Questioning our romance with physical media

Ever wonder what happens when you order from Debacle?

I've been secretly adding bonus records to domestic orders (sorry international friends, shipping is cruel). It's my little way of saying thanks and sharing music I think you'll dig. So Jason, that Modern Folk order you placed? There's a surprise coming with it.

This week I'm diving deeper into a question that's been bubbling in my brain: do we need physical media for every release? With tariffs rising, PVC costs climbing, and the honest truth that some amazing records only sell 7-10 copies in their first few months... maybe it's time to rethink our approach.

I'm not abandoning physical - far from it. But what if we explored alternatives for certain releases? High-quality art prints, legit sticker packs by paid artists, or even limited run clothing that gets your music out in the world instead of sitting on a shelf? The collector in me cringes, but the pragmatist sees potential.

The most interesting pattern: artists get excited about the concept until they realize we're talking about THEIR record not having a physical edition. That legitimacy theater runs deep.

What do you think? Comment directly - I want this to be a conversation, not just me rambling. And meanwhile, please check out David Van Alken's November record if you haven't already. It deserves so much more attention than it's getting.

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