Thursday, April 7th 2011
News: Fail
A Visit To UMG’s New Vinyl/FLAC Store
There are very good reasons for the world of difference you see when Apple releases a new project or service, and a company like Universal Music Group does it. This morning, not very many people at all are talking about a press release that went out heralding the arrival of an “exciting online storefront” that enables, for “the first time ever,” so-called “discerning music fans” to purchase Lossless FLAC files and vinyl direct from the bands. No, I’m sorry, I mean direct from the people who are supposed to be providing music for sale.
This online storefront, called Groovetown, isn’t much to look at, let alone to shop in. There are albums from a little over 100 bands, only UMG releases of course, and they’re hardly ever the ones you’d actually want in FLAC or on vinyl out of the discography. But hey, it’s day one. The selection, hopefully, will only get better. And the price isn’t completely unreasonable; $10-12 for FLACs, vinyl for a a steep but common $15-16, both together for under $30.
The experience, on the other hand, is dishearteningly pathetic. When you purchase an album, you have to download each song one at a time, and you only get one shot. Luckily, as I downloaded, my internet connection didn’t crap out and my browser didn’t crash, as I assume either would require a tech support call to remedy. And I did have to actually buy a couple of albums, because nowhere in the FAQ does it explain to “discerning music fans” what format the FLACs are.
As the Pretty Hate Machine remaster (the only Nine Inch Nails album on Groovetown) was only available on vinyl and not FLAC, I picked up Them Crooked Vultures’ self-titled album, and It’s Blitz! by The Yeah Yeah Yeahs for sampling. I checked them out, and then I threw them away. Everything on Groovetown is 16-bit / 44.1khz. CD quality. Technically better than 256kbs files you can get from iTunes and Amazon, but practically the same, for all but the most hardcore audiophiles. Groovetown advertises its FLAC option with a bold lie from a 12 year old copywriter: “Basically it sounds better!” No. Technically, it may be slightly better, but basically, it does not sound better.
This is not the 24-bit audio promised by Interscope CEO Jimmy Iovine. And it’s pretty odd that UMG would launch a direct, inferior competitor to a service its child company is actively working on making even better.
Unfortunately, my experience working for the major record industry as both an employee and independent contractor prevent me from holding on to any hope that this sad pile of almost wasn’t a huge investment of time and money, which is just painful. It’s a start, but it’s not even VEVO to iTunes’ YouTube. Especially as it stands today, it’s pointless. The FLACs aren’t worth the hassle, and there are countless vinyl retailers with reputations for customer service, better prices, and better selections even of UMG’s own catalog.
This is exactly the kind of thing I’m campaigning for web-wide. My one nitpick is that I want a FLAC download to be given for free – gasp! – when I buy vinyl. I shouldn’t have to shell out extra money to get a lossless/digital version if i’m buying their big vinyl package. They’re already getting my money, and providing me a download at the same price costs them virtually nothing.