Randy Thornton
Member
On another thread (linked below), there is a compelling discussion on Walt Disney Records decision to release titles via iTunes. In it, some of you have expressed enthusiasm and others their concern over a whole range of issues. I decided to create a new topic that addresses these issues so that everyone could read it without hunting through a large thread. But before I babble on, I want you to know that I really appreciate not only your comments but also the civility used in expressing them!
I would also like to welcome our new members from the FilmScore Monthly / Intrada / and other Soundtrack related discussion boards.
Though it is not my intention to change your minds, I hope my ramblings help shed some light on your concerns.
COMPRESSION.
As I posted on this site when we first launched this new iTunes initiative, technology will improve! All of the albums that we are releasing through iTunes are being transferred and restored at 24bit 96kHz sampling whenever possible - a higher quality source results in a higher quality download no matter the compression. I'm not doing this just because it?s the right thing to do, but because I sincerely believe that technology will advance to the point where we can offer these rare and obscure titles at this higher resolution. Please keep in mind that I too have a personal interest in doing what can be done to see this happen. I spend months researching and restoring these titles and I want these out at the highest quality as much as you do. Is iTunes perfect? No. But I?ll be straight up ? if the only way I could get these titles released was on an Edison Wax Cylinder, I would! For now, iTunes is the best way for us to release this material.
ALTERNATE FORMS OF RELEASE
I?ve recently celebrated my 20th anniversary here at Walt Disney Records, and I?ve spent nearly all of those years trying to get this great material released. I?ve tried every way possible from physical releases, budget line releases, limited editions, licensing agreements, to CD burning kiosks. They all ultimately failed to one degree or another. iTunes has allowed me to restore and release more titles and to get them into more people's 'hands' than any of the previous attempts. Digital Downloading is the future. We have to accept that physical releases are going the way of the dinosaur. When Tower Records (arguably the largest record chain in the US) declares bankruptcy, the killer asteroid has entered the atmosphere. When the physical outlets start disappearing, the first casualties are the more obscure titles - the stuff we're interested in. It may not make us happy, but that's the reality of it. On the other hand, download technology creates an outlet that frees us from the discriminating silliness of traditional retail - their marketing trends, merchandisers, and disinterested buyers. In the US, it?s not just what the consumer wants, it?s what the buyer of any retailer thinks the consumer wants. iTunes eliminates this. It enables us to release even the most obscure titles in our catalog without the threat from the intrinsic pitfalls of retail - getting it into a store, manufacturing small quantities, inventories, shipping, availability, and the eventual returns of unsold manufactured goods. With iTunes, titles will never go out of print and you don't have to worry about whether your retailer carries it - they're all just a click away.
INTERNATIONAL ACCESSABLILITY
Though we have many affiliates around the globe, the only thing that I can do is let them know that these masters are available. And by ?available? I mean to release in any form they wish ? CD, iTunes, vinyl, or 8track - whatever their market will support. We notify all of our affiliates that these masters are available even before I've finished them. We cannot, however, force them to release a title. It is within their discretion to do what they will within whatever rights they hold in any specific territory. The only thing that I can suggest is to let your territories know that you want these titles. I've told them, but you are the consumer.
In closing, iTunes offers us an opportunity to release titles that have been proven to be impractical by any other means. I?m not asking you to purchase something you don?t want. But I ask that you just keep one thing in mind ? when televisions were first introduced they had 5? screens and you needed a separate magnifying stand to enlarge the picture ? fisheye distortion and all. Now we have High-Def. Hopefully it won't take over 50 years (as with TV), but when the technology is ready for lossless or high resolution downloads, we're ready! You may very well believe that this form of distribution at this current compression is a disservice to the original artists, but I argue that a greater and more tragic disservice is allowing all these great recordings to remain unheard and unavailable in any form.
I do thank you for your comments, and rest assured I will continue to pass them along.
Randy Thornton
For the discussion referenced, see ?
http://www.magicmusic.net/discuss/index.ph...y;threadid=3110
I would also like to welcome our new members from the FilmScore Monthly / Intrada / and other Soundtrack related discussion boards.
Though it is not my intention to change your minds, I hope my ramblings help shed some light on your concerns.
COMPRESSION.
As I posted on this site when we first launched this new iTunes initiative, technology will improve! All of the albums that we are releasing through iTunes are being transferred and restored at 24bit 96kHz sampling whenever possible - a higher quality source results in a higher quality download no matter the compression. I'm not doing this just because it?s the right thing to do, but because I sincerely believe that technology will advance to the point where we can offer these rare and obscure titles at this higher resolution. Please keep in mind that I too have a personal interest in doing what can be done to see this happen. I spend months researching and restoring these titles and I want these out at the highest quality as much as you do. Is iTunes perfect? No. But I?ll be straight up ? if the only way I could get these titles released was on an Edison Wax Cylinder, I would! For now, iTunes is the best way for us to release this material.
ALTERNATE FORMS OF RELEASE
I?ve recently celebrated my 20th anniversary here at Walt Disney Records, and I?ve spent nearly all of those years trying to get this great material released. I?ve tried every way possible from physical releases, budget line releases, limited editions, licensing agreements, to CD burning kiosks. They all ultimately failed to one degree or another. iTunes has allowed me to restore and release more titles and to get them into more people's 'hands' than any of the previous attempts. Digital Downloading is the future. We have to accept that physical releases are going the way of the dinosaur. When Tower Records (arguably the largest record chain in the US) declares bankruptcy, the killer asteroid has entered the atmosphere. When the physical outlets start disappearing, the first casualties are the more obscure titles - the stuff we're interested in. It may not make us happy, but that's the reality of it. On the other hand, download technology creates an outlet that frees us from the discriminating silliness of traditional retail - their marketing trends, merchandisers, and disinterested buyers. In the US, it?s not just what the consumer wants, it?s what the buyer of any retailer thinks the consumer wants. iTunes eliminates this. It enables us to release even the most obscure titles in our catalog without the threat from the intrinsic pitfalls of retail - getting it into a store, manufacturing small quantities, inventories, shipping, availability, and the eventual returns of unsold manufactured goods. With iTunes, titles will never go out of print and you don't have to worry about whether your retailer carries it - they're all just a click away.
INTERNATIONAL ACCESSABLILITY
Though we have many affiliates around the globe, the only thing that I can do is let them know that these masters are available. And by ?available? I mean to release in any form they wish ? CD, iTunes, vinyl, or 8track - whatever their market will support. We notify all of our affiliates that these masters are available even before I've finished them. We cannot, however, force them to release a title. It is within their discretion to do what they will within whatever rights they hold in any specific territory. The only thing that I can suggest is to let your territories know that you want these titles. I've told them, but you are the consumer.
In closing, iTunes offers us an opportunity to release titles that have been proven to be impractical by any other means. I?m not asking you to purchase something you don?t want. But I ask that you just keep one thing in mind ? when televisions were first introduced they had 5? screens and you needed a separate magnifying stand to enlarge the picture ? fisheye distortion and all. Now we have High-Def. Hopefully it won't take over 50 years (as with TV), but when the technology is ready for lossless or high resolution downloads, we're ready! You may very well believe that this form of distribution at this current compression is a disservice to the original artists, but I argue that a greater and more tragic disservice is allowing all these great recordings to remain unheard and unavailable in any form.
I do thank you for your comments, and rest assured I will continue to pass them along.
Randy Thornton
For the discussion referenced, see ?
http://www.magicmusic.net/discuss/index.ph...y;threadid=3110