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Music Industry Compared to Movie Industry
tgibson writes "The Denver Post has an article comparing the missteps of the recording industry to the movie industry's success with DVDs: 'The best-selling "Chicago" movie soundtrack is available on CD starting at $13.86. The actual movie, with the soundtrack songs included, of course, plus additional goodies ranging from deleted musical numbers to the director's interview and a "making-of" feature, can be had for precisely $2.12 more...'"
While I doubt this will get read by anyone, since the article was posted a while ago, I'll say it anyways:
I was just thinking about the argument you guys make: buy used cd's; the RIAA gets nothing, you're happy etc. but I just realized that there's definitely a flaw to that logic.
Every time you buy a used CD, you are voting with your wallet. You're telling the used CD store that yes, people want used CD's. They will pay more for them than the store has to pay to get them. It's profitable to buy and sell used CD's.
By buying the CD, you are sending that message. Now, think about what would happen if you didn't buy that used CD. It'd sit on the shelf for a while. The store would think to itself: maybe it's not a good idea to keep doing this used CD thing. So it would stop buying them.
Then, the people who sell the CD's to the store (who are, incidentally, also the people who buy cd's new) would not be able to do so anymore. As a result, they'd be less inclined to buy new cd's.
By purchasing used CD's, you help keep the CD market alive. Not a huge effect by yourself, but everyone together makes a difference.
Anyways, I haven't thought this through all the way; it just came to me now. I may have made a couple mistakes myself. But it seems that buying used CD's may not be as harmless as everyone makes it out to be.