From: Michael S. Lorrey (retroman@turbont.net)
Date: Tue Aug 01 2000 - 12:25:47 MDT
hal@finney.org wrote:
>
> > I think some serious thought ought to be given to the honor system /
> > shareware paradigm by artists in general, and musicians in particular. As a
> > for instance, I recently Napstered Macy Gray’s excellent album, and am
> > enjoying it so much that I’d be *happy* to pay for the album (albeit at a
> > steep discount, since I neither have nor want the CD medium or the fancy
> > packaging).
>
> You'd only get a "steep discount" if a substantial part of the costs are
> due to the CD medium and the packaging. What evidence is there that this
> is true? Isn't it well known that CD manufacturing costs are far lower than
> the price of the CDs? The plastic packaging can't cost that much, either.
> I don't see why you'd expect a substantial discount purely due to this
> difference in distribution.
You're not paying so much for the packaging of the CD, but the packaging of the
musician, PR-wise. I would venture to bet that neither the artists or the
recording company makes a heck of a lot of 'profit' on the original debut
albums, pumping most of that revinue into promotional costs, building up the
value of the Brand Name 'Macy Gray'. THAT is what you are paying for.
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