The hilarity is, as some of you surely know already, is that the invention of the CD was originally heralded as a much cheaper format to produce, ship and distribute, but the greed of the industry stopped any kind of price reduction. It's too bad it's taken it so long to bite them in the ass, but it's enjoyable watching a pathetic, self-absorbed industry fail. On Fri, Mar 19, 2010 at 2:49 PM, Michael Coxe wrote: > For something not RIP related (except to the music industry in whole) > > > http://arstechnica.com/media/news/2010/03/years-late-universal-cuts-cd-prices-to-combat-poor-sales.ars< > http://arstechnica.com/media/news/2010/03/years-late-universal-cuts-cd-prices-to-combat-poor-sales.ars?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss > > > > excerpt: > > Sales of digital downloads have not been enough to make up for the decline > of CD sales since its peak in 2000. Universal Music Group plans to soften > the fall of CD sales by dropping prices across the board < > http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/e3i56ed42b9a46f8554e2671afccecca01b>, > to a maximum of $10. > > The company plans to test lower prices beginning next month and continuing > throughout 2010. Nearly all of UMG's CDs will priced between $6 and $10. UMG > is hoping that increased volume will make up for the price drop, and the > company plans to create more higher-priced "deluxe" versions for more > hardcore fans. > > "We think [the new pricing program] will really bring new life into the > physical format," Universal Music Group Distribution president and CEO Jim > Urie told /Billboard/. > > Retailers have been clamoring for lower retails prices, with many believing > that $10 is the magic number to spur sales. (I'll admit, I rarely buy a > physical CD for more than $10 these days). A recent test from Trans World > Entertainment showed that a $9.99 price point doubled CD sales in over 100 > of its stores. > > > Rock is dead, long live rock! > > - Michael > -- www.theluxuryband.com www.myspace.com/theluxury New CD "In The Wake Of What Won't Change" on sale now! "[The record] shines like the back of the sun." - Boston Metro "[Their] sound is big: U2 big, Oasis big, even a smidge of Pink Floyd big. That means that singalong hooks, memorable melodies, driving rhythms, close harmonies, and songs of the heart are all in the Luxury wheelhouse." - Boston Globe "Expertly polished, extravagantly layered..." - The Herald "All the coolest bits of powerpop, Britpop, psychedelia, prog and post-punk (in a manner I had previously considered impossible)" - thepowerofpop.com "I don't think this band or the local music scene will ever be the same... already looks to be one of the better albums to be released nationally in 2009." - Ryan's Smashing Life "Songs even the richest evil genius would be jealous of... a truly remarkable album." - The Last Broadcast