major labels slashing CD prices

[alexd]

Universal says a maximum price of 14.95 with 9.95 for new releases...

My mailbox is clogged with announcements from other labels doing the same type of slashing.

Its about fucking time, but like 20 years too late and not slashed enough.

[kat]

wooohoooo

heres what i just read on pitchfork

Universal Music Group To Unilaterally Reduce CD Prices
All RIAA subpoenas in October lightly scented with J-Lo fragrance
[Posted Tuesday, September 4th, 2003 02:00:00 Pitchfork Central Time]

Will Bryant reports:
Once upon a great while, the Pitchfork newswire gets a press release so completely over-the-top unbelievable, it simply has to be checked out. So you can imagine my Mr. Furley-esque double-take upon reading the headline "UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP, World's Largest Music Company, DRAMATICALLY REDUCES CD PRICES." That's right-- one of the five major label groups announced a plan yesterday to lower the list price of most top-line CD's to a jaw-dropping $12.98, effective as early as October 1st. Wholesale prices will be decreased as much as 30 percent, effectively reducing the end price of many discs to between $10 and $12 at many retail outlets.

Universal's stable of labels includes Interscope, Geffen, A&M, Island, Def Jam, MCA, Lost Highway, Motown, Mercury, and Verve. The group's collective roster includes such powerhouse sellers as Eminem, 50 Cent, Limp Bizkit, Guns 'n' Roses, Peter Gabriel, and U2, as well as Pitchfork faves ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead, Beck, Elvis Costello, PJ Harvey, Queens of the Stone Age, Sonic Youth, and Weezer. The new pricing policy will cover both new and current releases as well as catalog titles from the likes of Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Nirvana, The Police, The Velvet Underground, The Who, Hank Williams, and of course the Motown back catalog. By its own estimation, Universal Music Group artists account for almost 30 percent of domestic record sales.

The unprecedented move is widely expected to generate a fourth-quarter price war among the major labels, who may be forced to follow Universal's lead and go for volume sales and consumer loyalty (as opposed to charging $19 for a freakin' Andrew W.K. CD and suing the bejeezus out of you if you share it online). This could be excellent news for music retailers as the Christmas season approaches. Clinging to the stubborn formula of minimal selection and exorbitant prices, many chain stores have been forced to close underperforming locations while indie retailers, specialty shops, used-disc sellers, and online operations have actually seen an increase in sales in the last two years.

While it's too early to start applauding just yet, let's give Universal some props (I never thought I would say that) for listening to consumers rather than marketers for a change. Any move away from gouging, alienating, and litigating their own music-loving customers has got to be a step in the right direction.

.: Universal Music: http://www.umusic.com

woa weird :D

[el presidente Highsteppa]

Too late.

[Evil Dynovac]

Who says crime doesn't pay? You steal enough music on the internet and BAM! They lower the prices to make it not worth owning outright.

[defazman]

Will all the imports I want still be $43.99 at HMV?

[kat]

yes..the "imports" from the states

[Boss Hog]

Originally posted by el presidente Highsteppa
Too late.

[Vote Quimby]

Might be too late, but for some, like me, this is what I've been waiting for.

It's about time that the labels realised that the price of CD's was a factor in declining sales.

I have no problem paying $10 for a disc. The time I spend downloading and burning a CD are worth more to me then $10.

[smilez]

I might be more inclined to buy a 10$ disc. but not likely. I''d still rather get it for free

Melissa

[Silvershadow]

Would that be Universal US or Universal Canada? Cause if you go to the Canadian site, there's no mention of this... it's quite possible that they only decided to slash the prices in the States.

[kat]

i havent downloaded music in well over a year

i still buy music..so shush you too laters
i like owning the actual album rather than a blank cd with marker all over it


and wohoo for me

[vveerrgg]

soulseek ownz!

[lok]

yeah seriously. it'll be nice to buy CDs just because, rather than making strategic selections.

[el presidente Highsteppa]

to the "responsible citizens"

[Vote Quimby]

Originally posted by smilez
I might be more inclined to buy a 10$ disc. but not likely. I''d still rather get it for free

Melissa

For me it's a question of value. What costs less. The time it takes to DL and burn or the CD? If the price goes low enough, the CD wins.

It's not about being a reponsible citizen, just value.

Of course nowhere did they address the crappy music they still mass market.

[Boss Hog]

Originally posted by Vote Quimby

Of course nowhere did they address the crappy music they still mass market.

Exactly. The problem isn't JUST the price of the cd's.

[el presidente Highsteppa]

Originally posted by Vote Quimby
It's not about being a reponsible citizen, just value.

Of course nowhere did they address the crappy music they still mass market.

You're exactly right.

However while Universal is being smart, there's no mention either that the chains that sell their music are going to balance off the prices of the music fairly. I don't count on HMV bringing down prices to a reasonable level anytime soon.

When are they going to do the same with DVD's I wonder.

[stir-fry]

I'll still download!

[pr0nstar]

I usually buy CDs of artists I truly respect and want to contribute to their sales...

So this makes no difference to me.

[Silvershadow]

New York, NY and Santa Monica, California September 3, 2003 - Universal Music Group (UMG) announced today an aggressive plan to significantly reduce the cost consumers pay for CDs by decreasing its wholesale prices and by instituting a $12.98 Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) on virtually all top line CDs in the U.S..

http://new.umusic.com/News.aspx?NewsId=182
Doesn't look like it applies to us... I'm sure it's just a matter of time, but for now HMV and the likes will still be gouging us, I'm afraid.

[Hi i'm God]

They say the Decline in sales is due to Dwlding I say it's down to Shitty Music. There isint a single album I've wanted in the past 2 years! I barley listen to the radio in fear of hearing the same songs over and over.

[DJ_Science]

My brother and I were talking about the price of CD's a while ago. He mentioned to me that he had been following a lawsuit filed in the states against the music industry. Apparently, there was a class-action lawsuit brought against the industry for price-gauging for the past 20 years.

A US court ruled in favour of the lawsuit and a large group of record labels were ordered to refund 20$ american to anyone who wrote in and asked for it.

Does anyone know anything more about this? I would love to read an offical article about this.

[vveerrgg]

Originally posted by Vote Quimby
For me it's a question of value. What costs less. The time it takes to DL and burn or the CD? If the price goes low enough, the CD wins.

I took the money I would've spent on a year of CDs and bought a Yepp yo-30sh



the thing can hold 128 megs of music...
- which is about 20 songs at the 192bitrate good enough for just over 70 mins of music. perfect for cruising around the city. So now I download CD's pick the songs I want and go.... i'd rather constantly shuffle in music here and there then have to burn disks.

plus the thing is the size of a pager! AND you can buy it off ebay or online refurb.d for about $100can.

[swenard]

Originally posted by Vote Quimby
For me it's a question of value. What costs less. The time it takes to DL and burn or the CD? If the price goes low enough, the CD wins.

Are you using a atari with a 1400baud modem?


Cause I can download and burn a CD in less then 20 minutes. Actual work is only about 2 minutes, the rest is download time(at its slowest)

[kat]

Originally posted by el presidente Highsteppa


to the "responsible citizens"

if youre complaining about that a lot of albums nowadays suck, and the artistic quality is crappy..then i would recommend this: stop listening to shitty music

if you like only the single then buy only the single!