2007-02-19 18:26:39 · 8 answers · asked by creftomat 1 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Music
Singles are ideally supposed to hype an album's release OR boost sales after an album is released. Singles often include B-sides, rarities, or remix tracks that you woulnd't be able to find on the album. If there aren't any new song on the single, then that is actually really poor marketing. Single sales have tanked in recent years, so I would really attribute it to bad marketing and a really poor music business paradigm. This is the same music business that is lementing a 30% drop in CD sales, yet sues it's own customers. That old world business mentality is why such singles with no new material are being released. They are seen as cash cows to keep a bad business model afloat. If a record company can get you to by the same song 2 times, that is better than once, right?
2007-02-19 18:28:05 · answer #1 · answered by Evan 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Either the label, the band or both agree on a really good song, a "hit", and post it on the Billboard Top 40 and market it off as a single. From there, they carefully watch the single(s) sales to determine where to aggressively promote the album and project / estimate the album's peak sales figures.
Single(s) sales data also helps in planning the band's nation-wide or world-wide touring schedule--given enough sales from both the single(s) and/or album can even offer that information.
In the simplest terms: a music single is sent out via radio airplay and record stores (or they used to, anyways) to tease fans into buying the album.
2007-02-19 18:42:57 · answer #2 · answered by Mr. Wizard 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Money. People who aren't that interested in the group/artist will only buy a single if they like the song, while fans will buy the album and fanatics will buy both.
2007-02-19 18:29:50 · answer #3 · answered by Aprilrocks.com 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It is for the thrifty and the poor; people who couldn't afford would not pony up the dough for the full album (because even if you like the band, you might not like any more than one song on their lastest album), will readily pony it up for a song that they have heard and like.
2007-02-19 18:33:33 · answer #4 · answered by bottleblondemama 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Familiarity sells. Marketing 101
2007-02-19 18:28:41 · answer #5 · answered by ROD'R 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A recent study was shown that internet downloading (at least on P2P programs) barely makes a dent in the losses that record companies lose. Basically, its the companies propagandizing their own pathetic marketing.
2007-02-19 18:43:02 · answer #6 · answered by trapped_reckless 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If some one only wants that song, they don't have to buy the whole album.
2007-02-19 18:29:06 · answer #7 · answered by Daniel C 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To make money on the impatient fans who can't wait for the album to come out.
2007-02-19 18:37:26 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋