Blame the record shops.
 

Bit of an off topic rant here but I was in virgin today and saw muse's origin of symmetry for £17 and it got me pissed thinking about how much shops get away with rippign the arse out of prices while the labels take the blame.


I don't make it particularly hidden that i hate the idea of downloading music for free but alot of that has to do with me not being stupid enough to think a cd costs about 3 pence so obviously the labels are taking the piss charging what not. Sadly alot of people do actually believe this.

CD's ARE over-priced, I'm not denying that but it's nothing to do with the labels.

There's plenty of places you can buy brand new albums for under a tenner. Wonder why? because the distributers sell them on at about £6-7 a record to the shops. That's giving the label their cut and takign their own.

Now who's more at fault here? the labels and distributors giving the records out at £7 or HMV and virgin selling them on at £17?

Asda, Fopp and pretty much most internet sites have them MUCH cheaper than the big shops and it's for the simple reason that the shops are the ones taking the piss. NOT the labels and not the artists.

I've noticed how bad it is in Virgin too. Old Queen albums which have been on release for years are still £16, they shouldn't even be that new. I would pay up to £10 for a new CD release, although I buy a lot of mine online anyway which means I usually get them cheaper.

HMV and Virgin are only good if you buy things that are one special offer.

exactly. when origin was released it was about 12 quid from both of them.

The problem is that people see prices like that and instead of thinking **** the record shops I'll go to a supermarket or onlimne they think **** the labels I'll just get it for free.

I really don't think downloading plays such a big part in cd sales. You either have the money to spend on cds or you don't - there are ways to get them at a reasonable price and people do buy them. If you just don't have the money you just can't buy them - downloading being an option or not. People that are true fans of certain bands will buy their albums regardless.


I spent $20 on the Killers album at a stand at a festival and I just saw it for $8 at Target. Clearly, the stand at the festival had to put a significant mark-up on it wasn't a regular store, etc..... Anyway, I wouldn't normally pay that much for a cd - ever ....

a stand at a fesitval is obviously goign to inflate prices.

you just reminded me ive loaned my killers album out :cry:

but i digress.

It'd be pretty nice to have a Porche. I can't afford a Porche and if I could, I'd still need to decide whether I;d rather have the Porche or keep my money. Failing that, I could steal a Porche instead and have one........

I rarely buy new CDs. The last one was Alter Bridge back in August, only got it cause it was $5 off at Walmart. I prefer my CDs either used or as gifts. I do think CDs are way overpriced. Around here an average CD is $15-16, and when I figure that Walmart is selling individual songs online for 88 cents apiece including the Walmart cut...CDs should be way cheaper.

Adrian

wal mart doesn't have to worry about any production costs or mechanical royalties.

I never said it was the right thing to do :)


Alternatively, Microsoft's software is pirated to the left and right - particularly in countries that have low income levels and where most people simply cannot afford to buy the software at full price. You think it bothers Microsoft that people in China get pirated software copies instead of buying them at full price? Not particularly. Common idea is, if they steal software, Microsoft wants to be the one whose software is stolen. Think about it - the more people use windows, the better - period. Whether it was acquired legally or not.

Same thought applies to artists, in my mind. If I was a musician and I had the option of people downloading my music or someone else's music (never buying in the first place) - I damn well would want them to download MY music - at least I get the opportunity to acquire a new fanbase, spread the word, make my name known. All wonderful things that wouldn't happen if I made it impossible to download MY stuff....

Oh, and like Adrian, I buy a ton of cds used....

:)

Mircrosoft can afford to lose alot more royalties than the vast majority of your artists can.

money isn't the issue here --- you might think microsoft can afford to lose money, but the company wouldn't agree with that.

it's not that they don't care cause they are swimming in dough - it is the value they are getting from 95% of the computer users working with microsoft software - intangibles so to speak.

get it now?