borrow stuff with friends. I hate downloading, enjoy spending money on cds/vinyls and as long as I have money I'm happy with it.
Sometimes I use youtube to check a song or two of something that seems interesting before buying it, since blind-buying can give you some nasty suprises (but not usually ) or if it's impossible to find a copy.

For those complaining they don't sell cd's in their country, you should seriously use online shops. They have literally everything at cheaper price than stores.

No, never
bcoz simply not all albums are offered here. so i find downloading much easier and cheaper

Voted for "Yes, but only stuff I enjoy the most"

Written by Powerslavex on 17.08.2011 at 13:40

When available i buy my Cd's but unfortunately 90% of metal Cd's are either not available or not original only copies over here in Syria

I think you meant 99%, and the 1% is either local bands like Gene, and The Hourglass.. or someone sold his metal original collection to some CDs store.

I'd feel like the world's biggest hypocrite if I downloaded, since I work in a music store. I usually listen to new albums on YT and order the ones that I like most. I usually try to buy at least 1 album from all of my favorite bands as opposed to completing each band's discography one at a time.

Written by Guest on 17.08.2011 at 15:38

Voted for "Yes, but only stuff I enjoy the most"

Written by Powerslavex on 17.08.2011 at 13:40

When available i buy my Cd's but unfortunately 90% of metal Cd's are either not available or not original only copies over here in Syria

I think you meant 99%, and the 1% is either local bands like Gene, and The Hourglass.. or someone sold his metal original collection to some CDs store.

Metal well never be sold here...
(This is one of the last times I'll use the smiley up.)

I like to buy and collect CDs, I do not download music from Internet free or paid. If I want to check certain CD our Band before buy the CD I go to youtube, Myspace or Metalstorm?

I buy everything. That being said I see no problem in screening music before purchasing.
There's just so much stuff out there and a lot of people simply don't have the money to spend (or metal is not sold in their territory at all).
Although downloading enabled the world to rapidly share all music, back in the day everybody copied stuff from each other on tapes until the actual album could be located and bought.
Overall I believe that once you really get into a band you'll buy their stuff eventually.

On a side note, I did recently quit buying vinyl albums because today's prices are often insane.

I live in Egypt.. and that's it. Nowhere to buy metal.

And honestly, if a store opened a block away from my home, I still wouldnt buy. Music should be free. Still, I pay for gigs and merch.

Bands usually make the most money from gigs and merch (more from gigs). They barely make anything from CD sales (at least thats my understanding)

Written by MetalSpider on 18.08.2011 at 02:10

Bands usually make the most money from gigs and merch (more from gigs). They barely make anything from CD sales (at least thats my understanding)

Yes, but if bands don't sell any albums, then they don't see as much promotion and therefore lose even more money. There's a lot of elements to it.

Written by strade on 18.08.2011 at 02:17

Written by MetalSpider on 18.08.2011 at 02:10

Bands usually make the most money from gigs and merch (more from gigs). They barely make anything from CD sales (at least thats my understanding)

Yes, but if bands don't sell any albums, then they don't see as much promotion and therefore lose even more money. There's a lot of elements to it.

Oh of course! A band needs to sell albums! (whether it's physical or digital). Without it, they wouldn't be doing any gigs. But they definitely don't make as much money selling CD's in comparison with the shows they do (at least when they belong to a record label).

Written by strade on 18.08.2011 at 02:17

Written by MetalSpider on 18.08.2011 at 02:10

Bands usually make the most money from gigs and merch (more from gigs). They barely make anything from CD sales (at least thats my understanding)

Yes, but if bands don't sell any albums, then they don't see as much promotion and therefore lose even more money. There's a lot of elements to it.

No band, no matter how shitty, doesn't sell any albums.. But I agree, there's alot of elements to it, Youtube and the ilk, maybe? Metal forums?