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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