Music Executives Thinking About Raising Prices for Downloadable Music

**amykhar** · #1 03-01-2005, 12:14 AM

Quote:

The Financial Times, quoting unnamed music executives, said wholesale music prices, thought to be around 65 cents a song, were originally set artificially low in a bid to stimulate demand. The executives noted the success of Apple's hugely popular iPod digital music players, the report said.

I think this is a bad idea on their part. 99 cents a song is reasonable considering a whole album would cost $10-$16.

I think the music industry needs to get real about prices AND the amount artists are paid.

Amy

phoenixx · #2 03-01-2005, 07:42 AM

I agree with Amy - 99 cents a song is something I can afford and am willing to pay. More than that would cause music lovers on a budget (a concept the RIAA and record labels or obviously unfamiliar with, IMO) to go back to methods such as file sharing - by mail, online, or just trading cds with each other then returning them.

They seem to be trying hard to kill a great idea.

cristina1 · #3 03-01-2005, 08:51 AM

Quote:

"I think whoever came up with this idea understands the online music industry about as well as a cow understands algebra," said Phil Leigh, senior analyst for Inside Digital Media.

I think this says it all

Sooner95 · #4 03-01-2005, 10:41 AM

I just dont get it. $0.99 is, IMO, to HIGH for a song, considering if you purchase 12-15 songs to get a whole cd, you are paying $12-15 for a cd. Now, this sounds great, but..

Did you get a cd with it?

Did you get a coolcase to put your cd in? (we call this packaging)

Did you get the Album art, and lirics?

No??

then why in the hell am I gonna pay the same price as an actual cd?

If anything the price of Digital downloads should be cheaper, prob half as much, $0.50 a song. All you are getting is a freakin file, not even a real thing you can hold in your hand, unless of course you go out and spend YOUR OWN MONEY to purchase Cdrs to burn the files on to, and Empty jewel cases to houce the cd in.

Its Bullshit RIAA, you are only going to distance yourself even more by doing this.

I hope they read this

frazzledspice · #5 03-01-2005, 10:46 AM

I think the real difference between downloading music and buying a CD is that we often buy a CD and only enjoy 2 or 3 tracks. Even the artists will probably concede that the necessity of releasing a twelve-track CD means that some of their weaker material will be used.

So if, instead of buying the CD for $13, you buy the two or three tracks you like for $1.98 or $2.97, the recording industry can still lose lots of money.

Maybe they should rethink their policy of releasing 12 track CD's. Let artists make a CD with 2 or 3 of their strongest songs. And then give 4 times as many promising artists a chance to release a CD.

Instead of having a few franchise artists who get huge royalties, you'll have four times as many talented artists who make reasonable royalties.

As for me, I will usually buy a CD used on half.com, or almost wholesale on Overstock.

erik_kosberg · #6 03-01-2005, 11:11 AM

Sure, a CD, like the earlier vinyl albums, is sometimes not much more than packaging for a bunch of singles, but sometimes it’s a complete work telling a story. Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and Quadrophenia (okay, so I’m showing my age) aren’t just random collections of songs.

Regardless of what prices of individual songs are, the single-song digital download model effectively negates the unitary-album concept. Artistically, that’s not necessarily a good thing but it’s something that musicians and the music industry have to deal with.

Sooner95 · #7 03-01-2005, 11:38 AM

I dont agree, if an Artist cant release a cd of 12 songs of WORTHY Material, then why bother? Most of the Artist today, are weak, and couldnt write a Sticky note, much less Music. Then they expect us to buy it?

Most albums from back in the day, 60/70/80 of GOOD artists, are good Albums. you can put them in and listen to the whole album, and enjoy it. Those are worth buying, but you still pay to much for downloading them minus the packaging, ect..

Quote:

frazzledspice said

I think the real difference between downloading music and buying a CD is that we often buy a CD and only enjoy 2 or 3 tracks. Even the artists will probably concede that the necessity of releasing a twelve-track CD means that some of their weaker material will be used.

So if, instead of buying the CD for $13, you buy the two or three tracks you like for $1.98 or $2.97, the recording industry can still lose lots of money.

Maybe they should rethink their policy of releasing 12 track CD's. Let artists make a CD with 2 or 3 of their strongest songs. And then give 4 times as many promising artists a chance to release a CD.

Instead of having a few franchise artists who get huge royalties, you'll have four times as many talented artists who make reasonable royalties.

As for me, I will usually buy a CD used on half.com, or almost wholesale on Overstock.

phoenixx · #8 03-01-2005, 02:29 PM

You can add the updated "story album" example of Green Day's American Idiot to your list, if you are concerned abuot dating yourself.... lol

erik_kosberg · #9 03-01-2005, 02:37 PM

Quote:

wholesale music prices, thought to be around 65 cents a song

I really wonder if music as a commodity (potatoes at 65 cents a pound) is a feasible long-term business model.