Here's Why Digital Still Matters and How to Crush It
Let's face it, streaming is king these days. But if you're only focused on physical merch and ignoring digital sales, you're leaving money on the table.
Why Bother with Digital?
- Chart Impact: Digital sales still count for Billboard charts. More sales = higher chart positions = more visibility. It's a less crowded space than physical album charts too.
- Fan Support: Not every fan can drop $50 on vinyl. Digital offers an affordable way for fans to directly support you or even make an impulse purchase.
- Instant Gratification: No shipping delays here. Fans get your music immediately.
Strategies That Actually Work
1. Price It Right
A$AP's got the right idea, pricing albums at $5. It's low enough for most fans to purchase when vinyl usually costs $30-50, but still counts for charts. Win-win.
2. Exclusive D2C Downloads
Kacey Musgraves knows what's up. For her latest release, she included a digital-only track available for just one week. The limited-time offer plus exclusive content really got fans moving.
3. Alt Covers for the Win
Megan Thee Stallion is all over this. Different digital covers cost you almost nothing extra but give fans different reasons to buy. Some superfans even snag all versions.
4. Streamline the Purchase with Upsells
Use upsell apps like Candy Rack to make adding digital albums to carts effortless. Usher nailed this when he partnered with SKIMS, promoting album add-ons right on their site. It made grabbing his album a no-brainer for shoppers. The takeaway? Friction-free purchasing = more sales.
The Takeaway
Digital sales might not be the biggest piece of the pie anymore, but they're far from irrelevant. Play it smart, and you can climb the charts while turning your streaming fans into fans who buy your music directly!
