Does downloading really hurts BON JOVI cd sales?

You are right no way to know for sure if downloading is the sole culprit of decling cd sales. Numbers reported by RIAA, showed that only country music cds had not declined in overall sales. Oh and I'm not saying illegal downloading at all. Legal downloading is lending to folks buying songs vs. and entire record. So, it's a catch 22 really, more single sales but less overall cd sales.

deb

deb

NO. It is not a fact. It only would hurt an artist if the person would otherwise buy the album. I don't think that is the case. I think most people who download and leave it at that would not buy the album if they didn't download it. Two reasons: lack of cash and the fact that they may not want to buy a whole cd, but rather only a song, etc.

Unless I actually see people downloading instead of buying, I don't think that it hurts the artist, but rather benefits him/her.

Again, you presume that the person who downloads would otherwise buy the album. I don't think that is the case, but that opinion is based on my own behavior and that of my friends --- only observations I can go by.

and if you really like it, will you buy it? I do. My friends do. 15 years ago, I wouldn't have because I didn't have a penny to my name --- I would have downloaded, but I would have never bought it --- downloading or not.

Back in the days, people went to a record store and pre-listened to an album before they actually bought it - especially with new artists and such. Today, I opt for the pre-listening in the comfort of my own home. Convenience only entices me to buy more, as it is easier for me to get a hold of oodles of songs and artists in just about no time at all.

I totally disagree. We are not killing the music industry as there will always be bands making music and trying to sell their albums. Will the record companies have to change their way of life? Certainly - and it's about time.

Again. I have bought soooo many cds only based on the fact that I pre-listened to them through downloading --- to me that's a good thing and at least from my side it benefitted a LOT of artists

and I like what David Ford had to say in an interview regarding downloading:

HA: Picking up the fact that you don’t mind people downloading songs, you probably know that the limited edition souvenir CD you sold last night will soon be ripped and passed around most of the easyfans within the next few weeks. Are you happy that this is likely to happen?

Dav: I’m ecstatic about it. Yeah, I mean, with things like that, the only people who are going to download that are people who want to hear it. The only reason I could have for not wanting people to hear it is that I am ashamed of the songs and I don’t want them to be heard. Well I am not! I want them to be heard. I don’t make music so nobody hears it, it defeats the object.

What the f**k are u, R*AA spokesperson? doh!

99% of them people who download the official albums wouldn't buy those even if they didn't download. So that doesn't have any effect on sales.

I personally want my albums as official releases, bunch of mp3s doesnt hold any value for me. I do encourage people to try out unknown bands by downloading...and *buy* the ones they do like.


edit:
Oh, and keep in mind that releases are worse and worse every year. If companies keep of releasing garbage they sure can expect sales go down every year. What *does* hurt Jovi's sales are crappy albums.

Maria, I used to be like you. I would download a album, and then if I really enjoyed it, I would then go out and buy it. That was when I had a lot of money. Nowadays, I do not have an awful lot of money and what I do have, I do my utmost to spend as wisely as possible, but I will admit to you that I hardly ever buy music these days. Fr me, it isnt the fact that I do not want to buy cds, but for the fact, that I can no longer afford it. If I could afford it, then I would be buying music every single week. For sure.

Some people, dont bother buying at all, whether they have plenty of money or not. I know for a fact, that I am killing the music industry, but I just dont have the money right now. When I earn more money, then I will definately do so. But at the end of the day, many people will not pay for smething, which they can get for free.

Stone, I agree with what you are saying. It is definately much much nicer to have the official release and add it to your collection. As with a lot of things, it is great to have the whole packaging and such, but sometimes it is just not possible. Surely you can see this from a different angle? A side from which a poor person stands.

Yup, I do see the other side of it. Can't remember was it discussed here or elsewhere, but I do recall talking about it some time back.... Not affording things isn't an excuse for grabbing everything for free. Can't afford it, can't have it. Simple ain't it. Car? can't afford to buy one so u won't pick up the closest one on the street.....Food?..can't afford stake so u pick up tuna instead of stealing the stake. And so on. Not having cash for whatever one enjoys sure sucks, I know, but with lesser resources its just a matter of priorotizing things.

Back to topic. Even though I am against downloading officials, I still think it doesn't bring down them sales. As pointed out, some people just can't affort it, downloading or not thet still *Wouldn't* buy. Same goes for the free-riders, leeching is the "way of life", not buying.

Uh feels like talking in circles here, I'll shut up for now

exactly.

I totally agree with this ... I have seen the profile of the downloaders .. they wouldn't buy the cds even if there was NO download possible .. I think on the contrary that those ppl who download are often ppl who would not even listen to the songs they download if they couldn't so the download in that particular case is almost all benefit for the artists to be known by those who would ignore them usually ...
I am not saying that downloading really don't hurt anyone ... it hurts some but not the big artists JMO

I think downloading material illegaly can either hurt or help artists. If people want to download an album for free, they will eaither 1.) Like the album so much that they'll buy it or 2.) just keep the download. For new artists, either they'll be cheated out of getting paid for their music or they'll get their name out there and become more popular.

For Bon Jovi, it probably wouldn't hurt them much since they've sold 100,000,000 albums already. They've got more money than they know what to do with, so a few downloads of Bon Jovi songs wouldn't be so bad. I've never downloaded a Bon Jovi album before, but I have downloaded some rare tracks because I'm getting interested in buying singles and I want to know which rare songs are worth buying.