[blessingx]

http://money.cnn.com/services/ticker...LINE001239.htm

 

[MusicLover]

I got all excited when I read that the prices were going to be lowered, but when I saw $13, What???!!!!!!!! Who the hell cares about a measly $2 less? Actually, a lot of cd's already cost $13 or less. "Dramatic change"? Give me a break.

 

[OriginalReaper]

Well, if CDs have a MSRP of $19 and we've seen these on sale for $13 then that's sounds a little better. At least I can hope retailers new sales are for $9 or $10.

I would still like to see that lowered another dollar or three. CDs cost less than $2 to manufacture. And I'm stretching it.

 

[MusicLover]

I think $8 max would be reasonable. Seriously, think about how much it costs them to make the cd's. It's just way too unfair.

 

[blessingx]

There may be differences between the MSRP and street prices as there is now. Even if the translation is only $2 that's a decent percent of the current cost. May be still an overcharge, but no denying it's an important move because they're finally connecting the dots (and especially if the other majors follow suit).

 

[Old Pa]

That's MSRP; wholesale will be going down, too, and be reflected in the additionally discounted prices of most CD resellers. This will increase pressure on other major labels to lower their MSRPs and wholesale prices. It's refreshing to see prices for something I consider a staple to be going in a direction other than up. Now if we can just do the same with broadband and SACDs . . . .

 

[soupy]

this is a big step imo. A hell lot smarter idea than suing mp3 trader/sharers. About f-ing time some record label realized the obvious problem.

 

[jlo mein]

i guess you have to put it in perspective...a $2 savings for you means a million/multi-million dollar loss for the record company.

So i guess its a good thing since you know the record companies are finally taking a hit

.

 

[hero zero]

that's funny....up here, we can get CD's when they first come out for about CAD$13.99......they usually cost C$23 if they're not so popular and if they have been on the shelf for a while....generally, I get the impression that CD's are cheaper in Canada...the main problem is selection....

How much is C$13 in US funds?

 

[Rizumu]

Quote:

Originally posted by hero zero that's funny....up here, we can get CD's when they first come out for about CAD$13.99......they usually cost C$23 if they're not so popular and if they have been on the shelf for a while....generally, I get the impression that CD's are cheaper in Canada...the main problem is selection.... How much is C$13 in US funds?

This is what I've gathered just from looking around on Canadian CD sites. The popular CDs are quite cheap (around CAD$13) while every CD I want is CAD$23

No savings for me really

But I'm sure for others. Many here have claimed that's it's cheaper to buy CDs from Canada, such as using amazon.ca.

BTW, CAD$13 = USD$9.41, CAD$23 = USD$16.65. (use this: http://www.xe.com/ucc/)

Oh, right! The actual topic of the thread

All I can say is kick-****ing-ass, and it's about time. MSRP now $12.98? That's really cool. I look forward to the day I can shell out $7-$10 for an album.

 

[Zanth]

Quote:

Originally posted by jlo mein i guess you have to put it in perspective...a $2 savings for you means a million/multi-million dollar loss for the record company.

Um...no. Remember if prices drop and more people BUY music then it is actually a multi-billion dollar increase in revenue. This is what they are anticipating and this is what one can expect IF the price trickles down to us at a savings of say $4 or more off the "cover price." If it's new I won't pay more than 16 Canadian, unless its an import which I max out at 23 Canadian. With this drop...I can expect $9 new albums

I'm excited, as I have said repeatedly...hook me up with $9-10 albums and I'll be one a week for sure...like 2-4/week if I can afford it.

 

[Old Pa]

Quote:

Originally posted by hero zero that's funny....up here, we can get CD's when they first come out for about CAD$13.99......they usually cost C$23 if they're not so popular and if they have been on the shelf for a while

Does that include GST and PST? Can you get mailorder/internet pricing in the Northern Workers' Paradise (A/K/A Canada) without GST and PST? Because when I've been up North, the sticker shock of more than 10% sales tax at the register has been like maybe I misread the price on the product. I am getting all my CDs for $7.99 to $13.00 USD gross; no shipping, no handling, and no sales tax. And there's no cost of getting the car out to drive somewhere. How does that gross compare with yours?

 

[grinch]

that article looks like total ******** to me. they can announce all they want, but i seriously doubt best buy is just going to drop $2 off the price of every cd by universal. oh well, i suppose in a warped *****-footing sort of way it's a step in the right direction.
Quote:

"We strongly believe that when the prices are dramatically reduced on so many titles, we will drive consumers back to stores and significantly bolster music sales," said Universal Music Chief Executive Doug Morris in the release.

hey look! somebody in the record industry with a brain! i'm going to go feint now.

 

[archosman]

I sent this to my bud at the record label he works for. Here is his response back...


Yeah, we saw this yesterday. We figure they've got to increase sales just
under 20% to make it work. But there's a whole lot more to the story that
is going to be coming out this week--like Universal demanding 30%
positioning space in the stores.. The X-mas quarter is NOT the time to test
market the idea, so we think that they are being extremely aggressive for
other reasons, like to to build more market share in the short term...
Don't forget that UMVD is up for sale and has been talking to GE and
Bronfman about being acquired.

$12.98 is the bare minimum that we can list a brand new CD and make any
money on it.

 

[mbriant]

I'm glad the record industry is starting to look at real solutions to their problems rather than simply finger-pointing. However, in 1973 LP records cost about $5.00 (Can funds which were actually worth more than U.S. back then) and I purchased a brand new 1973 Toyota Celica for $3,200.00. Gas was $0.32 per gallon. (Canadian gallon is larger than a U.S. gallon)

Today the price of the car and gas have gone up to around 8-10x more whereas a CD is only 3 or 4 x as expensive. They must have been really ripping us off then when LPs were $5.00.