What would it take for people to start buying music again?

Question

We all know how easy it is to download pirated mp3's on the internet. Even with the advent of the iTunes music store, music piracy still continues at a steady rate.

What would it take for you personally to legally purchase all of the music you listen to from now on? Price reduction? Bonus/Extras/Incentives?

Also: keep in mind that the costs behind releasing an album is not just limited to cd manufacturing and distribution. Studio time and producer's fees are highly expensive, as well as marketing and promotion.

Answer 1

There are so few bands today that you can hold onto...meaning that how many bands do you see today that last more than a cd or two? Everyone in my generation still listen to bands from our youth because "record companies" would have a band put out a few albums and give the band time to build a following...give the targeted audience time to warm up and get into the band.

Now there are only four major labels instead of tens or dozens like there used to be...they want a band to have a platinum single right away or they drop the band. It's not like it was back in the 70s, 80s or even early 90s...once you get dropped by Sony (for example), where do you go? If a band today has a huge platinum premiere cd and the sophmore cd doesn't do well, they get dropped. The industry has developed into a scene that demands instant satisfaction and immediate massive sales.

It just stinks...you can't hook into a band anymore today like you used to. Bands like Sabbath, AC/DC, Metallica, Chili Peppers, Beastie Boys etc have been around 20-30 years...bands today are considered massive stars if they don't get dropped in 30 weeks.

Why would I waste $10-15 on a cd, $30 on a concert ticket, $25 on a shirt or hat on a band that could be filing for unemloyment benefits in a year? How can I build a strong association with a band when they have a better chance of diappearing in a month then they do releaseing a second cd??

Answer 2

At $0.15 to make a C.D. and less than a $0.50 per CD for royalties, and $1 to ship and Stock, why the hell am I paying $20 for 2 good songs, and 12 shite tracks. Thats a crazier mark up than the food industry with their 300-500% mark up but at least they cook and serve it to you.

Fill the CD to max capacity with music, 20-25 songs, charge me $8 and I'd probably buy it. Even I-Tunes is still a rip off when you think of the cost to compose a 20 song disc.

If I can't steal it, I just don't listen to it, thats what the radio is for.

No song is that important that I need to hear it RIGHT now or my life would end.

The record companies can bite me.

Thats the other thing that pisses me off. If a buddy of mine bought a CD and lent it to me, or God forbid I made a copy, nobody used to do anything about that, now they make it look like it's murder that some guy puts his songs on his computer and I borrow them from him, what with their commericals and crazy chrages they lay on people.

Answer 3

Well, even tho I know that the fact we can download MP3's on the internet doesn't benefit the music-industry.....as long as i get the opportunity I will keep on downloading music from the internet. (legally, mind you)

If the option of downloading music would not be available anymore, THEN I would start buying music again. (it certainly would help if the prices for a CD weren't so ridiculously high)

Answer 4

Personally for me, i don't download anyway , never have. I much prefer going out and buying a cd rather than downloading over the net , which makes downloaded copies of music 3rd generation quality at best - nobody ever thinks about that.

Answer 5

I only buy music on physical discs from sellers. I enjoy owning an actual item. It shows that I purchased something. Plus I enjoy the books and fact that the sound quality is better in CD format.

Answer 6

Lower the price on CD's. Allow us to create CD's from multiple artists for a good price.

Quit behaving like animals whom have never been housetrained.

Oh yeah, create music worth paying money for. It seems to me that the bulk of new music sucks, so I surely am not going to pay for it.

Answer 7

Almost nothing would get people back to buying music from the store. The only way would if somehow the government stopped music downloading.

Answer 8

If the people selling them priced them reasonably. Big name stores sell cd´s at 3 times the price sometimes as smaller stores.

Answer 9

Today's so called music sucks dick. Just answered a question from some kid who can't tell emo from punk from hard rock from alternative. And you know what? neither can I, It all sucks equally...just about every band out there with very few exception, sucks...why buy their goddamn music it will be uncool to listen to tomorrow anyway...

Answer 10

Maybe if someone would record some music that was worth a s h i t, people would buy it. Actually, no they wouldn't. They would keep buying the same ole crap.