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| From | Bob Hutton <bob_hutton@standardlife.com> |
| Subject | Re: Used CDs / eMusic / P2P |
| Date | Mon, 14 May 2007 12:15:27 +0100 |
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Adam said:
"This has been an interesting month for me because I finally bought an
IPod,
and I've bought more CDs in the last two weeks than I have in five years.
Most of 'em used, too."
Apart from making some bread for the guys selling the used CDs, how does
the artist benefit in any way from used CD sales?
Actually, I used to frequent record fairs here in Edinburgh where used
CDs/ cut-outs / promos would go for £5 - £8 each, roughly. This was how I
got many of my CDs - The Yellow Pills comps, many of the BigDeal label's
releases, Greenberry Woods, Idle Wilds, Rhino's D.I.Y. series, Vandalias,
Matthew Sweet, Redd Kross etc. My eyes were opened when I saw a lot of
similar stuff in Reckless Records in Chicago in the $0.99 bins! But since
downloading took hold, these record fairs have become sombre affairs with
few customers compared to 10 years ago. The ever-changing market.
There are 4 or 5 of my work colleagues who use eMusic - we often take a
chance on each other's suggestions, so sometimes a band may cop multiple
downloads via our word-of-mouth tips to each other. My latest discovery -
"The Sound They Make" by a band called New Ruins - they offered up one
free download, I liked it enough to take a chance on the album. I've also
nabbed The Clientele's "Strange Geometry" on the back of recommendations
by folk on this list. And thanks to Dan F for the tip on Maplewood - I
restricted myself to the first 2 songs from their album, the rest of it
does sound a wee bit too laid back for me. Later this month I plan to
investigate the world of Peter Bjorn and John.
All this talk of the digital age and digital copying vs. home taping got
me thinking ... with home taping you had the ability to copy your friends'
LPs in real time to make a slightly inferior copy (which probably wouldn't
be copied itself without noticeable degradation in sound quality). I
think the music industry could just about handle that. But with digital
copying, you can make perfect copies of your friends CDs in next to no
time at all (I can back up a CD in about 4 mins on my PC). These copies
can themselves be used to make further perfect copies too! Alternatively
if you venture into the murky world of P2P sharing, you can get a perfect
copy of the music collection of virtually anyone on the network, and they
have access to your collection too. I think one of the main issues many
people have is that they quickly acquire more music than they can readily
listen to. I know I am in that position just now after plundering the
PowerPopLovers blog (R.I.P.) for a lot of older pop music. Note to self:
stop buying and start listening!
I actually have friends who think I am DAFT in paying anything for music
in this day and age. One young colleague here looked at me in
incredulity over lunch one day as I was telling someone else how great a
new CD was "What do you mean, Bob? You still BUY your music? Good grief
I never realised anyone around here still did that!" Now this young guy
was into ambient trance music, which I'd never pay for anyway, but I was
still surprised by his attitude - not only did he not pay anything for
music HE obtained, but he was AMAZED that anyone else with a computer DID
pay. You artists/labels/retailers are just NEVER going to get through to
guys like that.
Bob - 0131 24(51188)
Systems Developer
IS DG3
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