What Is DIY?-someone asked!

[The Royalties /jeff]

THIS IS SOMETHING I WROTE THAT TELLS WHAT DIY MEANS TO ME
> Subject: What Is DIY?
>
> Hello, My name is Jeff and The purpose of this article is to explain
> real DIY. First of all DIY stands for "Do It Yourself". Two different
> types of DIY bands are around today. The bands that are DIY because
> they have no choice but to be DIY. They would love to let a label own
> the music they make and do whatever wthey want with it but they cant
> get on the label so they are forced to make there own records
> themsleves. Then there are the bands that give a shit, the bands that
> look ahead, and think ahead. The Bands that are DIY for the sake of
> being DIY. They care about what people pay for the music they are a
> part of, they care about the scene and want to cut the prices in the
> scene. They are real DIY bands.
> What are the beliefs of these "Real DIY" bands? Lets start off by
> giving a bit of info about the costs involved in making music. Did you
> know that cd's cost less then one bucks to make! When you press in the
> thousands cd's cost about 80 cents to make each! After graphics and
> other art work or fees the nicest and coolest looking cd's still only
> cost less then 2 bucks each. Most of the time the cost comes to around
> 1.50 or so. These prices are for the so called "independent" labels,
> for major labels the cost is even less because they sometimes own the
> pressing plants where the cd's are made. Since most of us reading this
> use independent labels to buy music lets talk about them, and why they
> have NOTHING to do with DIY. As I was saying cd's cost less then 2
> bucks each to make, lets give the labels a break and say that cd's cost
> 3 bucks each to make. Then why dont we pay 6 or 7 bucks? They would
> still make money... right? Yes they would but they care more about
> Distributers then the scene or the kids. A "Real DIY" band puts the
> scene and the kids and THE PRICE THE KIDS PAY first on there list, not
> the stores or the distributers. The Difference between a label and a
> DIY BAND is the DIY band cares about what you pay! The labels sell the
> cd that they pay 3 to make(always less then 3, with smart labels who
> know how to cut costs) to the distributers for 6 or 7 and then the store
> sells it to you for 12 or 15. The Label will NOT sell the cd to the
> scene for the 6 or 7 buck price that they sell to distro because they
> dont care enough, they dont want to cut the distributers short. The DIY
> band says "THE SCENE COMES FIRST" the kids should pay the 6 or 7.(or 4
> or 5 with most good DIY bands)
> With a label bands also have to pay 6 or 7 for the music. The bands
> pay Distributer prices. No, the band CAN NOT pay the 3 bucks that it
> costs to make the cd, they have to pay 6 or 7. Crazy to think people
> out there make there own music and then have to but it from someone...?
> DIY may be something you agree with, you may have seen a band selling
> there cd at a show for 12 bucks and thought "why so much?" and you may
> have scene a store selling a cd for 15 bucks and said "Who has that much
> money?" Or you may disagree with DIY but at least now you know what it
> is about..
> ---Keep your pressing rights, dont be a part of overpriced comps, and
> cd's if you dont agree with the way they are run, and dont sign with a
> label. Thanks for your time and if you have any questions or comments
> call me @908 874 7527 or e-mail me @ ss...@ix.netcom.com....if you are
> in a band check out the costs in producing your own cd at a pressing
> plant. here are some contact numbers for info and stuff...Europadisk in
> NYC...press as little as only 200 cd's and still pay 95 cents each only.
> or press 100 for 80 cents. CALL EUROPADISK FOR A price listing, they
> will mail it to you free of charge. 1-800-445-8555. a CD and graphics
> place that does your graphis also...not the cheapest but they will send
> a free price listing too, joes production. call 303 442 1770. UNited
> Record pressing (press 7 inch records YOURSELF for 33 cents each or
> less!) call 615 259 9396. SEE FOR YOURSELF!! CONTACT THESE COMPANYS!!
> peace and love....jeff 908 874 7527