HMV Slashing CD Prices

[fredr123]

Globe and Mail:

When HMV Canada marketers recently tracked the music that young people were downloading online, they got a surprise. The youngsters, mostly male, weren't listening to the latest pop chart hits. Rather, they were tuning in to Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin – the music of their parents' generation.
Now, in a bid to lure back these 18- to 24-year-olds to its stores, HMV, the country's largest specialty music retailer, is slashing prices of thousands of these older compact discs by up to 33 per cent – to $19.99 – effective immediately.

Of course the CRIA blames the price cuts on piracy:

But Graham Henderson, president of the Canadian Recording Industry Association, says it's an effort to stem the tide of illegal downloading that threatens retailers and everyone else in the recording industry.

[Kybosh]

A price cut to $20 is still complete garbage.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Kybosh

A price cut to $20 is still complete garbage.

### - "classic" CDs should be $10 at the most

[fredr123]

Look at how much they cost on itunes:

Originally Posted by "Globe and Mail Article

Some of the new prices posted by HMV: Fleetwood Mac's Rumours costs $19.99, previously $24.99, and $7.92 on iTunes; David Bowie's Rise & Fall of Ziggy Stardust costs $19.99, previously $25.99, and $10.89 on iTunes; Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill, $19.99 now, previously $24.99, and $9.99 on iTunes.

That's ludicrous. That's preposterous. I am astounded and confounded. That should not be.

It also irritates me that anyone who doesn't get their music from a brick and mortar store in Canada is, apparently, a pirate and a criminal and a no good sonofabitch. Of the United States and Canada, downloading music is closer to legally (if not morally) permissible here. But don't let that little detail get in the way.
http://www.cippic.ca/index.php?page=...-sharing-legal

[Dion]

What a bunch of bull!

HNV must be really niave to think that consumers will fall for this hook, line, and sinker.

10 bucks is about all i'd pay for a CD.

[Nehkara]

Go to Revolution Games & Music. They have many many many CDs and almost every single one is $10.

On topic though, I only buy new CDs at HMV because the old ones are really way too expensive. A little while ago I got 2 copies of Linkin Park - Minutes to Midnight for $25.

[FurnaceFace]

Question:
Are iTunes tracks portable or are they still tethered? Can I take the mp3 file and play it on whatever audio device I want or am I stuck playing it through iTunes on a PC or on an iPod?

If there are still tethered to propriety devices and software I'll stick to paying a premium for a CD which I can then rip at the compression rate I want and can play it in whatever device I want. Plus I typically don't have to pay a premium as anything older than a year is likely available at a used store for $10.

[habernac]

all of their older stuff is way overpriced. I only ever buy new or on sale there.

[RougeUnderoos]

I wonder what the budget for this research was? Probably costs a lot to figure out that a computer-savvy 18 year-old-kid likely won't pay 25 bucks for Dark Side of the Moon.

He's probably not going to pay 20, either.

[KevanGuy]

I haven't bought a CD is years. I thought/remember classic rock type CDs were in the $10 range. Back in the day, new CDs were $20, old CDs could be had for $10. Or 3 for $30 kinda thing. How much is a new CD? $25? $30?

[SeeGeeWhy]

I am at work right now, so I can't look up the exact prices for thsoe same albums, but AllTunes will give you CD quality, legal downloads for pennies per song. I'd venture to guess that you could pick up any of the albums noted in that article for anywhere from 2 - 4 dollars.

[looooob]

Originally Posted by KevanGuy

I haven't bought a CD is years. I thought classic rock type CDs were in the $10 range. Back in the day, new CDs were $20, old CDs could be had for $10. Or 3 for $30 kinda thing. How much is a new CD? $25? $30?

actually back in the day some olde CDs were always pricey

now I'm dating myself, but lets say 10-15 years ago, you could have probably bought the new Pearl Jam disc for 16.99 , but if you wanted anything from the Beatles back catalogue it was about 24.99, and about twice a year they would put 2 discs on sale for 21.99 or something

[NSFL]

When I saw the phrase "Slashing CD prices", I was expecting 10 or below. 20 is obscene. You can definitely go to Walmart or Futureshop for cheaper.

Why is older music more expensive anyway?

[KevanGuy]

Originally Posted by looooob

, but if you wanted anything from the Beatles back catalogue it was about 24.99, and about twice a year they would put 2 discs on sale for 21.99 or something

Really? Wow, my memory must he failing in my old age. I dont remember paying that much for all my Led Zep, Floyd, Stones, Doors, etc CDs.

[MaDMaN_26]

I don't even want the media, they could charge $5.00 - I don't want a physical CD in my house... ya they are fairly small but every ten songs = a new disc and it adds up, fast, I used to have piles of them... never again...

my Ipod goes in my car, I don't have to have a CD wallet, or change the disk if I only want to hear one or two songs... HMV will be out of bussiness in the next 10 years...

[fredr123]

Originally Posted by FurnaceFace

Question:
Are iTunes tracks portable or are they still tethered? Can I take the mp3 file and play it on whatever audio device I want or am I stuck playing it through iTunes on a PC or on an iPod?

If there are still tethered to propriety devices and software I'll stick to paying a premium for a CD which I can then rip at the compression rate I want and can play it in whatever device I want. Plus I typically don't have to pay a premium as anything older than a year is likely available at a used store for $10.

Apple sells DRM-free versions of tracks on itunes for a 30 cent premium.
http://www.digital-copyright.ca/node/3856

[habernac]

Originally Posted by KevanGuy

I haven't bought a CD is years. I thought/remember classic rock type CDs were in the $10 range. Back in the day, new CDs were $20, old CDs could be had for $10. Or 3 for $30 kinda thing. How much is a new CD? $25? $30?

new ones the week of release are anywhere from 9.99 - 14.99. I don't mind 12 or 13, but $20 for older stuff is ridiculous.

[Nehkara]

Originally Posted by KevanGuy

I haven't bought a CD is years. I thought/remember classic rock type CDs were in the $10 range. Back in the day, new CDs were $20, old CDs could be had for $10. Or 3 for $30 kinda thing. How much is a new CD? $25? $30?

About $12-15. They go up in price the older they get.

[MelBridgeman]

i havent bought a CD in 10 years..and will never buy another one again.

i am also not going to be fooled into letting the music industry tell me what the moral thing is to do, your business model doesnt work anymore, you sue your customers and constantly bitch about piracy, but for some reason don't do alot about it...yet you sponser shows like MTV cribs that show me now one is really hurtin

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by NSFL

When I saw the phrase "Slashing CD prices", I was expecting 10 or below. 20 is obscene.

LOL, I was thinking the same thing. The only time I ever buy CDs is if it's not available on iTunes. This also usually means I'm not going to find it at HMV and I usually end up shelling out $25 at Megatunes.