Albums that shouldn't be out of print...

yeah it really annoyed me to see all those Hosono reissues sell out immediately and go for 3x the price. I feel like if you've been posting about the guy for a decade you deserve a shot at a copy, even if you didn't preorder.

Or, more aggravatingly, trying to find a out-of-print boxed set, and then the artist dies, and the same set is a couple hundred $ more than a week (or a day) earlier. Aretha Franklin's Take A Look was going for maybe $100-$175, but right after she died, it was (is) impossible to find for less than $350.

when a hyped box sells out before the release date even hits, doesn't that also show that the label is leaving money on the table? Seems like running out that fast would merit at least one more run, if the demand is there, but I don't run a label so...

― soaring skrrrtpeggios (jon /via/ chi 2.0)

Minimizing risk seems to take priority over maximizing profit these days. They need or want to sell everything pressed.
Especially those running smaller boutique or vanity labels who have to store their own stock, vs. labels whose unsold stock sits in a distributor's warehouse.
Fwiw I have spoken to artists who are very frustrated by this practice, and others who grudgingly accept it.

As you say the focus is not (and imo, should not be) on physical product

Yeah, that all makes sense, and I get it. My expectations adjust depending on the label, artist, etc. I have a little less understanding when a label like Universal blows it with something like that Thompson box set.

I hung around waiting for a copy of that Trees box set to appear as an Xmas present that had been ordered and supposedly sent to me. It never appeared. NOw just had to pay for a copy so hoping that is the end of the story.

I thought i got the audio for the Thompson box which had the late 70s lps by the couple then couldn't find it. Shame would love a copy cos I don't know that late 70s stuff between Pour Down Like Silver and Shoot Out The Lights. & that was a box that was getting publicity and reviews almost everywhere and Thompson is not exactly unknown either. So yeah what exactly gives like.

im sympathetic to risk-averse labels insofar as (ime) people saying "i would totally buy that" do not in fact always totally buy that

Oh, absolutely. I just hate to see buying new music turn into some sneaker drop thing where you have to be on the right website or see the right tweet at the exactly right time to snag a pre-order.

no yeah totally. as a consumer there can be this almost demeaning element to it. like yesterday i got a promo email from a label about a short run repressing of a recent-ish release i wanted , "COPIES IN STOCK, WILL SELL OUT!", i immediately followed the link and bought a copy, and while i'm excited to get this album theres also a weird gross feeling about like buying something on command

I am upset that I feel bad I missed out on the Deepchord - Lanterns limited repress. FOMO is a valuable tool. The same thing exists with boutique video game publishers; it's their entire business model.

I've been lucky enough to score a Grouper 7" that remains $75+ on discogs

On the other hand I've been had by the "X copies remaining" manipulative device on bandcamp and overpaid for an album or 2. Freaking FOMO.

I’m guessing they are in indie ownership rights limbo but I would figure there would be interest in getting those early Screaming Trees records into print again.

To me, Buzz Factory was my favorite one they did and it is crazy expensive on secondary markets as a cd and Lp at this point.

i saw copies of the first three SST Lps yesterday at a store- don't know how long they'll be available though

here it is-

https://sstsuperstore.com/products/screaming-trees-buzz-factory-lp

More than a few old Rhino Handmade releases, but especially T Bone Burnett - Proof Through the Night/Trap Door EPs