One major point you're missing about capitalism:
Products are priced at what the market will bear.
Except that when the recording industry (and motion pictue industry) controls so much of the means of distribution, can you still call it capitalism?
Artists know they unless they are signed by a "major" label that they will not get radio airplay, retailer space, etc. because the recording industry has a stranglehold on these channels. The same holds true for the movie game. Your comments about not bothering to see a movie unless spielberg and cruise are involved proves the point exactly. There are plenty of fine actors and directors who are not big names. However, you will not see their movies because they are not getting the cinema bookings because the "major studios" have a stranglehold on them, therefor they are not getting the exposure. AND, movie and CD prices are set set too hight to take a chance on "unknown" artists.
Which is exactly the problem. Artists of all kinds need exposure to succeed. When you can't get that without signing your soul away to big daddy, it is NOT capitalism.
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I just copied the list and emailed it to everyone in my address book so they could be informed, too. Hang on, there's someone at the door...
One major point you're missing about capitalism: Products are priced at what the market will bear. Except that when the recording industry (and motion pictue industry) controls so much of the means of distribution, can you still call it capitalism? Artists know they unless they are signed by a "major" label that they will not get radio airplay, retailer space, etc. because the recording industry has a stranglehold on these channels. The same holds true for the movie game. Your comments about not bothering to see a movie unless spielberg and cruise are involved proves the point exactly. There are plenty of fine actors and directors who are not big names. However, you will not see their movies because they are not getting the cinema bookings because the "major studios" have a stranglehold on them, therefor they are not getting the exposure. AND, movie and CD prices are set set too hight to take a chance on "unknown" artists. Which is exactly the problem. Artists of all kinds need exposure to succeed. When you can't get that without signing your soul away to big daddy, it is NOT capitalism.