Who is killing music?

[Flame Of Liberty]

This article examines CRIA’s claims by conducting an analysis of industry figures. It concludes that loss claims have been greatly exaggerated and challenges the contention that recent sales declines are primarily attributable to file–sharing activities. Moreover, the article assesses the financial impact of declining sales on Canadian artists, concluding that revenue collected through a private copying levy system already adequately compensates Canadian artists for the private copying that occurs on peer–to–peer networks.

The Canadian government has been the target of intense lobbying for stronger copyright legislation in recent months. Led by the music industry, which claims that it has experienced significant financial losses due to music downloading, the campaign culminated in November 2004 with a lobby day on Parliament Hill.

The campaign is premised on three key pillars. First, that the Canadian recording industry has sustained significant financial losses in recent years due to decreased music sales. Second, that those losses can be attributed to peer–to–peer file sharing. Third, that the losses have materially harmed Canadian artists.

The time has come to acknowledge that each of these pillars is a myth.

Piercing the peer–to–peer myths: An examination of the Canadian experience

Beautiful way how to rip off innocent people, put them in jail and line your pockets.

[habernac]

the music industry is killing themselves. Knock the price of new CDs down to $10 and I'd sure as hell buy alot more of them. It costs next to nothing to make a CD now and we all know it. $20 for a cd is a joke.

[Cheese]

Originally posted by habernac@May 27 2005, 10:11 AM
the music industry is killing themselves. Knock the price of new CDs down to $10 and I'd sure as hell buy alot more of them. It costs next to nothing to make a CD now and we all know it. $20 for a cd is a joke.

yup fully agree with Habby. I quit buying CDs awhile back because the price is ludicrous. To spend $20 on a CD with one or two good tunes is dumb. Thats why the next wave of buying the songs online one at a time may turn out more successful. Like buying the old 45s.

[MarchHare]

I read an article about a year ago that made an interesting comparison.

For $20, you can buy the soundtrack CD for the film Chicago. You get the songs, a jewel case, and liner notes. The CD can only be played back in conventional stereo format.

For that same $20, you can buy the DVD of the film. You get the movie (which itself contains all the songs from the soundtrack in Dolby 5.1 surround sound), cast and crew commentary, trailers, deleted scenes, making-of documentary, and several other bonus features.

Is it any wonder that consumers are seeing CDs as terrible value?

[Looger]

a busker explained it to me, seemed logical.

most recored contracts don't pay royalties until 150,000 records sold.

as you can imagine, a very small percentage of bands sell that many, so there are a lot of one-hit-wonders.

bands like "type-o-negative" have been public about the fact that despite high record sales (over time), companies give band members like 50 grand a year to live on.

record companies screw the bands and screw the fans.

screw 'em.

bands have independent labels, even self-publish these days.

and bands tour.

i rarely buy cd's, the price is just ridiculous.

[4X4]

Yep, I also agree. Why pay for a cd with two or three songs that you like, when you can download & burn? The only cds I've purchased in the last couple of years are the greatest hits types. At least you get what you want. There are a few artists that I'll buy the whole cd, like RHCP, but most artists produce less than five good songs, then fill the rest of their album with crap, just to call it an album.

[Cheese]

Just to add another tidbit here....Its not like in the past that we didnt "file share". I always recorded music to tape from friends albums or tapes in the past. As much then as now....its moot.

[4X4]

Originally posted by Cheese@May 27 2005, 08:49 AM
Just to add another tidbit here....Its not like in the past that we didnt "file share". I always recorded music to tape from friends albums or tapes in the past. As much then as now....its moot.

Tru dat... Not to mention the days when we (at least me) used to sit by the radio with a tape in the ghetto blaster, ready to record a song. When I was a kid, most of my music came from AM106 top 10 at 10. Just record the songs, throw it in the walkman, music for the next day.

[Eddie Bronze]

Originally posted by Cheese@May 27 2005, 07:17 AM
Thats why the next wave of buying the songs online one at a time may turn out more successful. Like buying the old 45s.

There are some 45's in the mail somewhere between Las Vegas and Calgary, on the way to me as we speak. Can't wait!

[Ro]

Guys, CD prices have been reduced drastically over the last 1-2 years. Most new releases and best-sellers on major labels can be had for $10-13 plus taxes at most of the major chains, in comparison to $14-24 only a few years ago. Not only that, but there are back-catalogue CDs on sale all the time for $6-10, and even the price of imports/indies has come down. I remember paying $35 for Jay-Z's first album in 1997, as it was a US import. I could buy 3 CDs for that price today.

As a recent example, I bought the new Common CD for $10.99 at Future Shop on Tuesday (great album, btw), for $10.99. When I was 17, and buying new CDs every Tuesday, I would almost NEVER pay less than $16.99, and $17.99+ was the usual price.

[FlamesAddiction]

What's killing music?

Jello Biafra shared some wisdom in a Dead Kennedys song written 20 years ago that still rings true today IMO:

Tin-eared
Graph-paper brained accountants
Instead of music fans
Call all the shots at giant record companies now

The lowest common denominator rules
Forget honesty
Forget creativity
The dumbest buy the mostest
That's the name of the game

But sales are slumping
And no one will say why
Could it be they put out one too many lousy records?!?

For a laugh, you can read all the words here:

http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/deadkennedy...tofftheair.html

[Eddie Bronze]

I am finding the best way to go is to buy the stuff online. I just got 3 albums for $18 (US) but the best thing is how they always throw in free stuff. Posters, stickers, and as mentioned above - 45's!

[Ro]

Originally posted by Eddie Bronze@May 27 2005, 05:56 PM
There are some 45's in the mail somewhere between Las Vegas and Calgary, on the way to me as we speak. Can't wait!

Hiphopsite.com?

[Mike F]

Originally posted by 4X4@May 27 2005, 08:46 AM
Yep, I also agree. Why pay for a cd with two or three songs that you like, when you can download & burn? The only cds I've purchased in the last couple of years are the greatest hits types. At least you get what you want. There are a few artists that I'll buy the whole cd, like RHCP, but most artists produce less than five good songs, then fill the rest of their album with crap, just to call it an album.

Completely agree on online music. Unless an album is only available in a hard copy I doubt I'll ever buy a physical CD again.

With sites like Puretracks and iTunes getting larger and larger catalogues and having a 10 Mbps broadband connection I can own a copy of a song or an entire album within ~3 minutes of hearing it on the radio. There is nothing that a band can add to a physical CD that can trump that convenience.

I know I'm not saying anything new, but it's only a matter of time before TV networks and movie studios follow suit and make all media available on demand.

[JayP]

What's killing music is the crap that is popular these days.

The only music is somewhat accessible price wise is very popular CDs. If you're looking to buy anything that's not selling 250 000+ albums you either can't find it or are forced to pay like $27 before tax for it (ie; HMV). This is obviously keeping in mind that the average music fan isn't going to shop at places like Melodiya or Hot Wax. The music industry remains stagnant and people start to realize that they're buying CDs just for a single. And so the downloading begins.

Like Looger said, major record companies screw the bands and the fans. They don't deserve our money as that doesn't even go to the band. Go to their concerts and buy some merch/CDs there if you want to support bands.

[Eddie Bronze]

Originally posted by Ro+May 27 2005, 08:43 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Ro @ May 27 2005, 08:43 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Eddie Bronze@May 27 2005, 05:56 PM
There are some 45's in the mail somewhere between Las Vegas and Calgary, on the way to me as we speak. Can't wait!

Hiphopsite.com? [/b][/quote]
Yes and it'll be the only order I ever make from them too. 23 days and counting...

[Agamemnon]

Originally posted by 4X4+May 27 2005, 03:54 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (4X4 @ May 27 2005, 03:54 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Cheese@May 27 2005, 08:49 AM
Just to add another tidbit here....Its not like in the past that we didnt "file share". I always recorded music to tape from friends albums or tapes in the past. As much then as now....its moot.

Tru dat... Not to mention the days when we (at least me) used to sit by the radio with a tape in the ghetto blaster, ready to record a song. When I was a kid, most of my music came from AM106 top 10 at 10. Just record the songs, throw it in the walkman, music for the next day. [/b][/quote]
Wow, that brings me back to junior high. I remember listening to that before I went to sleep every night.

Nuuummmbbber 1!