Buying Music Monthly Service?

[DJ Gray]

I have been toying with the idea of getting one of the periodic music services. Promo, Prime cuts.

I have Questions, (1)Do they cover anything other than current pop, hip-hop, rap, etc.? (2)Are these sevices legal meaning if I buy and use am I legal? (3)Which one does a better job of covering all styles of music, not just the categories as above?

I have been just buying new Cd's either on amazon or E-bay as I see fit, but I can't buy them all, so I'm looking for some alternatives. Any Idea's?

 

[Jon Tuck]

you could buy the past sets and get much great selections. I am about to start my new sub with PRimecuts Canada and really the only benefit is for the kids gigs as you will have the songs before they ask for it at an event promo only is much the same but on more occasion a kid will ask for a song you wont have on Promo Only.The only way you would get older stuff is by buying the old releases if available. The PRimecuts do well giving the AC stuff even Michael Buble and Rod Stewart, I think even had Matt Dusk when he was popular. Primecuts also will add any hot latin music as well. PRomo breaks it down more and you have to buy additional discs each month to get the same variety.

 

[DJMC]

Oops, I didn't see this thread b/c its buried in "Music".

Yes its music-related but more relevant to the "Big Show" or "Growing Your Business" (where I would have seen it sooner).

Prime Cuts (www.tmcentury.com) is the price leader in the CD-promo marketplace. ($50 per month, CDs shipped weekly)

RPM (Top Hits USA) (www.tophitsusa.com) is the service I've used for 15+ years (the one I've been getting is $59 per month with my CDs shipped monthly, they charge something like $75 per month to have your CDs shipped weekly).

Promo Only (www.promoonly.com) offers "a la carte" pricing for various genres, including Smooth Jazz. They charge something like $16 per CD.

ERG (www.ergmusic.com) also offers "a la carte" music CD subscriptions. I'm currently getting their "Regional Mexican, Nu Latin Traxx" series (about $11 per month in a 3 year subscription direct from ERG, but its $18 per disc when you buy from one of their retail dealers.)

The problem with the "a bit of everything" services, like PC and RPM (above), is you get stuck with a LOT of CHR, rap, C/W, AC, Rock, and stuff you won't use.

Because I do a little bit of everything, I benefit greatly with these services. I'm spending about $75 per month on music, on average.

Some months, I spend more on POSTAGE than what I expend on music!!!

 

[Flyingdjdan]

I get the prime cuts weekly service.

Like DJMC, I am not just doing weddings. Their service (imo) is the best. If a song hits top 30 in AC, Country, urban, Rock, you are guaranteed to have it. They also give you a couple dance radio edits, and a couple christian. Since subscribing, I have yet to need a "new" song that was "released".

They now have a monthly service for much less. No guarantee of the "top 30 coverage" just the hottest songs. If weddings are all you do, this may be worth looking into. If I wern't trying to expand into other avenues for the time being, I would probably go this route.

I used RPM several years ago. Kick but coverage. I had ,pst everything... and I mean everything! Lots of filler I never used, but, I had it.

Promo only is good coverage. IMO, a little late on some releases, and you need seperate subscriptions for ac, country, dance, etc.

I feel prime cuts is well worth the cost. Especially with the cost of fuel... 1 trip to the store a month for 1 cd???

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Not too sure how ebay is going to handle all the "changes" several states are making in reguard to reselling used cd's. Several have passed laws reguarding resale, and from what I have read, are quite strick.

It is "said" to help stop boot leg selling. But I also have seen the used cd sale laws compared to that of purchasing / reselling a gun??? Go figure.


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As for the legal issues. Prime cuts has data embeded on the cd for reading to the computer, therefore, I would guess it is legal for computer djing. Some others do not.

From what I have seen, using a subscription service is about as legal as you can get for pre recorded music performance without buying a mechanical license...

 

[DJ Gray]

I guess what I'm doing now is more economical. I spend maybe 45-50 a month, and I get the Cd's I need,want, and like. Part of the problem is I don't do weddings, so I'm not in need of the new Pop.