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HMV Canada Cuts Music CD Prices

Posted by kdawson on from the signs-of-sanity dept.

umStefa notes a CBC story reporting that the largest music retailer in Canada, HMV, has slashed prices on CDs and is attributing the move to demand by customers for lower prices. The back catalog of popular artists will see price cuts of up to 33%; the cuts average 20% across the board. The Canadian version of the RIAA is spinning the news as being a direct result of music piracy.

9 of 271 comments (clear)

  1. No Piracy by whisper_jeff · · Score: 5, Informative

    The Canadian version of the RIAA is spinning the news as being a direct result of music piracy.

    They can spin it however they want, but it's legal for Canadians to download music. It's part of the reason behind the tarifs we pay on storage media (as much as $25 on an iPod, for example). I'm paying for my right to download music, thank you. Now be sure to give my money to the artists and not line your own damn pockets.

    1. Re:No Piracy by kebes · · Score: 5, Informative

      It's part of the reason behind the tarifs we pay on storage media (as much as $25 on an iPod, for example).
      Actually the levy on blank media stands (though it was recently reduced), but the levy on iPods was challenged and overturned. Apple has a page explaining that the levy was overturned and how to request a refund if you paid it.

      (Unfortunately, the $ millions overpaid by Canadians on the blank media levy will apparently not be refunded to consumers.)
  2. Re:CD Prices and Slothful Government by ameoba · · Score: 2, Informative

    ...perhaps because the cost of movie production involves orders of magnitude more people and money that of an album?

    --
    my sig's at the bottom of the page.
  3. A slightly different take by cOle2 · · Score: 2, Informative

    A similar article in the Globe and Mail points out that the 18-24 year olds aren't listening to the latest pop chart toppers but are instead "tuning in to Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin - the music of their parents' generation", which is the reason for the back-catalogue price drops.

    In any case the article seems a bit more unbiased than the CBC/CRIA fud.

    1. Re:A slightly different take by R2P2 · · Score: 4, Informative
      The Globe's article is also nice enough to point out that HMV's lower prices still aren't really "low":

      Whether it will be enough to change listening habits is another matter. It still often costs about half the price to buy the music online. For instance, Fleetwood Mac's Rumours costs $19.99 now at HMV, down from $24.99, but only $7.92 on iTunes. David Bowie's Rise & Fall of Ziggy Stardust? Now $19.99 at HMV, but only $10.89 on iTunes.
  4. Its just following other forms of Entertainment by Froster · · Score: 3, Informative

    No, its not the dollar (though that will help a bit of course), but the cost of CDs has stayed somewhat high, while the cost of movies has dropped, DVDs are getting cheaper all the time, and video games seem to have hit a ceiling. That, in addition to HMV loosing its leadership position in music sales to Walmart, Future Shop and BestBuy, makes HMVs traditionally high prices seem rediculous. Why would I pay $13 for a CD at HMV, when I can get it at Best Buy for $10, and I can buy the concert DVD elsewhere for $18? HMV has had some good sales with their 2-for- or 3-for- sales, but the majority of CDs in their stores are sitting in the racks at regular sale prices much higher than anywhere else.

    1. Re:Its just following other forms of Entertainment by m0nkyman · · Score: 3, Informative

      I'm guessing it's been a while since you bought a CD at HMV. 13$ is about half of what they're typically charging for anything outside the top ten list.

      --
      ~ a low user id is no indication I have a clue what I'm talking about.
  5. Re: "More like Canada" by Abcd1234 · · Score: 2, Informative

    the lack of health insurance for most people

    Hey, now, let's be fair, the number of Americans without health insurance is currently around 47 million, or 16% of the total population (though this doesn't account for this with insurance who are denied coverage). Hardly "most people".

    I point this out only because a useful dialog about things like healthcare reform can't begin if people persist in exaggerating or outright lying in order to support their position (and that applies to either side).

  6. Re:Right... by Pig+Hogger · · Score: 4, Informative

    Just to point out that HMV is grossly overpriced compared to other places like Future Shop or A&B Sound.

    The CRIA should give their heads a shake. Don't kid yourselves, the members of CRIA are probably similar to the members of the RIAA, and are equally an evil lobby group.

    The CRIA is actually mostly formed by the RIAA members, and as so is totally unrepresentative of the canadian music "industry".