I'll download it when it leaks, but I'll keep my opinion to myself.

And I'll buy 3 copies when it comes out!

I would pay for the mp3s if you would sell them to me. Just sayin.

'to thine own self be true.'

Word. Thats all that matters dude.

Yeah music is made to be heard, but you wouldn't steal food out of his mouth, would you?

I most certainly would not. And so far, the only one of his albums I've payed for is Ki. It's the only one I've been able to buy. Alright, I could've got a few more if I'd differred resources from other things I've bought (though DEP is quite a bit poorer so I don't see much that would help), but I can't afford to buy all the music I have. And it's not as if he'd somehow have more money if I had completely abstained from listening to Alien, City, Ocean Machine, Terria, etc.
I have every intention of buying the DTP box set when it comes out, and that'll be it for a while. Also note I avoid wasting limited funds on helping out huge bands like Metallica, and never buy anything used if it can be downloaded.

To me, waiting the full time only makes the first listen better.

[The Dev]

Downloading once it's out is a little different, I guess I just don't like spoiling the surprise, money aside.

I think it's a massive insult downloading devins music and then criticising it.

We all love his music, show a bit of respect to a guy who works his ass off.

I'm not against downloading, just feel that if you dig it, give something back! If you don't, then that is stealing IMHO.

Woah Leechmaster you're definitely overreacting and you need to change your tampon PRONTO!!! Absolutely no disrespect to Devin at all! I'm a musician as well, and I know how it feels to put everything I have into my music. If they download my music or ask for a free cd from me, absolutely. As long as the word get out and increases the number fans, then I will do anything, just so people can hear what I have to say in my music. I know that I will sell albums anyways to keep the family afloat, so I don't worry about charging everyone, just so they can spread the word on my music. I feel grateful for them helping me in that way! Now Leechmaster, you seem to overreact to everything on what people say, so there's no sense in talking to you. I mean no disrespect to Devin at all!!! He is a major influence to me and to my direction in music! Devin you are a fuckin master at what you do, and I would never mean to disrespect what you do!!!

So to be clear, I can't stop it, so I don't try...but after 4 months of soul crushing work, to have it downloaded 2 months in advance, and sell 800 copies in the first week, and then have people tell me 2 months in advance all the problems with it pretty much takes the wind out of my sails. I'm just saying...but you know, it's a forum so you can state what you want.

I'll keep busting my ass because I think the music I'm privileged enough to make is worth people hearing, download it if you're gonna, I don't know what else to say.

That is pretty damn crushing. Its a downer to hear about how low some people can get...thinking they know the album better than the guy who made the damn thing. Its fine to evaluate an album, but to gank it ages before the release and be a total D-bag about how it sounds. But that last line is inspiring and noble there, Dev. I'm glad those who think they can tell you how to do what you do haven't gotten to you or broken you spirit during your pursuit to complete the DTP albums. You can't control what people are going to do...fans, critics, and D-bags alike...but I guess that "comes with the job." As long as you see something worth sharing in what you create, though, there will be some peoples out there willing to listen with a open mind (even if it is just 800 within the first week ).

ur kik sukd in ki an addick sonds liek syl and aba has a baby with down syndome yo.
Even if Addicted does leak I'll probably wait until it comes out, if for nothing besides the selfish reason of wanting to download it in higher quality for the first listen. I'm almost grateful for massive computer failure and a lack of internet for over a month before Ki came out.

Downloading once it's out is a little different, I guess I just don't like spoiling the surprise, money aside.

Some one mentioned Tool a few post back. Recall a radio host saying how Maynard was personally securely holding onto his original when he was giving preview listens. For the same reason.

Any merch. companies getting interested?
What clothing styles might suit promoting the Box set when complete? (or vice versa)
This is where the money game is at I reckon. Trends, culture, combining and mixing it up, then shamelessly promoted.

Yeah, downloading bums me out. Hard, but it can't be helped...and if an artist ever says he's against it, a legion of people tear your head off telling you about the fans 'rights'.

So to be clear, I can't stop it, so I don't try...but after 4 months of soul crushing work, to have it downloaded 2 months in advance, and sell 800 copies in the first week, and then have people tell me 2 months in advance all the problems with it pretty much takes the wind out of my sails. I'm just saying...but you know, it's a forum so you can state what you want.

I think it's so fucking retarded that people (fans, I'm assuming, as opposed to friends whose advice you actively solicit) would be presumptuous enough to criticise your music. Or any music for that matter. What is that criticism based on? A pre-conceived perception of something they're expecting from you? Tell you what, I bet everyone would be on your case about doing something different if you released five records in a row that all sounded the same as "City". That is disheartening. Fuck 'em.

Maybe this dtp teaches me once and for all that you can't please everyone, 'to thine own self be true.'

I'll keep busting my ass because I think the music I'm privileged enough to make is worth people hearing, download it if you're gonna, I don't know what else to say.

I think most of us here appreciate the fact that you do bust your arse (no, not "ass"... I'm Australian, haha) and most of us are more than willing to part with our hard-earned to support you cause we love your music - many of us will buy the album more than once. Of course, I'm also hoping that there will be a wealth of bonus material on the enormous DTP "box set" thingy you have planned... perhaps "Meatball" and "Telescopes Are Gay" will be included? And naturally, am more than happy to hand over cash to support a musician whose output I greatly admire.

Not sure if you've investigated this or not, but maybe you should look into getting an account at bandcamp.com. It's free, you can upload as much music as you want, and people can stream every track. You can select the currency of your choice, set your own price for a download, or you can let the fan set a minimum price, or enable a low-quality mp3 to be downloaded for free but pay if they want a higher quality file (mp3, flac, aac, etc). You can enable individual files for download separate to an album. You can "hide" tracks and group them with albums to offer as bonus material with an album download. You can even upload additional things like a pdf of the album artwork which is then included with the album download.

I've got 2 different bandcamp sites (for different music projects) and find it useful to have one place where I can control what music gets released and what price it goes for. Me personally, I'm completely unknown, am not a full-time musician and have no expectations of setting a world record for album downloads, but at least I have somewhere my friends and family can hear my music. I mean, MySpace is okay and all, but really, the quality of the music player is absolutely atrocious and it's very limiting as to how much music you can put up there. At least then if people who don't want a physical copy of the CD who only want to download stuff can get music at a price you decide. And if the reason they want to download it is only because they can get it for free, then fuck 'em. It was nice to get the 3 bonus Ki tracks for free but I would have happily paid a few bucks. Something like that might be better for your "free" bonus tracks rather than releasing them as a torrent? Just a thought.

Downloading once it's out is a little different, I guess I just don't like spoiling the surprise, money aside.

Ditto. There's nothing better than getting that package from HDR in the mail and rushing home to throw it on the stereo. Plus I love getting one of Tracy's smiley faced messages. That holds true for most music too - ordered the deluxe edition of the next Porcupine Tree album, can't wait for it to arrive... for the elaborate packaging as much as the music (not to mention the 5.1 mix). Downloading cheapens not only the music, but the experience. Instant gratification is highly overrated.

Ro

Some one mentioned Tool a few post back. Recall a radio host saying how Maynard was personally securely holding onto his original when he was giving preview listens. For the same reason.

Whoa really? It's understandable - Tool fans are like piranhas...absolutely rabid. lol at Maynard.

Any merch. companies getting interested?
What clothing styles might suit promoting the Box set when complete? (or vice versa)
This is where the money game is at I reckon. Trends, culture, combining and mixing it up, then shamelessly promoted.

This is what I'm wondering about - MERCH! The DTP shirts that came out when Ki was released were great, a big success! Hopefully there will be more shirts to come at some point? Well, one step at a time, right?

Downloading once it's out is a little different, I guess I just don't like spoiling the surprise, money aside.

I buy digital downloads from amazon. Ki was available for purchase on amazon (mp3) before the CD was released.

Question: Is the artist's share from a digital download purchase similar to the share from a CD sale? (assuming the whole album is purchased, not just a few songs)

I think I've said it before, and I'll say it again. I'll support any artist that I think makes good music, regardless of what he/she puts out. Even if dev put a pile of crap out, I'd probably buy it just because I know that A> he can't always make an album that makes me want to wear the disk of 10 times over, B> every artist has a bad album every once in a while and C> I'm sure it would do me better to support dev and give him the 10$ for a CD so he can put out another album because the next one will probably be great. Not saying that I dislike any of his albums thus far. I still listen to KI

I think i trust Devin more than any other musician out there right now because he's show the world time and time again that he's just a down to earth musician who wants to make music. The difference is, some band will start strong and then completely change their sound and put out crap on purpose because it sells. That's something I'm against, and I won't but it because I won't download it either.

An example of an album I didn't like, but I bought it to support a band, was the new In Flames CD. I heard it on myspace, thought it was alright, bought it, put it on my Ipod. I think it's alright, but it's not something I really want to listen to alot. I bought it even though I knew from hearing the whole thing on myspace that I wouldn't listen to it much. When they came to the U.S. touring for that album I was indeed excited and amazed when their show, as i knew it would be, was still amazing even with the new songs. In Flames doesn't stop playing songs just because the album is over 10 years old. They played some older shit that night and it was awesome. I'll continue to support them till they die, just because I have such a respect for them as musicians.

Downloading sucks. I don't think anyone can argue that, but some people aren't as bad as the 14 year olds are. I don't see it as a way to get free music. If I download something I usually buy/have bought it already. The internet is full of scum. What can I say.