jurijuri

"Of course, the most important component of a CD is the artist's effort in developing that music. Artists spend a large portion of their creative energy on writing song lyrics and composing music ..."

In defense of the high cost of CDs, the RIAA implies that artists receive the bulk of the $18 or $19 each of us pays to buy a CD (those of us who still do, that is).

I find this argument disingenious at best and morally bankrupt at worst. Artists receive maybe five cents per song, and then only if the record recoups its cost of production, which includes label overhead, cost of producer (who also has points on the record), studio time, the fancy dinner the label's A&R rep took the band to, etc.

This is why the business model won't last: they lie and lie and lie to get us to believe the big lie.

radiofree

Motor_Head

Production, manufacturing, and distribution costs have also fallen over the past 25 years. But while this isn't a post meant to defend the RIAA or the music industry's predatory pricing and sketchy business tactics, the industry cannot weather a significant drop in price. Don't believe me? Then go ask your favorite indie label why they aren't wholesaling their product at $3. They can barely make it at two or three times that amount.

johndavidson

weave

Other industries have similar organizations to protect their products and profits. Granted, orgs like the National Chicken Council don't sue grandmothers out of their retirement because of something their grandkids did with the "emailing machine."

We can villianize the RIAA and the MPAA all we like, but it's not their fault. Blame the 1998 Congress, who gave the industries carte blanche to threaten and sue consumers in the first place. Find out if your Congressperson voted yes for the DMCA, and if they did, write them a nasty letter expressing your displeasure. Then, send Congressman Rick Boucher of Virginia an encouraging letter in hopes that he might propose limiting legislation to protect consumers, for the third time.

Maybe this time Congress will realize that consumers are their constituency?

lincolnparadox

That price held for like 10 years, which became quite ridiculous after a while because the cost to manufacture cassettes became higher than CDs yet the price was still the same. The justification I heard then was they were charging for quality. CDs were better quality and hence deserved to be priced higher.

CDs not on sale at FYE's are around $20 here currently.

weave

RIAA is a curse upon the recording industry. Hopefully we will one day be able to dance-dance-dance! on their grave.

Front_Towards_Enemy

The Mozfather

All that said, there's no reason for CDs to be as expensive as they still are other than the labels' overhead. They've priced themselves out of their own market.

Chris Molanphy

mfergel

If only wired remote controls were making a comeback...

shiny

j clicky clicky