Jobs fuming over RIAA attempts at music download price hike
File this in the “is anyone surprised” category: music labels are chatting with online retailers about raising
wholesale prices for digital music downloads, looking to capitalise on growing demand. The RIAA wants a bigger piece of
the pie, which we’re sure they’re going to, uh, give right back to the artists. Yeah.
Steve Jobs apparently expressed anger at the news, and with good reason: Apple reportedly has multiyear agreements with
the record labels to preserve digital downloads at 99 cents per track. So what’s the game, here — are the labels
planning to strong-arm the iTMS? What’s your take on this?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Pedro said 4:14PM on 6-16-2005
Hey RIAA... you suck... you suck hard core!
That is my take on the RIAA.
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Brian said 4:14PM on 6-16-2005
I am glad that Steve Jobs is on the side of the consumer. He is alot of power in the corner right now.
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Powda_P said 4:14PM on 6-16-2005
with cleo like clarity, i predict a hike in illegal downloading if it happens.
/me downloads 3 albums for spite
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pp said 4:14PM on 6-16-2005
What do I think about it? I think the greedy executives need a lesson. Apparently they have not realised services like iTunes have helped lessen music piracy. A price hike? I'd call on everyone to download 10 albums to send them a message.
In the internet age of free transfer of music and knowledge, we the consumers hold the power. Not them.
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David said 4:14PM on 6-16-2005
This is insanity. At present if I choose to buy a new CD (which I do not) I am paying barely $3 more than if I buy the download (which I also do not). If I buy from the iTunes store I get a lower quality (which I can sometimes hear), I lose the right to sell the music if I'm disappointed in it or loose interest, and I lose the ability to play it where ever I want. That is a lot to give up for such a small savings - and now the RIAA wants to close the gap? They are insanely greedy.
Folks, I stopped giving my money to the record industry three years ago. Today I buy only from used CD stores and I support artists through concert tickets.
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Jam said 12:53PM on 8-01-2005
Does not effect me either-way I steal all my music I dont see this as being big or cool I just do it because I'm not prepaired to pay for it.
But yes the RIAA sucks.
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Scott-O-Rama said 4:14PM on 6-16-2005
(Anger. Rising. Rising. Spittle forming at mouth. Beginning incoherent rant now.)
WTF?!?!? Greed. That's all it is! Legal online downloads like iTMS have been the saviour of the music industry, and now they're going to crap all over them?
Let's see, I buy an album off iTMS. I don't get a CD booklet with it, and if I want to burn it to CD, I have to provide the media and case. Shouldn't this make it CHEAPER than buying the physical CD.
The RIAA has to be one of the most STUPID organizations EVER!!!
(End Incoherent Rant. Begin Stealing Music.)
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David Burtner said 4:14PM on 6-16-2005
I am old enough to be around when CD's first muscled in on albums. Surely vinyl is more expensive to produce, especially with full sized album covers. O yeah, the price will go down. It never has!
I agree with the above comments. I can buy many physical CD's for $9.99 at Best Buy. I actually get less rights to the music I purchase through downloads. This is pure greed.
Then again, it is a free market economy. If I don't like the prices at WalMart, that doesn't justify my stealing their inventory. As long as we pay, the market will test the limits. We should respond as consumers and support those companies that fairly price. Or does the RIAA constitute a monopoly? Is their representation of so much of the market a restraint of trade? This should be pursued as well. Jobs has the resources to pursue this but is " in bed with the enemy". Are there consumer groups willing to tackle this? It is too expensive for the individual.
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David Burtner said 4:14PM on 6-16-2005
I am old enough to be around when CD's first muscled in on albums. Surely vinyl is more expensive to produce, especially with full sized album covers. O yeah, the price will go down. It never has!
I agree with the above comments. I can buy many physical CD's for $9.99 at Best Buy. I actually get less rights to the music I purchase through downloads. This is pure greed.
Then again, it is a free market economy. If I don't like the prices at WalMart, that doesn't justify my stealing their inventory. As long as we pay, the market will test the limits. We should respond as consumers and support those companies that fairly price. Or does the RIAA constitute a monopoly? Is their representation of so much of the market a restraint of trade? This should be pursued as well. Jobs has the resources to pursue this but is " in bed with the enemy". Are there consumer groups willing to tackle this? It is too expensive for the individual.
Reply
Small Paul said 4:14PM on 6-16-2005
Chris Gulker has been buying music exclusively from independent labels for a couple of years.
http://www.gulker.com/2003/06/16.html#a1468
If you want to talk in a language that business people understand, you've got to speak with your wallet. End of story.
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