All this is completely and totally off topic, and I've
been trying to ignore it, but I can't any more. But
this is my only word on the subject, and I hope anyone
who wishes to continue this discussion takes it to a
more appropriate forum.
Look, all the associated non-manufacturing costs of
creating a music recording are exactly the same for
vinyl or CD. When CDs were introduced the sold for
about twice what a vinyl record cost. No way was the
production cost that high. Today, the manufacturing
cost of CDs has fallen to near nothing, but CD prices
haven't fallen significantly., if at all.
Several major record labels have been found guilty, or
copped to plea bargains, for manipulating prices, both
among themselves and with retailers, using both
promises and threats.
The simple truth: The recording industry, through the
RIAA, acts like a cartel. It artifically limits the
supply of music (both the number of musicians
available on CD AND the number of CDs pressed, to hold
up the price. It engages in non-competitive behavior
by signing artists to exclusive contracts that make it
almost impossible for the labels to compete with each
other over musical acts. Except for those very few
artists who become mega-stars, the record labels hold
all the cards, and the bulk of the profits from CD and
casette sales. And they threaten and strong arm any
retailers who significantly undercut the accepted
selling prices of CDs. Don't you find it somewhat
amazing that giants like Wal-Mart sell discs for
almost the same price as a Mom & Pop record store
doing 1/1000th the sales volume?
To ice the cake, they lobby congress much more
effectivly than do musical artists, or consumers, to
ensure the rules of their closed game don't change.
Microsoft's got nothing on the record industry when it
comes to protecting it's market.
=====
Bob Meyer
I wish I knew what I know now, when I was younger...
http:\\www.meyerweb.net\epson
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