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Labels try to raise prices for music downloads...
- Thread starter goodcow
- Start date
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What irritates me is that buying from iTunes or other download services isn't that much more of a bargain over buying music in stores, where you can get a new release at Target or other discount retailers for $10.99 to $13.99. And few a dollars more than what you pay on iTunes and such, you get a disc, cover art and bonus materials (music videos, DVDs, etc.).
The fact that it's convenient and still less expensive, even if it's at the expense of packaging and content, makes downloadable music a good alternative for many.
Now the labels want to charge us the same amount it'd cost to purchase an album online as in a brick and mortar store, without packaging or extra content?
Assholes.
The fact that it's convenient and still less expensive, even if it's at the expense of packaging and content, makes downloadable music a good alternative for many.
Now the labels want to charge us the same amount it'd cost to purchase an album online as in a brick and mortar store, without packaging or extra content?
Assholes.
its funny, because labels are already getting too much per track as it is. Apple led the way and opened up the labels to the idea of downloads, but at a heavy price. They don't make much money from iTunes as it is.
Yet consumers will want prices to come down, not go up. Prices for an album aren't much different from those at walmart / amazon etc, and that covers physical production and distribution, and you get tangible goods that you can then rip into mp3 if you want.
The golden goose is hardly even squeeing the first egg out and they've already got their knives sharpened.
Yet consumers will want prices to come down, not go up. Prices for an album aren't much different from those at walmart / amazon etc, and that covers physical production and distribution, and you get tangible goods that you can then rip into mp3 if you want.
The golden goose is hardly even squeeing the first egg out and they've already got their knives sharpened.
you know, the funny thing is that the record labels themselves had ample time to start an iTunes like busines, where they could have charged .99 per song and gotten all of that .99. Instead the decided to sue everyone and thier grandmother, and now they are pissing and moaning about only getting wholesale per song.
Regardless if you like the music or not I can't understand people who support artists who blatantly approve of the recording industry's tactics. I don't approve of piracy, but a group like Metallica is assanine to question the use of piracy when the they let the music company charge $19 for a record in the mall to their core audience who can't afford to spend that. Record companies are getting away with murder but the artists are just as guilty by turning a blind eye to it. Fuck em both.
iTunes, along with most of the other music download services, are already a rip-off to me. The main advantage to it is convenience. You don't have to leave home, within a few clicks and minutes you've got your music, along with digital album art.
But what you gain in convenience, you lose in quality and choice, as is often the case. 128kbps AAC files aren't good enough for me. Good enough for casual listening, but there's been a few samples i've heard with noticeable noise and compression artifacts, especially when compared to the CD. There's also issues of DRM which hinder portability as well, not having an original CD (sucks if your hard drive fails), and i do enjoy album art and the tangibilty aspect.
The only service i'd consider is Napster to Go. Ten bucks a month for unlimited downloads, though you've got to pay 99 cents per track to transfer them to CD. If i didn't already have a backlog of CDs to buy, i'd probably jump on that and use it for sampling purposes, eventually find a way to transcode the tracks myself to the format of my choice.
But what you gain in convenience, you lose in quality and choice, as is often the case. 128kbps AAC files aren't good enough for me. Good enough for casual listening, but there's been a few samples i've heard with noticeable noise and compression artifacts, especially when compared to the CD. There's also issues of DRM which hinder portability as well, not having an original CD (sucks if your hard drive fails), and i do enjoy album art and the tangibilty aspect.
The only service i'd consider is Napster to Go. Ten bucks a month for unlimited downloads, though you've got to pay 99 cents per track to transfer them to CD. If i didn't already have a backlog of CDs to buy, i'd probably jump on that and use it for sampling purposes, eventually find a way to transcode the tracks myself to the format of my choice.
aoi tsuki said:
Napster to Go is a huge ripoff. Your music only works while you're subscribed, unless you pay an additional 99 cents per song to purchase it. It's like renting music. So if you stop using their service, you can no longer listen to your downloaded music catalog.
Plus, Napster to Go doesn't even allow to download all the songs available in the general Napster music catalog.
Music downloads are too expensive as it is. Any problems the industry is experiencing are caused by the mishandling of everything from signing artists to marketing and retailing. I hope some of the major labels crash and burn soon. The music industry is need of a major shake-up.
heavy liquid
Member
I guess I shouldn't be surprised from an industry that charged $18.99 MSRP for the latest Garth Brooks and Whitney Houston CDs over 10 years ago. It seems like they'll never learn. They must love shooting themselves in the foot.
Zelda-Bitch
Member
Fuck them. The music industry needs a change. First things first, out with the major labels. Greedy fuckers just ruin music and shove it down our throats anyway.
Cauliflower of Love
Banned
Let the fuckers do that, the thing that needs to be done to kill these companies is for the artist to pay a web designer, get an idependent studio, and start their own god damn music download site. Money direct to the artist, music direct to the fans. That'll be the downfall of these companies.
Space Age Playboy
Banned
The problem is promotion, that's the one thing the record labels do that a new artist just doesn't have the resources and connections for. It's tough enough to get your band noticed in your hometown, much less worldwide.
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