You buy a new record, rip off the shrink wrap, pull out the record sleeve, and one of three things might happen: (1) a little card comes floating out onto the floor, inconspicuously never to be seen again, you don't even care because you are so focused on your new vinyl; (2) a little card comes floating out onto the floor, you pick it up, you are happy, you return to be focused on your new vinyl; or (3) you shake the record sleeve in disappointment looking for that little flimsy slip of paper, but alas there is none. In the last scenario, you panic. Wait, maybe it fell out when you took out the record? Where is it!?! In actuality, most new vinyl will advertise this special bonus with a sticker on the front. Some artists (for example, Puscifer) never include them. Is this a problem? A statement? Are they just lazy? Where is that little f^%@ing card!?! Have the VVers spent too much time thinking about this? Clearly.
Room for Debate: Why include the download card?
Portability. The "free download" included with many newly pressed records is a nice gesture, a little extra incentive that appeals to those that want their music to travel with them. Once you've got your greasy little mitts on those little ones and zeros (00101101011101001111) you can get more familiar with them anywhere and on any device! The sound is often wildly different based on the media, but whatever, right? The VVers have found that digital versions tend to sound faster compared to the vinyl version; it's also possible the VVers need a new turntable. More importantly, why shell out for music on vinyl if you are going to spend most of your time listening to those digitized and compressed tunes on lackluster earbuds that sound awful? This is a surefire way to make you forget how good the music is. Isn't this the main point to your vinyl devotion? Good acoustics and nice plush cover art. You aren't seeing that from a download card or on the screen of your mini device. Music in the car does have its merits... Music on the go has its merits... But is this really why you bought the vinyl? With the advent of smart phones, streaming music, and cloud-based systems, music is everywhere at all times. You bought the vinyl because you care about something more. Nice job.
Familiarity. If you listen to an album so much digitally because you love the music, you may forget to listen to it on record, so what is the point of having the record? This happens to VVer #2 often. She will listen to those albums she loves that are in the vinyl collection that also have a download: Jack White Blunderbuss, Crocodiles Crimes of Passion, The Faint Doom Abuse. The VVers are glad that they reside on an iPod to jam out to when on the train/bus/walking, but sometimes feel it takes away from how much time is spent appreciating the vinyl itself. It is actually a treat to listen to these records on vinyl, they really do sound different. Not having a download card will force you to listen to the album on vinyl. Not the worst thing. Not at all.
Source Material. If the album was recorded digitally anyway, ok, include the download. But then ask yourself why you are buying the vinyl in the first place? There better be some damn good art work, plush packaging, or snazzy colored wax. A download card included with an analog recorded record makes less sense. Unless you are getting access to high fidelity versions of the digital, you're basically getting garbage. Record labels give you low bit versions of digital on purpose so there remains more than just a lingering incentive to get the physical media. Shop wisely.
Lasting Value. When re-selling vinyl online, on Discogs for example, people want the download card that came with the album. This is silly in the VVers' view for three reasons: (1) it's damn hard to keep track of those cards and they are often lost or recycled years after the record is bought; (2) the download codes often times expire either after a period of time or after a certain amount of downloads; and (3) are you paying for the vinyl or the digital? The download card itself is usually a scrap of paper with not much going on. There are some exceptions that are slightly artful, and even occasionally a bit exciting. Still... more than the vinyl itself? Never.
Example. The VVers are big The Faint fans. They recently went to see them and danse at 9:30 Club. Spectacular. The Faint has a new(ish) album just released, CAPSULE: 1999-2015, which is essentially a greatest hits, plus one new track and a bonus 45 of two additional new songs. Why not buy it? Score! VVer #2 found a little download card floating out and took the initiative to download it; ever since, it has been on constant repeat on the iPod getting to and from work. Songs are oh so addictive and must be listened to again and again. What is nice is that some songs were familiar, but VVer #2 has developed a newfound appreciation for them. This sparked an interest in listening to the older vinyl from whence the songs came. For example, "Paranoiattack," "I Disappear," and "Southern Belles in London Sing" are constantly stuck in her head, and all happen to be from the album Wet From Birth, which the VVers have on their record shelf, but are not entirely familiar with. Upon revisiting, not only are these particular songs great, but the rest of the album has a newfound fantastic-ness. Wet From Birth still has The Faint's electronic sounds, but also strings and orchestra instruments throughout. What should be taken from this? Sometimes digital is good for a re-invigorated interest in all of that other vinyl sitting on the shelf.
Words of Wisdom: If the digital version is so important for you to have, just buy it digitally.
For the VVers, there is no conundrum. The vinyl is what they want and if there is also a download, that's ok.
