They're at it again. The debate over what to do with digital
music and the recording industry just took a NASTY turn
for the worse, with the introduction of "copy-protected"
CD's.
Now soundtracks and albums feature a new anti-copy protection
feature, aimed to reduce the amount of pirated music being
exchanged around the world. The problem is the disks don't
even let the owner burn an additional copy of the music
for themselves, say for the car CD player - fuckin up the
entire concept of "fair-use". Worse yet, while your spending
your cold-hard cash buying this "differently-abled" disk
for 20 bucks, some 15 yr old is dowloading the thing for
free a block away. Ya, NOW I really want to go out and buy
one.
The fact is this cat is way out of the bag here. Anyone
can get access to whatever song, video or file they want
- and not have to pay for a damn thing. This isn't necessarily
good, but it's reality. But you don't start penalizing LEGIT
customers by making the product START SUCKING more. Everyone
agrees it's overpriced, but now the deal just got even worse.
People do still buy CD's though, placing more importance
than ever on artists & labels to produce quality albums
people want more than just one song off. The recording industry
showed up late in the game here & they didn't see what was
coming - they were busy counting the cash, snorting coke.
and now they are all freaked-out, backpedaling and "reacting"
- rather than thinking of ways to gain back some market
share. THIS SUCKS.
Why not enhance the value of the deal - include a poster
with the purchase, some ticket giveaways, contests, win
a "chance to meet the band" - whatever the hell you must
do. More artists appearances should used to promote the
disk at record stores. Have Autograph signings. Get the
radio stations more involved in live remotes from CD launch
parties.
But to start doing this just sucks. The market will determine
what works here long term, but as long as services exist
to exchange music for free - people are going to do it.
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Publicity Whore Magazine was voted #1 Entertainment Publication
in Los Angeles - 2001. Proud recipient of the Imbecilious
Award for Excellence in Entertainment Journalism.
