CD thought?

I have always wondered about this one. If I take out a CD, took away its plastic packaging, took away the paper and actually took away the CD what do I have?

If someone said just music, great you would be right.

If you look at things logically. You would decrease the amount of time spent to reproduce the thing, and decrease the hours and wages that take to create one.

So the biggest wonder of my time at the present is this:

Why do we charge $12 for an album download?

Is it a wonder then why people pirate stuff?

I think the decent folk out there will buy something for what they thought the album is worth. The most famous example is Radiohead who said their audience could buy their new album at any price they wish.

It averaged out at $5.

Unfortunately they released the album in the shops as well, fleece your audience...nice style Radiohead...[growl]

But instead of thinking, wow, this is great, we have figured out what people are willing to pay, so lets do something about this. Downloading sites are still offering downloads at over $10.

I went over to CDBaby, nice basic site...most downloads $12.

If you want to buy a CD...$12.

However, I believe that the CD is going to die..

CDBaby also realise that, and have now released HostBaby for musicians.

But musicians haven't realised the fact yet.

And neither have record companies. If they did then all of their music would be up for download at $5 a shot (CD presses, artists, shipping- all gone and prices reduced). It wouldn't put an end to piracy fully, but it would heavily dent it.

It would also dent the record shops, and put people out of work in CD presses.

However change is needed. And it is the record companies fault that we haven't done anything about this mess yet. Unfortunately they will panic and try downloads in the future, but by then it will be too late. Musicians would have found out about downloading and the record companies will downsize. Would they be needed in the future? I doubt it, maybe to organise large concerts and tours...but why else would you need one?

Bleak picture, but true...we live in a "now" society that utilises downloads.

Kill the CD, and offer downloads.