Marching Music Downloads, RIP

[pags]

37 minutes ago, leed17 said:

BOA has an on demand video streaming service thru the Spin Network…Video, not audio, but it is still something.  Not many people know about it.  It costs $50 a year, and you get LOTS of BOA performance videos on demand from various seasons.  It’s basically a BOA Fan Network like DCI used to have before 2015 hit.  

I don’t understand why DCI doesn’t try to work out something like the Spin Network, especially since that network is owned by Tresona…

Also, why not try a streaming DCI audio service? They charge a monthly fee just like any other streaming service, and you can stream audio of any DCI performance from various years.  It would not be download friendly, just stream friendly.  I know FLO has their FLO marching radio stream, but you can’t choose what to listen to.  
 

I’m sure there are reasons for their decisions that we will never be aware of, but for a fan of drum corps audio and video and a collector since my high school days back in the mid 80s, it’s just another sad chapter for me in the DCI audio/video historical saga. I’m bummed like everyone else…

I imagine many of the reasons have to do with the ongoing cost.  In other words, it's not the immediate, "one year at a time" cost where they get the rights and do the work to edit and make available performances for THAT season; they have to renew rights and possibly renegotiate rights and licenses with both prior and new inventory on an ongoing basis.  If rights/licenses change, they would be expected to either go back and eliminate affected inventory or have to edit it to make it fit the applicable standard or risk losing the whole thing due to the violation.  (Again, my limited understanding is that something along these lines is what happened to DCI somewhere around 2014, which is why we all saw a drastic change in the production and availability of in-season recordings, available CD's/DVD's, past recordings, etc.)  There's a lot of effort and cost that goes into that and, based on what they're saying, they're not getting nearly enough people purchasing to make that cost worth it.  Those of us who seem to be disappointed most seem to be the minority who actually make purchases or are people who like having the option to purchase but don't enthusiastically and consistently do so.

With Flo/Box5, they make a point of it being video only, and streaming; your subscription is essentially a license to access, but never own, and your subscription doesn't offer any guarantee that inventory that was there one day will be there the next.  So even in the services that offer "something", that draw from a larger base of potential participants and therefore a larger base of money, they still have to limit how the inventory is accessed for the sake of compliance and cost.

Edited December 17, 2025 by pags

[cixelsyd]

This thread needs someone to tell us this is actually good news.  After all, engagement is now digital and episodic, no longer tied to the idea of liking the music and wanting to hear it again.  That was the 2024 model.

[pags]

I can't say that it's "good news" or "bad news".  To me, it's a "we'll see...".  I'm disappointed in the lack of access to purchase something I really like to listen to, but I also understand that they need a certain volume of purchasing engagement to justify it.  If they're not getting that, then the best I can do right now as far as "good news" is that this decision means they're trying to make sound financial decisions for the effective stewardship of the activity as a whole, and that is a sign of good management (which we all should want)

[ohbaby]

Not sure there is lack of interest - perhaps it is the price for the downloads. $40+ for downloads - should have kept them in a cd format, in my opinion for that price. One argument in favor of high demand is what Bluecoats did several years ago. They issued two vinyl releases - $50 a pop for each vinyl record - guess what they sold out of both!!! So, I am not sure demand is the issue - people want physical media - I would gladly pay over $75 if you gave me say the Top 12 on vinyl like they had up until 1989. 

 

Oh well, it is a pipedream - here hoping other corps follow Bluecoats and sell their own physical media moving forward. 

[TenHut]

The slow death continues. Not good.

[greg_orangecounty]

Glad I never got rid of my vinyls from the 70’s & early 80’s.  Feel bad for the current marching members. This feels like something Nate could have done better on instead of just throwing up his hands. This is basic stuff, and if you can’t even do that…..

[rollinthrurolls]

10 minutes ago, greg_orangecounty said:

Glad I never got rid of my vinyls from the 70’s & early 80’s.  Feel bad for the current marching members. This feels like something Nate could have done better on instead of just throwing up his hands. This is basic stuff, and if you can’t even do that…..

There is nothing basic about copyright/streaming/licenses and laws. 

[greg_orangecounty]

35 minutes ago, rollinthrurolls said:

There is nothing basic about copyright/streaming/licenses and laws. 

In 53 years if the activity can’t seem to figure out how a kid can buy an authorized copy of his performance after paying all that money, time, and effort, it begs the question of who the activity exists for.  What do all these positioned adults get paid to do? 

[rollinthrurolls]

1 minute ago, greg_orangecounty said:

In 53 years if the activity can’t seem to figure out how a kid can buy an authorized copy of his performance after paying all that money, time, and effort, it begs the question of who the activity exists for.  What do all these positioned adults get paid to do? 

again, that is because it is not a simple process. 

[Moz]

22 hours ago, chaddyt said:

Now, unless you watch FloMarching live (or maybe the day after), your only other option will be to travel to one of the dwindling locations that hosts a show, pray it doesn't rain, and commit it to memory.

Pity us poor sods in Europe and elsewhere (yes, I know we're not the target audience and probably only represent a fraction of the said target) but we've not had access to DVDs etc and streams for about 15 years now. I only hope to catch any drum corps (short of basically a multi thousand pound trip) is the (usually short lived) YouTube videos.