Blame the record shops.

I don't know who's at fault but I think CDs are too overpriced. And I think that's hurting the music business itself since you go for what you know or are pretty sure you're going to like. There's no way you're risking almost 20€ in something you don't know much about.

I also agree with old CDs being so expensive is ridiculous. I've been wanting Jagged Little Pill by Alanis (which I taped off a friend when it was first released) and it costs 21€! You'd think it should be cheaper than new releases...

I don't even think they should charge so much for downloads unless they are offering lossless versions.

They could probably sell albums for £4 and make profit on them, especially as less people would pirate them so more would buy.

You typed it wrong four times, so I gotta correct you: it's Porsche. :P

And Maria, you do have a point but it IS about the money as well. If a newcomer band gets downloaded but their album rots in stores, the record label will hardly give them the chance to do a follow up.

Italians will ****ing call it what i tell them to call it.

but i digress.

Neil. there's no way a record would EVER go for 4 quid even straight from the labels never mind them make a profit on them.

Germans won't because that's what it is - German!

Germans, italians. same differemce.

Yeah, damn Europeans, right?

You say that now but things are always dropping in price, so you never know.

Niel it costs about £200,000-£500,000 to properly break a new band never mind recording and production costs, legal fees, staff wages etc....

There's no way a record will go for £4 until people and recordign time starts coming for free which ain't going to happen soon.

I buy most of my cds at bmg and when they have specials and I buy a bunch, the average cost of a cd is about $6.10 - I think that is in the ballpark of £4 --- I doubt they take a loss on it and I highly doubt they'd merely break even.

CD prices in Europe are insane - there is no reason why a cd should be $10 in the US and EUR 18 in Germany (equalling $23) --- absolutely NO reason.