#51
Posted: 7/30/06 at 3:42pm
And what would be the point of spending the money/time recording it and not releasing it?
In a case like this where the show is no longer running, the cost of releasing it would just be a waste of money.
Yes, it costs a lot to bring the cast and orchestra in to record the album. But that is not the TOTAL cost of the release.
To release the CD the record company has to pay composer/lyricist fees for every track (and pay these fees quarterly as long as the CD remains in the catalogue: even if it doesn't sell a single unit in that quarter!), fees to the production if they want to use Show poster logo, photos of the cast which also show the costume design and/or set design. They will pay someone to write (hopefully) liner notes and a synopsis. They will have to pay fees to publish the lyrics in the booklet. Then there is the cost of mixing, mastering, pressing. preparing the packaging, promoting the release and cost of sending out free copies to reviewers.
Now, to go to that expense when the disc would sell maybe 2,000 copies makes it cheaper to swallow the cast of the recording sessions and not release the disc.
In a case like this where the show is no longer running, the cost of releasing it would just be a waste of money.
Yes, it costs a lot to bring the cast and orchestra in to record the album. But that is not the TOTAL cost of the release.
To release the CD the record company has to pay composer/lyricist fees for every track (and pay these fees quarterly as long as the CD remains in the catalogue: even if it doesn't sell a single unit in that quarter!), fees to the production if they want to use Show poster logo, photos of the cast which also show the costume design and/or set design. They will pay someone to write (hopefully) liner notes and a synopsis. They will have to pay fees to publish the lyrics in the booklet. Then there is the cost of mixing, mastering, pressing. preparing the packaging, promoting the release and cost of sending out free copies to reviewers.
Now, to go to that expense when the disc would sell maybe 2,000 copies makes it cheaper to swallow the cast of the recording sessions and not release the disc.
Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!
I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com
