Do you think CDs are too expensive?

[TMHBAT]

I doubt there's a single CD at YourMusic that I would want to own no matter how cheap it was.

Of course I'd like it if the CDs I buy didn't cost as much, simply because spending less money is generally better than spending more money, but (apparently) unlike the people who answered this survey, I actually listen to good music. Most of my CDs are expensive and most of them are worth more than they sell for.

If you're buying the new Ashlee Simpson, of course you're going to feel ripped off if you paid more than nothing.

 

[Jon.]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TMHBAT unlike the people who answered this survey, I actually listen to good music.

You're kidding, right? I want to think you are, but it's hard to tell.

 

[iamdone]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TMHBAT I doubt there's a single CD at YourMusic that I would want to own no matter how cheap it was. Of course I'd like it if the CDs I buy didn't cost as much, simply because spending less money is generally better than spending more money, but (apparently) unlike the people who answered this survey, I actually listen to good music. Most of my CDs are expensive and most of them are worth more than they sell for. If you're buying the new Ashlee Simpson, of course you're going to feel ripped off if you paid more than nothing.

That's my problem with yourmusic.com. I couldn't find a single album on there I wanted to buy. There is no indie music at all. Even iTunes has a better selection but since it's 128AAC, I still buy my music at the used cd stores.

 

[antiant]

yourmusic.com is very limited in their music selections...it's a slap in the face to people who actually listen to "broader" selections imo, i really don't understand all the "rave" about it...it's like going to a candy store and all you see are the main brands or the most well-known

 

[F1GTR]

Quote:

Originally Posted by antiant yourmusic.com is very limited in their music selections...it's a slap in the face to people who actually listen to "broader" selections imo, i really don't understand all the "rave" about it...it's like going to a candy store and all you see are the main brands or the most well-known

I couldn't agree more; I can't understand the hype one bit.

Basically, if you listen to arbitron rated radio stations you'll probably like it.

 

[clarke68]

My lame attempt at a compelling thread title I think has distracted people a bit from the interesting topic here, the results of the study in the article. TMHBAT summarized them neatly:
Quote:

Originally Posted by TMHBAT If you're buying the new Ashlee Simpson, of course you're going to feel ripped off if you paid more than nothing.

for years, the record industry has been blaming online downloads as the leading cause of their decreasing profits. Now we have some solid evidence that their own business practices are at fault: I don't think anybody minds paying $20 for a CD if the entertainment value is there, but not many people feel like they get $20 worth of value listening to the latest manufactured pop-tart lip-sync tunes written by a corporate machine. If the record industry's current practices were in play 30 years ago, we would never have heard of Bruce Springsteen or Bob Marley, because neither of them made any money on their first 4 albums.

On one hand, I find the survey encouraging, and hope that it will serve as a wake-up call to the big labels to start nurturing talent again, and not just manufacture product. On the other hand, just the fact that the only questions they're asking are "how much do you spend each year?" shows that their focus is so off the mark that they may never change.

The actual $$$ amount I spend on CDs hasn't changed over the last few years (it certainly hasn't gone down), but I buy CDs almost exclusively from small & independent labels, and I don't know if their sales are even tracked by the RIAA.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TMHBAT I doubt there's a single CD at YourMusic that I would want to own no matter how cheap it was.

They're actually okay for jazz & classical. I joined up when I first got my SACD player because they had a few of the RCA Living Stereo releases. They also have quite a few classic Blue Note titles, some ECM stuff, and I picked up the Emerson Quartet's 4-disc Mendelssohn box for my dad last Christmas.

Biggest problem with the record clubs is that the artists see no royalties from discs purchased through them (I tend to only buy dead guys' CDs from yourmusic). Every record contract (reportedly) includes a clause allowing the record companies to sell a certain number of discs "for promotional purposes", that's where the record club's CDs come from. Also, there are reports that the actual discs you get from the clubs are not of the same quality as the retail ones.

 

[Elec]

If CDs were cheaper, I'd probably buy a lot more of them.

 

[TMHBAT]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon. You're kidding, right? I want to think you are, but it's hard to tell.

I'm half-kidding. I said "apparently" because I'm really just trusting the aesthetic judgement of all the people who say that the music they listen to isn't worth more than a cup of coffee. I assume they're right.


Quote:

Originally Posted by clarke68 Biggest problem with the record clubs is that the artists see no royalties from discs purchased through them (I tend to only buy dead guys' CDs from yourmusic). Every record contract (reportedly) includes a clause allowing the record companies to sell a certain number of discs "for promotional purposes", that's where the record club's CDs come from. Also, there are reports that the actual discs you get from the clubs are not of the same quality as the retail ones.

These are both things that would matter to me as an audiophile and music lover. Having been involved with an Early Music society for some time, I've met many of the artists whose recordings on small independent labels I buy. These are the best artists, within their specializations, performing and recording today, and their CDs are usually meticulously and thoughtfully produced, by them and by their labels, out of a love of the music and a deep committment to the highest technical and artistic standards. They perform and record for a pittance as it, and no big faceless corporations are jacking up the prices out of greed. I would be absolutely ashamed to look these people in the eyes and say "Sorry - it's $5.99 or it's 'no sale'."

 

[clarke68]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TMHBAT These are both things that would matter to me as an audiophile and music lover. Having been involved with an Early Music society for some time, I've met many of the artists whose recordings on small independent labels I buy. These are the best artists, within their specializations, performing and recording today, and their CDs are usually meticulously and thoughtfully produced, by them and by their labels, out of a love of the music and a deep committment to the highest technical and artistic standards. They perform and record for a pittance as it, and no big faceless corporations are jacking up the prices out of greed. I would be absolutely ashamed to look these people in the eyes and say "Sorry - it's $5.99 or it's 'no sale'."

Oh my goodnes I am going to seriously enjoy having you around. Welcome to Head-fi, sorry about your wallet, yada yada yada, please post as often as you like!

 

[Jon.]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TMHBAT I'm half-kidding. I said "apparently" because I'm really just trusting the aesthetic judgement of all the people who say that the music they listen to isn't worth more than a cup of coffee. I assume they're right.

Ah ok.. well I think the music I listen to is worth it. Hell I just went on a mini-binge last weekend and got 8 cds. The best part is I have all of them downloaded already. If I like the band I like to support them in some manner, and not be just another pirate whore. (apologies to you whores out there

)

I'd be thrilled to buy more cds, but my current flavour is power metal, and I've only been able to find them in stores for anywhere from 28.99-40 (for a single cd!). Throw in 15% tax and it makes Jon unhappy. I love Sonata Arctica, but do I love them enough to order them from our (one and only) music store in town for 35.99 a shot? I love the band, but I have to draw the line somewhere, you know?

Of course I should mention I don't make a lot of money, so that's probably putting a little bias in my response.. I still think they're overpriced, meh.



On a little side note here, I get a kick out of the fact I own about 60 cds I never would have purchased if not for downloading.

 

[HiGHFLYiN9]

Music Clubs are the best way to save some cash on CDs, however the selection is usually pretty limited. I find myself paying on average $15 a disc online since I have trouble finding them in stores or at BMG. Since many of my CD purchases are based on listening sessions of short 15-20 second clips, I sometimes end up with stuff that I'm not crazy about, and since the prices are high it discourages me from buying new CDs very often.

 

[mysticaldodo]

Local pressings can cost between USD 9. Alot of cd shops (minus Tower Records) offer random releases (can be Radiohead, Britney Spears, Bjork, but obviously no box sets) for US 7. If you buy more, they will charge cheaper. Recently, many albums from BMG and I think EMI are releasing plain cds, meaning cds without booklets and a plain paper casing with the tracklisting costing USD 5 only but mostly popular compilations like Direstraits and Texas. I guess its good for those who just want compilations without the extra frills. The normal album would probably cost up to USD 9 so you save 4 bucks minus the jewel case and booklet.

 

[Wmcmanus]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TMHBAT I doubt there's a single CD at YourMusic that I would want to own no matter how cheap it was.

Do you know anything AT ALL about yourmusic.com? Have you ever browsed the selections they offer? If so, your musical tastes are extremely limited.

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...but (apparently) unlike the people who answered this survey, I actually listen to good music.

Pretty arrogant and presumptuous, aren't we there, Captain? (Apparently) you're an intolerable pompus @ss.

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Most of my CDs are expensive and most of them are worth more than they sell for.

Care to share any examples to enlighten the ignorant masses?

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If you're buying the new Ashlee Simpson, of course you're going to feel ripped off if you paid more than nothing.

Proving once again that you know nothing about yourmusic.com if you think this is what they are about.

 

[Aman]

Come on guys, let's not doubt the obvious here! Yourmusic.com DOES have a limited selection. A very limited one.

I can type in an artist as popular as John Coltrane, and not even be able to find Dakar or Sun Ship for sale there! Wanna get some old prog rock? They don't stock any Eloy! Or maybe you want to get into the avant-garde rock. Nope, they don't have any Captain Beefheart! No Frank Zappa, either! Oh, but what about Todd Rundgren? Nope - they only cary three albums of his, two of which are live albums! No John Zorn for all those modern experimental fans! No Tortoise... No John Abercrombie... No Anthony Braxton... No Television... Mobo II? Nope! McKinney's Cotton Pickers? Definitely not. Hardly any Arlo Guthrie... And, to top it all off, a relatively dismal modern classical (even symphonic!) collection, and a nearly non-existant collection of jazz. I doubt Yourmusic.com has the full discography of ONE artist on their catelog!

I was really thinking about joining Yourmusic.com, but the utter lack of varried music just got to me. I would never be able to see a good value from Yourmusic.com because there's hardly any albums there that are the least bit 'out there' or 'obscure'. They essentially have top hits and classics from every genre, but once you get past the mainstream selections, their REAL offerings are quite sad.

 

[TMHBAT]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon. I love the band, but I have to draw the line somewhere, you know?

Absolutely. It is a genuine shame when prices prevent someone from having access to great music, especially if those prices are the result of odd distribution and copyright issues.


Quote:

Originally Posted by Wmcmanus Do you know anything AT ALL. . .

Thank you for your comments. Please see posts #21 and #23 above.