Top 40 Music on CD Forum : 80s Promo CD Singles

80s Promo CD Singles : <The oldest one I have is "Alone"...

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:10:25 +0000

Author: EdisonLite
Subject: 4640
Posted: 01 March 2009 at 11:10pm

The oldest one I have is from 1986 - "Dreamtime" by Daryl Hall - and I'm sure glad I got it because it's about 20 seconds longer than the LP length! And it's not available anywhere else on CD except this promo single!

Though it's from 1986, there are quite a few 1987 singles (that are unique because of their mixes) that were never released as promo CD singles:

Every Little Kiss - Bruce Hornsby...
Holding On - Jonathan Butler
Special Way - Kool & the Gang
Love Lives On - Joe Cocker (this song was never on CD at all!)

and maybe a few others ... and sadly, I have to use their vinyl counterparts because they've never been issued on CD, compilation CDs, foreign CDs or promo CDs.

80s Promo CD Singles : <I haven't listed a music...

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:06:37 +0000

Author: EdisonLite
Subject: 4640
Posted: 01 March 2009 at 11:06pm

I remember that warning, too. But I haven't sold anything on ebay in a long time. Knowing the lawsuit that was dropped, is ebay still putting that disclaimer on there?

80s Promo CD Singles : The CD my post above referred...

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 13:51:25 +0000
Author: Paul C
Subject: 4640
Posted: 26 February 2009 at 1:51pm

The CD my post above referred to was indeed a "Promo Only" CD.

I haven't listed a music item on Ebay in two or three years, but it at least used to be that if you tried to list an item in the "Music" category, you first got a message warning you that the listing of promotional items was prohibited.

80s Promo CD Singles : Promo Only has their own magazine...

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 11:54:32 +0000
Author: Steve Sharp
Subject: 4640
Posted: 26 February 2009 at 11:54am

Promo Only has their own magazine that comes with a subscription to any of their services. A few months ago, they ran an article on the topic of people reselling materials they've issued. While I don't think criminal prosecution is applied, nor do I know of anyone who has had to return Promo Only discs, Promo Only has managed to halt Ebay sales and subsequently cancel subscriptions of those who were offering to sell. In order words, they cut you off.

80s Promo CD Singles : Aaron: No, not that I know of....

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 07:31:02 +0000
Author: eriejwg
Subject: 4640
Posted: 26 February 2009 at 7:31am

Aaron:

No, not that I know of.

80s Promo CD Singles : eriejwg wrote:Not sure how...

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 23:44:26 +0000
Author: aaronk
Subject: 4640
Posted: 25 February 2009 at 11:44pm

eriejwg wrote:

Not sure how it covers subscription services such as Promo Only, RPM Top Hits and TMStudios product. I believe, in those cases, though labeled as promotional and not for sale, can't be sold because it's in a way a 'lease'. I know Promo Only actively goes after people trying to re-sell their product.

When were the first 80's promo CD's created? 1985 or so?

I'm not even sure that those subscription services could stop you from selling their CDs. Why are those any different from promo CDs issued by the record label? Lease or no lease, they have no intention of getting those CDs back from you. Have you ever heard of them trying to retrieve their "leased" CDs?

80s Promo CD Singles : The oldest one I have is "Alone"...

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:49:41 +0000
Author: Hykker
Subject: 4640
Posted: 25 February 2009 at 7:49pm

The oldest one I have is "Alone" by Heart, which was from 1987.

I don't know about now, but TM-Century used to be pretty strict about selling Hit/GoldDiscs. They're not all that hard to find at record shows, but big surprise. I'm one of the remaining 7 people in America who has never bought or sold anything on Ebay.

80s Promo CD Singles : Not sure how it covers subscription...

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:14:38 +0000
Author: eriejwg
Subject: 4640
Posted: 25 February 2009 at 7:14pm

Not sure how it covers subscription services such as Promo Only, RPM Top Hits and TMStudios product. I believe, in those cases, though labeled as promotional and not for sale, can't be sold because it's in a way a 'lease'. I know Promo Only actively goes after people trying to re-sell their product.

When were the first 80's promo CD's created? 1985 or so?

80s Promo CD Singles : I just found a nice (long) article...

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 14:23:27 +0000
Author: aaronk
Subject: 4640
Posted: 25 February 2009 at 2:23pm

I just found a nice (long) article regarding the lawsuit, which was dismissed in June 2008. The bottom line is that it is NOT illegal to sell promotional CDs, and eBay certainly does not block sellers from listing and selling promo CDs. I, for one, have sold dozens of promo CDs that I picked up in used record stores for cheap, knowing they would fetch a higher price on eBay.

Essentially, it's the same laws that allow you to sell your original, purchased CDs that allow you to sell promos. Even though the original recipient might not have paid for them, the record label gave them as gifts, since it has no intention or plan of action to collect the discs back from the recipients.

80s Promo CD Singles : Recently, there was a big lawsuit...

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 14:07:58 +0000
Author: aaronk
Subject: 4640
Posted: 25 February 2009 at 2:07pm

Recently, there was a big lawsuit between eBay seller "Roast Beast" and the music industry. I don't know if the case has been decided yet or not, but it involved whether or not it is legal for promotional items to be sold.

From what I read about the case a while back, it doesn't look like there is anything in the law that prohibits a person from selling a promotional item, as long as it's the original item and not an unauthorized copy. Even though the record labels put all kinds of disclaimers like "not for sale" or "must be returned upon demand of the record company," I'm not sure if they can legally enforce those disclaimers, and that is what the case involves.

Either way, there are still TONS of promotional CDs listed on eBay; however, the older ones are certainly getting much harder to come by.