Death of CD??

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by Stillone

The "Death of Vinyl" was not due to sound quality rather "sales of CD in the UK peaked in 2004 at 237.4million units; the expected figure for 2009 is down to 112million, with no signs of a reversal in fortune for the format."

There is really no reason why CD's should continue to cost $13.00 to $18.00 average sales price, except for the greed of the labels. You want to see CD sales exceed the UK peak of 2004, then drop the price so that the average CD costs $9.00. With actual production costs for a commercial CD at less than $1.00, including jewel case, cover art insert, and distribution, the profit margin would still be there at the lower cost because sales would jump dramatically. Right now the industry prefers to hold their pricing at rediculous levels, and then whine about poor sales. They are not profiting because they are not selling. Whose fault is that?

[1KW]

I agree with Dan, drop the price and sales will increase or offer something extra with a cd purchase that you can't get with itunes version.

[US Blues]

+1 to Dan's comment above. Releasing CD's with music worth listening to would also boost sales.

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by US Blues

Releasing CD's with music worth listening to would also boost sales.

US Blues.......You hit the nail on the head with that point. So much new music is not worth purchasing, even if it was a $5.00 disc. But still, if CD's were $9.00 as an average price, I would buy a lot more music than I presently do. Typically, I purchase 4 to 6 CD's a month, if I can find something that I want to listen to. I would search more, and buy more if the price was not such a rip. The labels are their own worst enemy.

[Still-One]

I am having no problem finding several new CD's each month to order. There is a lot of good music out there, just do not try and find it on the radio. I have been averaging about $9.95 to $14 on Amazon, I have no problem paying that since I am getting the physical medium rather than just a download.

[jdandy]

Jim.......I shop Amazon music often, and am happy to pick up music at $9.95. I just ordered the new Norah Jones CD for that price. That pleases me. Still, a great deal of the music I would like to purchase is priced at $16.95 to $24.95. In my humble opinion, there is no reason for that tier of pricing given the actual cost to manufacture, package and distribute CD's. It is the ruthless greed of the recording labels that drive this pricing. I have even read a record executives comments to the effect that they had to price CD's at $17.95 retail, because CD sales were down, and they needed the income to continue to survive. It is counterintuitive to think like that. Price gouging does not generate sales.

[two dot]

DAn,

I couldn't agree more.

I am starting to see a lot of artists distributing their music themselves.

Cut the record companies out... the greedy bastards,,,

[f1 fan]

Good comments guys.....I agree!




Dave

[jetblack]

Another music format will have to travel down the pike, before the CD format will vanish into the sunset.

One of the reasons I purchase mostly vinyl is that the price on used vinyl is so reasonable (and it sounds great).