Now that downloads are far outselling the physical single, do you think the traditional B-sides and bonus tracks on singles will become a thing of the past? Most people who download a single will just pay for the main track and not bother with any b-sides or bonus tracks. Which means as less and less physical singles are selling, a b-side will hardly get played any more, so will an artist bother recording one just for the sake of it?

 

I remember the days when I used to go out and buy a cd single just for the B-sides!

Good question ^_^

 

For me, considering I don't buy singles, b-sides aren't that important at all - if I ever do buy a single it's certainly not for the b-sides. My experience of them is that they're pretty poor and not worth paying money for when you can just download the one track you like. So yeah, you make a good point - surely the market for b-sides is becoming smaller and smaller now that people prefer downloading?

I reckon they'll still be included because B sides are a good insentive for fans to buy singles.

 

A lot of artists don't include them anymore anyway, a lot of pop artists just include remixes now.

so will an artist bother recording one just for the sake of it?

 

I thought b-sides were tracks that didn't make the final cut of an album?

Now that downloads are far outselling the physical single, do you think the traditional B-sides and bonus tracks on singles will become a thing of the past? Most people who download a single will just pay for the main track and not bother with any b-sides or bonus tracks. Which means as less and less physical singles are selling, a b-side will hardly get played any more, so will an artist bother recording one just for the sake of it?

 

ISTM that B-sides are often just rejected album tracks, so artists will aways have something to put on there.

 

In any case, there are still going to be quite a few people who prefer CD's to downloads (such as myself), so they'll remain, albeit as a shrinking market.

 

I enjoy hearing B-Sides from bands such as Arctic Monkeys and Sugababes but maybe if they were to get rid of B-Sides artists might start making bonus editions of their albums with tracks that would have been B-Sides.

Edited February 9, 200718 yr by TheOrdinaryArcticBoy

Do downloaded dance remixes of a song count as separate chart entry from the original?

I do like buying singles with rare B-sides as some tracks cannot be found on the album especially live tracks, but I hardly buy any singles these days

I think they'll carry on being released on CDs, and you can download them off the internet too. ^_^

 

What about double A-sides though? :o Ala Steps - Heartbeat/Tragedy. :(

Some of my favorite tracks are b sides. I'd hate them to stop. They are usually less commercial but often very good.

Some of my favorite tracks are b sides. I'd hate them to stop. They are usually less commercial but often very good.

 

Agreed, some of my favourite Lucie tracks are her b-sides.

B-Sides are amazing :wub:

 

Most of them are just rejected album tracks to be honest, but some can be excellent :D

I LOVE B-Sides, take Anastacia - Underground Army for example :wub:

One of my favourite Enya songs is a B-side actually come to think of it. ^_^

I LOVE B-Sides, take Anastacia - Underground Army for example :wub:

 

I love that one. :wub:

No i think as long as physical singles continue, B-sides will always be around.

 

And there have been some good b-sides, eg. Silent Footsteps by Jennifer Ellison which was the b-side to Baby I Don't Care.

 

I thought b-sides were tracks that didn't make the final cut of an album?

Not necessarily. Some artists record songs especially for b-sides. I know the Pipettes do it!

If (like in America) B-sides could start charting

P!nk's HEartbreaker could be #1

Kylie's Made of glass was the b-side of Giving you up...it clearly should have been the other way round

i disagree i like made of glass and yes it would have been a great single but giving you up is brilliant also