Why you should NEVER Buy another Cd!!

[Tim_Cranwill]

Brock, Brock, Brock... you just gave the perfect example of why the industry HAS to change. You're right, nobody wants to pay $30 for a cd they can copy off their buddy. That's human nature. Not many of us have loads of cash to spare but if you have the money to buy the album, or even single if you only like that one song, buy it. Support your favorite artists. Myself, if there's only one song I like on an album, I would download it... BUT... if it is an album by one of my favorite bands, I buy it. But that's just me.

Marisa, here's a quick record biz lesson for ya...

There are a few ways artists and record companies make their money.

1.) Publishing royalties: That is co-owned by the songwriter(s) and the publishing company (usually the record company). It's a little more complicated than that but you get the point.

2.) Mechanical royalties: Record sales. Split between the artists who made the album and the record company.

3.) Live shows: That one's obvious.

4.) Other promotions and merchandise.

So the artists make most of their money from the publishing royalties and live shows and the record companies make most of theirs from the mechanical and the live shows. Like I said, it's much more complex than that but there's just a quick break down.

And "Pop" stands for "Popular Music". And they're not trying to scam you. They are just trying to entertain you...

[OttawaChris]

Brock beat me to it... market value is what people will pay for a product. I had a broken down 97 cavalier that I thought was worth 400 bucks for parts... nobody would pay it so I ended up parting with it for 50 bucks and a free tow... are you seeing where I am going with this?

Let me ask you something... why are music execs and workers immune to downsizing and cutbacks? I work in the high-tech industry and I had to take a 10% pay cut and see half of the company I work in get laid off because the market could not support the prices being charged. Is the music industry too high and mighty to be worthy of the same fate? If their prices are too high then they need to come down period. This may mean job cuts or an unlikley alternative **gasp** not as many millions in their pockets.

I NEVER have and NEVER will pay 80 bucks for a pair of jeans... I go to Old Navy and buy a pair for 30 bucks and I get a good long wear out of them and they are comfy. Are you trying to tell me that you wouldnt take a pair of free Levis if someone was giving them to you in exchange for a pair of Walmart specials? See where I am going with this?

Lastly I want to make one more point I overlooked in my first post... I support a band by going to see them live. This is where they make the bulk of their money and it is where I get to see a good performance (hopefully). I dont mind paying 50 bucks to see a good band but I sure as hell will not pay that much for the CD!! This way I also get to put the screws to bands that skip over Ottawa.... so many great acts play Toronto then drive right past Ottawa to go play in Montreal... well screw you I wont buy your CD or go see you in concert... kazaa to the rescue

[Tim_Cranwill]

Oh, and Marisa, $80 for a pair of jeans that you will wear until the style changes in 6 months... Or $30 for an album that you might enjoy for years to come....

Don't buy one hit wonders....

[Tim_Cranwill]

Actually Chris, money earned form live shows pays BOTH artist and exec.... trust me.

[Tim_Cranwill]

Oh yeah, market value WAS $30 for a new cd... before Napster anyway... Now that price has to change. I think we all see that.

[Colonel SB]

I personally don't think $15 bucks for a CD is all that expensive.

[eyespy]

Market price? No such thing, not in the US, anyhow.....

http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/n...ttlement_x.htm

I really doubt most music downloaded is a small starving artist's music. and a small artist whose music is downloaded enough to be popular will probably get radio airtime as a result. Most times I suspect it is less the artist complaining than it is the whines of all the middle-men that lose their cut.

[Tim_Cranwill]

Well they are still entitled to their income, are they not? Besides, the portion of the "industry" who gets the biggest return on investment is probably the retailer. HMV's cut of a $30 disc is probably between $10 and $15.

Anyway, anyone want to talk herps?

[marisa]

Well talk about it all day if you want it doesn't change the fact that it won't change. Period.

I don't need a music lesson. My father was in a popular Los Angeles punk band for 15 years. Trust me I know all about it, and funny enough, he LOVES file sharing. He as a singer has a TOTALLY different outlook than you do on it. But that's what makes the world go round. Different opinions.

Marisa

[red bootz]

If only musicians were in it for the love of music and not the pay off...

[Tim_Cranwill]

Man... that's the dumbest thing I've heard all day. No offence but what gives you that idea? If you could make a living doing what you love, would you? Or would you say "No thinks, I'm only in it for the love." BS! Sorry man.

[Snakecharm]

This amuses me and concerns me at the same time. I really have very little to do with American music anymore. Take a trip through my harddrive and you will find that the vast majority of the mp3s are in Japanese. This is music that is difficult if not impossible to find for sale in this country, and is certainly not licensed by RIAA members.

That said, I actually do buy quite a few CDs from overseas, mostly used, some new. But I utilize the file sharing networks for one major reason, there really *is* no other good way to obtain the music I enjoy. Do I have any licensed mp3s on my computer? Sure, a few. THe only CD I've bought in the last year was Fallen by Evanescence, and I ripped it for my own enjoyment and the purpose of mixing my own playlists. I also have a number of mp3s from their EPs which are not, to my knowledge, available for sale. There are, in addition, an odd assortment of other things, but a lot of *those* are obscure metal bands that don't have American licenses, either.

That is not to say, however, that would stop me. Especially now. I think the RIAA's attitude of flogging the consumer for failing to respond to their marketing blitz is rather laughable. While it's true that the situation is unique in that their product is obtainable from other sources, it would be ridiculous for any other industry to sue their customers for lack of interest in buying their product. For most, it would be an indication that the business model needs to change.

I do sympathize with the artists, of which we have several among us, but the fact of the matter is that you are in a very flawed and troubled industry by choice. I applaud you for following your artistic dreams, but no one is holding a gun to your head to stay in it. Hauling out the argument that mp3 sharing is taking food out of your mouths is an ineffective tactic, because ultimately it's only a symptom of a much larger, uglier problem. Something will have to change in the way that the record companies are doing business, otherwise they cannot expect to stay in business. Anything else is a band-aid, not a cure.

[red bootz]

yeah, that's the type of response I thought I'd get. Not everybody is as lucky or as talented enough to make a living at something they love. If you can make a living out of it, then congrats. But if you can't thems the breaks. If your going to blame joe blow who works a 9.50 an hour job and decides that he'd rather get his music for free to explain why you can't make a living at what you love, well I'm sorry that's just the way it is. If you love what you do, you will do it regardless of whether you can make a living out of it or not.
Besides, If you're always trying to sell yourself to a label, where does the selling end and the artform begin?

[marisa]

My Dad played music because he loved it. Even when doing gigs all over LA he worked hard at laying carpet part time as a day job. Because he loved doing live shows and giving people a good time.

Marisa