Big Jeff
Winger
I buy merch too. I like to have it and there is a good mark up for the bands.I see no merit in buying albums, I am satisfied with the quality of music streams. May as well donate the money to the bands but I won't do that. Gigs is where I will give my money directly. I haven't bought a band t-shirt since Knebworth 1979, so merch is out as well.
The music I buy is not mainstream or popular so I am often emailing some bloke in New York for T shirts.
The great thing is some bands or their people chuck some random free stuff in there too or even a personal message which is nice.
I doubt I would get a message from Mariah!!!