It seems that the RIAA warning that they will go after downloaders of illegal MP3's on the internet ( read here ) did not impress the average downloader.
Kazaa noticed a slight durntown during several hours after the announcement, however Grokster noticed that the usage went up with 10% for a little while after the announcement. However on friday everything seemed normal again, with trading the MP3's as usual.
Traffic in online chat rooms also has spiked, with angry fans vowing to seek alternative ways to continue getting their music of choice for free.
Some have speculated that the RIAA move could hasten the development of music file-sharing facilities that would allow users to hide their identities.
Many downloaders say they will continue to grab music off the Internet because they don't expect to be targets of the RIAA lawsuits. They expect those who distribute songs online on a broad basis to be the first to be hunted down.
The RIAA says it is primarily after those who download a "substantial" number of songs, but did not quantify the threat.
What about the traffic on personal FTP servers?, no-one knows if they have increased activity (except ofcourse the owners of those FTP servers themselves). How many private websites are out there that trade illegal MP3's? No-one knows, and probably will never know either.
The MP3's are out there, they can not be un-invented, That is why people will always find a way to get them illegally especially if it's for free.
All the record company can try to do is scare the majority into buying the material. Of course they could also try to be smarter and convince people that what people have to pay is really in the best interest for the artist and the music. But as seeing that 12 cent from each dollar spent on music is going to the artist, they have a lot of convincing to do.
They need to put out better quality albums with more incentives to buy, especially if they intend to keep the price high. While I'm willing to experiment with a new artist for $5-8 for an album, I won't for $12-18. I bought several albums recently. One had a bonus DVD. One was a DVD + CD. Another had a bonus CD. All three were on sale. And that's what it will take to get me to buy rather than to find it cheaper.
I think your estimate of 12 cents per dollar is probably high... don't forget agents, publicists, etc... they all get their take as well. Some record companies deduct the cost of production (studio time, etc) from the artist's profits, too. In a recent show on VH1 showcasing Britney Spears, they commented that she had sold 50,000,000 records, earning her $50,000,000. That's a dollar a record. Assuming $15 per CD, that works out to only 6.6% returning to the artist... and not just any artist, but a huge international superstar.
I think Curlio is dead on the mark. The record companies either need to compete by reducing prices, or by providing added value. The technology behind Compact Disc Digital Audio dates back to the 70's. It was a pretty cool idea back then, but by modern standards, it is a horribly flawed technology. Aren't we due for an upgrade? (How about 96kHz sample rates. MMmmm... that would sound so nice! I'd pay for that!) The Philips Compact Cassette tape had its day in the sun, and is now going away... 8 tracks came and went, and even vinyl is pretty esoteric these days. No single medium is meant to last forever, and one of the record company's best profit making schemes is to present the music in better and better formats, enticing customers to buy the real thing, and to replace their existing collection with more modern (and better) technologies.
Anyways, I was at Borders and this was before I bought Shakira's CD "Laundry Service". Anyways, I go there... and look for the CD. Well, I find two diff. versions of it
Laundry ServiceSpecial Edition: Washed & Dried Tracklisting: 1. Objection (Tango)
2. Underneath Your Clothes
3. Whenever, Wherever
4. Rules
5. The One
6. Ready For The Good Times
7. Fool
8. Te Dejo Madrid
9. Poem To A Horse
10. Que Me Quedes Tu
11. Eyes Like Yours
12. Suerte
13. Te Aviso, Te Anuncio (Tango)
Price: $14.99
Laundry Service(Regular CD) Tracklisting:Disk 1 1. Objection (Tango)
2. Underneath Your Clothes
3. Whenever, Wherever
4. Rules
5. The One
6. Ready For The Good Times
7. Fool
8. Te Dejo Madrid
9. Poem To A Horse
10. Que Me Quedes Tu
11. Eyes Like Yours
12. Suerte
13. Te Aviso, Te Anuncio (Tango)
14. Whenever, Wherever (Sahara Mix)
15. Underneath Your Clothes (Acoustic Version)
16. Objection (Tango) (Afro-Punk Version)
Disk 2: Bonus DVD 1. Objection (Tango) Live: MTV Video Music Awards
2. MTV's Making Of "Objection" Video
3. Objection (Tango) Video
Price: $14.99
What one do you think I got? If you picked the first one your wrong! I got the second one :)
lol, I was going to say, they don't usually take away content for the bonus disk. ^_^
I'm glad artists are starting to realize that their fans want to hear the B-side tracks, or the random stuff that didn't make it to the album. A lot of people are packing B-sides and bonus disks with their studio albums. I've noticed that a lot of my favourite artists will release some bonus tracks on their Japanese imports - which of course cost $20 MORE than the North American release. Big no-no.
I've always wondered what makes the Japanese so special that they get to hear all of the cool extra stuff. ;p
OMG I agree with the Japanese thing! A*Teens released a The ABBA Generation Remix album when TAG was released in Japan. Which, was almost all of the remixes from the singles, etc. I of course imported it... lol. Yah it was a little expensive.
However I've noticed too that CDs now come with some sort of Bonus. Whether it be small like an unreleased track, or large with a whole other CD. I also bought Shakira's "Grandes Exitos" (Greatest Hits), and it came with a Bonus Video CD... a whole 30 minute interview etc with Shakira. It is in Spanish (duh its a Spanish album :P) however, I knew enough Spanish to get the flow, lol :)
Even enhanced CDs are being made more I've noticed.
Kelly Clarkson's CD is enhanced, has a program called "Kelly Clarkson Connection" which brings you special news features, screensavers, AIM icons, etc. It is updated often, and allows you to watch her Music Video. Also, as time goes on more videos and even unreleased songs, etc... will be on it. So it is always changing, and new. Which is cool! :)
I think that prices need to come down. In virgin you can buy a single for £4 but you can buy an album for £12. Im not willing to buy a single for lets say three songs. The tapes are even worse, their £3 each.
I agree with the japanese thing to. I bought the lene marlin album (i dun expect any1 to of heard of her lol) and then i read it was released in japan and had an extra track!! grr lol
