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ivan@stellysee.de
| From | Rafael Paulino Neto <rpaulino@bignet.com.br> |
| Subject | Lower cd prices |
| Date | Sun, 21 Mar 2010 17:55:04 -0300 |
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First of all, I think we should separate the different realities
in terms of record industries worldwide.
Here in Brazil, I see three different types of music fans: the ones who
still buy cd's frequently; the ones who will never buy again (almost 99%
of them into 'illegal' download); and the ones who still buy, but
scarcely, only casually or by chance.
My two cents: forget the people who won't pay for cd's anymore and try
to keep and stimulate the ones who like to buy or collect. Also,
maximize the chances of the ones who buy casually finding or stumbling
at the products they might like. In both cases, at least here in my
country, price really means a lot and lowering them would surely help.
Important note: avoid at all costs 'simplified' products, which
approximate original cd's to counterfeit pieces. The new album by New
Model Army is a clear example: a poor, black and white thin piece of
paper with the cd inside. And here, as an import, if you can find it at
the stores, it will sell for US 25 or 30. Another example, the Foxboro
Hot Tubs cd, another thin envelope with no inserts nor nothing. The
domestic edition was sold for US 18-20 at the time of it's release. Most
cd buyers like inserts, photos, liner notes, gatefold covers, etc., and
that's the way to go. Even with the occasional more expensive "deluxe'
version.
I do care for eco-friendly formats, but I think new materials should be
researched. The ones already available that I've seen - like Eco-Pac -
are all very ugly and poor.
Antoher point: now, I think that more titles available, but in smaller
pressings, is the prudent way to go. Finally, if the industry giants are
not interested in cd's anymore, more flexibility in licensing to smaller
firms might work too.
The US reality looks much harder, even with the infinitelly higher
economic power. How do you react to 'Give me the download and I'll pay
you the same or more than the physical record'? Sadly, that's exactly
what part (major? minor?) of the American market told the industry to do.
Rafael.
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