The Battle Over How Much Online Music Should Cost
from the wrong-battle dept
The NY Times is impressed that all the various major music labels and major online music sites have more or less agreed on pricing, for the time being. What they’re forgetting is that the consumers haven’t agreed on such pricing (remember, the market sets the price…), and thus, they’re happy to stick with their free alternatives. I’m surprised, though, to see a music label exec (from Warner Music) admit in the article that, “at the end of the day we will invite people to listen without charging an admission fee.” It’s good that they realize that – but it would be nicer if they were actually working on real business models around the idea that the music itself can be free.
Comments on “The Battle Over How Much Online Music Should Cost”
Let garbage proliferate first
When the barrier to entry is lowered, the music world will be flooded with low-quality amateur groups banging out terrible tunes on cheap audio equipment. At that point, music labels can make money from providing guides to better quality, professionally made music.