disccogs

[aragorn723]

Can someone tell me what this description means on Disccogs? "LP, ALBUM, Promo, SP".  Not sure about the Promo, SP part.

Thanks,

Dave

[oguinn]

I think it’s a promotional copy, special pressing. Typically the Notes section of the release in Discogs would denote what made it a special pressing.

[aragorn723]

I think it’s a promotional copy, special pressing. Typically the Notes section of the release in Discogs would denote what made it a special pressing.

The notes say "promotional copy, not for sale" LOL.

[Doc B.]

When you licensed an album you paid in advance for a certain number of copies to be sold and also a certain number of copies that could be distributed free of charge for marketing, for example, to radio stations for airplay. Those promo copies must be labeled not for sale to not be counted as product for which a royalty must be paid.

[aragorn723]

I learned something new    So as far as the recording, it should sound the same as the non-promotional copies?  Any reason not to buy it?

Dave

[Doc B.]

Yeah, they are from regular pressing runs, just labeled differently.

[caffeinator]

Promo copies often have markings on them to denote their non-marketable status, like the text you shared, but also sometimes there may be a corner of the jacket cut off, or a small slot cut into a corner, or other physical alteration. This may in some cases affect the resale value of the album. Of course, that could be in either a positive or negative way, though for the marks that deface the album or jacket, more likely negative.

[Doc B.]

Those are cut-outs. Cut-outs are not necessarily promo copies. They are most often LPs that were returned unsold by a retailer to the distributor. They were cut out in some manner and then wholesaled at a discount and typically sold in bargain bins. These markings matter little to the end user in terms of recording quality, it's simply an accounting detail that has to do with whether the LP counts in the royalty payments and whether they can be returned (again). The reason cutouts happened is that as well as a predetermined number of copies allowed, a license typically has a predetermined length to the period the licensed copies can be sold. If you licensed and pressed 10,000 copies with a two year term and you have a pile of 5000 LPs left 21 months into the license period you blow out your remaining stock.

The little things you learn when you own a record label...