People Still Like CDs
from the old-formats-die-slowly dept
While the recording industry continues to insist that music downloading is destroying their business, there's even more evidence that this simply isn't true. From ITFacts.biz, we learn that 92% of people surveyed still prefer their music on a CD. In fact, most say that when they download it's usually to get songs they can't get on CD or to sample music before buying the CD. Other reasons given are if they want a song immediately or if they really only want one or two songs from an album and don't want to shell out for the entire album. Notice that all four of these reasons show that music downloading is not a substitute for CDs. Now, obviously, not everyone here may be telling the truth. Also, the percentage of people who are just fine with downloads is likely to grow over time. However, if the recording industry were smart about this they'd realize that they should be focusing on ways to use downloads to promote more CD sales -- and perhaps adding more value to the CDs itself (off the top of my head, this could include: DVD content, better liner notes, access to the band's fan club, free tickets to a show, etc.).Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
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CDs and DVDs Rock!!!
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No Subject Given
Don't remember paying to much for this combo,,$12+ I think (very reasonable in IMHO for this package). Had I known what the DVD contained (personnel opinion is that its way better than the CD) I would have paid more.
The DVD type content is what drives me to go to live shows. To see the artist re-interpret or re-imagine their song/music. Not much worse can happen than to go to a 'live' show and hear the exact same music as performed on the CD/Radio.
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DRM is why the CD still lives
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Just bought some
I also have a few of songs that I don't technically 'own'.
Just this past weekend I was at a garage sale and purchased 9 CDs, all but one of which contain songs that I already have MP3 files of, but want to add to my CD collection because I *like* CDs.
Must be why I now have over 500 CDs...
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I do buy CDs
I don't have an MP3 player and I hate iTunes. I'm just an average Joe who likes listening music with quality of sound.
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Re: DRM is why the CD still lives
I could kiss you (almost!)
That's exactly what I was about to write. I'm not sure if the record companies don't understand that people don't want this DRM crap, or if they think if they make it hard enough to use the online stuff, people will just buy the CD's instead!
Last week a mate of mine was going to try the free iTunes offer, he's a serious audiophile who does mixes and stuff, so would prefer to buy a track here, a track there.... I told him about all the DRM crap, and he was shocked - he just couldn't fathom what use music you could only play on the computer you downloaded it onto would be.
I guess you could burn it to CD, then re-rip it, but that would lose quality even further.
The scary thing was, my mate was completely oblivious to the fact that he would be restricted in any way with the iTunes stuff - how many people don't realise until they buy a new PC or format their drive that they can no longer play their music?
I've also got a new idea for music filesharing - put all your rips on a fileserver with an unsecured wireless access point, and let anyone who drives by get it. You can't be blamed for having bad security settings, and there's no provable intent to share.
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Re: DRM is why the CD still lives
Strikes me as a successful implementation of DRM ie You don't notice it.
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Re: DRM is why the CD still lives
You sure will notice DRM when you try to play an iTunes file on another machine....
I guess DRM is fine for people like you who must only have one machine to play on, and no need to do anything with your music but simply play it....
Personally I REQUIRE total freedom to do whatever I want with stuff i purchase.
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audio technology
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