Online Buying and Downloading

[James McFadyen]

sparked by the In Trouble later thread:

Now, I really want all publishers to come in and comment on this 1!! :lol:

Why, despite the technology available do publishers still release sheet music. Why do we not have them downloadable? I'm not talking about SibeliusMusic, I'm talking about direct from the publishers website.

Things u'd need:

1) Decent amount of web space (loads for a cheep price nowadays)
2) The ability to use databases and probably asp on the web server.
3) the ability to take payments ie: credit card, PayPal, e-cheques.

Now for me, the only thing stopping me is number 2, I can't use databases on my current web provider.

But why do us publishers not embark on this line of though, where ppl can buy online, and print it themselves?

This would cut our costs for printing and post-production and postage costs (if not paid by the customer)

Just wondering everyones line of thought about this, especially those who publish music.

Downloadable free music doesn't count, since this is very easy to set up, what I'm talking about is instead of ppl ordering then waiting for their music to arrive, the can order it online and download it right there and then.

The fact of ppl paying by Credit Cards may be an issue since a lot of BB want to pay be cheque.

However I don't see why a notification can't be send (via email) of the persons order details, and the publisher could invoice the customer. Now that might just eliminate the need to use a database on the web server. mmmmmmm.

 

[James McFadyen]

Actually now that I think about it u'd still need to use a database (be it MySQL, MS Acess, etc) and asp.

:cry:

 

[Nigel Hall]

I think in all honesty James the price of setting it up and maintaining it will put most of us non-techies off. I can just about cope with updating my website thru FrontPage without worrying about databases etc. As I can take credit cards anyway I can send music out almost straight away and it can be received within 48 hours - fast enough I think for most people.

 

[Accidental]

And I think the time and hassle-factor involved in printing, collating and binding anything longer than 1 page would put a lot of bands off!

 

[PeterBale]

And what about your campaign for the use of super-quality paper :?: :shock: :wink:

 

[James McFadyen]

Indeed peter! :wink:

I think there certainly is a time factor for publishers since it relies heavily on web security and maintaining.

And like Alex said, puts customers in charge of printing it off and binding, etc, which might put some customers off.

In concept the idea is good, but I agree with u in practice maybe not.

So it looks like SibeliusMusic will remain the music-for-download specialists!

 

[Di]

As well as the problems of printing some of the larger pieces (oh for an A3 printer!!! ), would there be any way of guaranteeing the recipient could only print off one set of parts?

 

[floral_dance]

It is a good idea if it was user friendly.

 

[James McFadyen]

As well as the problems of printing some of the larger pieces (oh for an A3 printer!!! ), would there be any way of guaranteeing the recipient could only print off one set of parts?

Very valid point!!!! certainly if cusomers were to download pdf files, then they could print as many copies as they want at any given time. simarily if sib files were used. This is a major drawback.

If it were to be printed via Scorch, you could probably program your database so that the customer could only print 1 full set per purchase.

Bruce might be able to tell us if that could be done.

 

[James McFadyen]

It is a good idea if it was user friendly.

I would presume that for the customer downloading wouldn't be a problem, it would be user friendly.

The customer would have to print the part themselves and bind the score or staple it.

I agree with Nigel, it is likely to cause a lot of problems for us publishers, website are hard enough to update (unless it's a very simple website) without adding databases and asp to the equation, I know that if I were to offer downloadable purchaseing, I would need to learn how to do this, or get someone else to do it, which aint cheep.

But yea, as far as the customer is concerned the only thing you really need to worry about is printing it off and stapling or binding the score together.

 

[HBB]

and paying of course...

 

[PeterBale]

But yea, as far as the customer is concerned the only thing you really need to worry about is printing it off and stapling or binding the score together.

I think the amount of time involved in doing this is likely to deter most people, particularly as many printers need considerable supervision to make sure everyhting is running smoothly, and to remove copies from the tray before it overflows - which actually highlights another problem: how would you cope with the situation where a printer malfunction of some sort leads to copies being spoilt? In that situation, the customer would clearly need to be able to download again to retry, which leaves the system open to abuse.

 

[James McFadyen]

agree, Peter, my own experiences with home printers can vouch for that, that's why I print all my published sets at the local print shop.

In terms of being able to download, keeping it secure, but allowing to retry a download/print would be helpful and to be honest could be achieved with good web programming.

I think the main issue is end-user technology (just as Scorch uses end-user technology)

Certainly with the hassles of inkjet printers it can be cumbersome, but not nessesarily always mind you.