Pre-ordering a new CD......

[Lil_Red_Scooter]

JCow:

I'm curious about something....Have always wanted to ask this question and think now is as good a time as any....

I have always preordered your CDs long before they came out, or just bought copies later on once that first copy wore out...  When I preorder from Amazon.com, I know it's gonna be several days after the release before I receive the "hard copy" via shipping. I always download the .mp3 album the day of release from iTunes, and know the other copy is on it's way.

My question is this...I am going to download it the day of the release from iTunes or Amazon, that's a given. If I wait until one of your shows to buy the "hard copy", or buy one from your online store, do you, as the artist/songwriter, receive more $$ than if I bought it from Amazon? I guess I'm curious, because I have already pre-ordered the new CD from Amazon and if you receive a higher dividend if I buy it from you directly, I'll wait til Merlefest and get my "hard copy" in person...

I know it's a random question and I'm not trying to be overly personal, but if I am supporting an artist's music and they receive a higher amount if I buy it directly from them, I'm gonna start doing that!

Again, just curious. If you don't feel comfortable answering, or cannot due to legal constraints, that's cool. I'm still gonna buy the album either way! 
Red

[jcow]

Hey Red,
Thanks for your loyalty and support, it means more than I could put into words. Actually, yes when you buy it from us at a show we see about half the cost of your purchase go directly to us. Most bands, artist' these days that are under million seller status (and that's a lot of folks) make their income from live performance and merchandise sales at the venues we play at. ITunes, Amazon, even a little Mom & Pop record store, pay the label that you are signed to directly. With the demise of retail stores (Tower, name your former record vendor)
it's gotten even trickier to actually realize sales for recording artist'. Walmart & Target won't even stock records anymore unless they can sell at least 50,000 or 100,00 of 'em and now, even the big retailers (Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Barnes & Noble, Borders etc.) are shrinking their music inventory because of the advent of IPod's and the internet, very few people buy actual CD's anymore. Most folks just digitally download songs or albums online. This has sent the record industry into a tail-spin the last ten years. I can't say I feel particularly sorry for them in that, for the previous 70 years, and especially from the 1940's on, they not only had a death grip on the industry itself, but treated the people who actually made the music (the artist', composers, arrangers etc) they sold like indentured servants.
Oh how I do go on after a show late at night! LOL!
peas & love
jcow

[Lil_Red_Scooter]

Alrighty, then!

Thanks for letting us know.  I would always want you to benefit the most when I purchase one of your CDs...Don't panic if you start seeing some pre-orders fall off of Amazon....it'll be me waiting to see you live and buy them in PERSON! May even con you into signing them.....

Yay for a CD release party!

Red

[jeanne59mcc]

I guess it will be too early to look for the new CD to be on hand at Parrish Auditorium on the 27th, so I will buy from the John Cowan store when I can!  Thanks to Red for bringing up the question.
Really hated to miss the Kentucky Coffeetree Cafe shows this time around, and would love to hear a "review" from someone that was there this weekend.  Appreciate this forum and all the fans that pass along info.