Drum Corps International is set to retire its online Marching Music Downloads store, effective January 1, 2026. This decision means DCI will conclude its direct retail role in the sale of individual performance audio and digital media products.
“For decades, the sounds of Drum Corps International have been cherished by our community, and we recognize and deeply value the loyalty fans have shown to these products,” said DCI CEO Nate Boudreaux. “After considerable review, this difficult decision was made to ensure the long-term sustainability and growth of the drum corps activity itself.”
This change impacts the sale of individual audio downloads (MP3 and high-quality AIFF files) of recent seasons. The core reason for retiring these downloads centers on the rising costs and complexity associated with production and appropriate compliance in managing these products.
“Simply put, the costs to produce and manage the download model now outweighs the revenue it generates,” Boudreaux said. “Our fiduciary responsibility is to ensure that every dollar DCI receives is maximized to support the participating corps and the health of the activity’s future.”
While DCI will no longer offer individual audio performance downloads or digital media products for purchase, high-quality recordings will continue to be captured and archived annually, making them available to participating organizations, who will be empowered to manage and sell their own unique audio products should they choose to do so.
Audio downloads currently available from the 2022-2024 DCI World Championships will continue to be sold via MarchingMusicDownloads.com through December 31, 2025. Bundled downloads for each of those three years will be discounted 20%. Discount will show once added to shopping cart.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The retirement of the Marching Music Downloads store effective January 1, 2026 means that audio downloads from the 2025 DCI World Championships will not be made available for sale.
No. Drum Corps International Audio Performance Downloads from the iTunes and Amazon marketplaces have previously been discontinued and will remain so after the retirement of the Marching Music Downloads store effective January 1, 2026.
Any audio downloads you legally purchased are yours to keep, accessible via your existing local files. We strongly encourage you to ensure you have backed up your entire library of downloaded files.
A price increase sufficient to cover the rising production and management costs would unfortunately make the product prohibitively expensive and inaccessible to many fans. Furthermore, even a significant price hike does not resolve the complex administrative burden required to effectively manage the product’s ongoing sales.
For the foreseeable future, there are no plans to offer these products for sale, as the underlying cost and compliance issues remain unsustainable. However, DCI is committed to monitoring any significant developments in media technology that could fundamentally change the economics of delivering this content in a responsible manner. Should those external factors evolve to make a viable, financially responsible model possible, we would certainly explore new ways to serve our fans with archival media.
No. Our focus on digital media is now squarely on bringing you the best live experience possible. We will continue to offer live webcasts of select DCI Tour events throughout the summer via FloMarching, as well as our annual “Big, Loud & Live” movie theater broadcast of the DCI World Championship Prelims in August. These streaming events will remain a core part of the DCI fan experience.
