musicismylife... If the labels are so bad, why do bands continue to want to get signed with them? Because they're fucking helpful.
I disagree, and with the recent success of bands releasing stuff on their own, without the backing and or promotion of a major, it seems to show that quite the opposite is true, labels hinder rather than help the process.
Radiohead is the most obvious example. Bloc Party, The Raconteurs and NIN also come to mind in terms of in Bloc party and Raconteurs case, bands who came out of nowhere, and just one day said, "hey fans, we are releasing a new record in a few weeks", or in the case of NIN, completely bypass the label and just release things online.
The answer to your question is pretty obvious, and its the same answer to why Pearl Jam caved, and went back to Ticketmaster, after their battle with them. If you read my posts I dont bash indie labels. Those are different. In the case of a Dischord, or Alternative Tentacles, the whole "artist/label" relationship in those two labels is virtually unrecognizable compared to the major/artist relationship. Ian Mackaye doesnt even make a salary on Dischord which of course he runs and owns and operate. And no band on that label has any sort of contract. He talks about how, "its a bizaare idea, but we feel any band working with us, should feel happy and proud to do so". What a concept! I would assume Alt Tentacles is much the same way. I have heard that Dischord and the artists split profit 50 50. That to me is just and fair. But honestly, your high if you think Sony or Arista or whoever is also doing this. They dont split it 50 50. The percentages are more tipped to the label, and I just think thats absolute madness.
But back to the point, the reason so many bands sign to majors is several fold: one they actually believe what they have seen on tv, that once a band signs to a major they will have girls galore, cars galore and money galore. Thats obviously not the case. More often than not those things go to the label as I just stated above. Secondly, the Ticketmaster Pearl Jam metaphor I was using, is the same for the labels. Bands sign with majors because: what else is there. PJ went back to Ticketmaster because: what else is there?
He has said, he has friends on major labels, but that he also knows that ANY contract a band signs with a label is exploitative.
To me, thats facts right there. Few people have the integrity and moral standing that Ian Mackaye does. The guy literally is like some kind of Saint. And thats not overstating the case in the slightest.
musicismylife... If the labels are so bad, why do bands continue to want to get signed with them? Because they're fucking helpful.
I fail to see how a label that takes away YOUR earnings and DESERVED pay is helpful. As I said, most labels, most majors and artists contracts are not 50 50. Most slant towards more money being paid to the label. I think that is wrong.
musicismylife... If the labels are so bad, why do bands continue to want to get signed with them? Because they're fucking helpful.
I also fail to see their relevance anymore. Nowadays even amatuer and small bands can post on Myspace or You Tube or make a website where they sell or stream or offer free Mp3's of their songs and records. So again, how exactly are record labels helpful in 2009?
i recently bought an album blind based entirely on the bands name and an interview i read. it was an excellent move on my part cause im now a fan of the band.
Yeah I've done the same in the past, and had both good and bad experiences. Sometimes they are amazing records, and others just gather dust on my shelf. Having the opportunity to hear the records first means I can make better decisions and choose more wisely what I spend my hard earned cash on - it's not just artists who slave away in their work after all.
to be honest i couldnt care less what music was downloaded. im basing my argument on the fact that if you take for free what should be paid for then yes you are hurting the band.
But not in the example I gave, because 99.9% of the people I'm talking about would never have bought the album anyway - the band never would have seen their money, so the band isn't being hurt.
download all you want but dont try to justify your actions to me by saying its ok and its basically victimless.
Trust me, I feel absolutely no need to justify myself to you. I'm merely trying to point out the other side of the coin. In my example there are no victims. I download it, don't enjoy it, either delete it or forget it's on my pc - at no point, even if downloads didn't exist, would I ever have parted with any of my cash, or continued to listen to the album. If you're trying to argue that this hypothetical band are victims because they didn't manage to dupe me into blindly buying their album, then, uh, well........I guess we really aren't on the same page.......
Downloading music is basically just the new radio - where you hear music before you buy it. The fact that record companies are struggling to adjust to the modern reality - and even though it is stealing, the reality is that filesharing isn't going to end - is as much a failure on their parts as the people downloading albums. It's their responsibility to stay afloat in the market, after all.
BUT - and it's an important but, hence the capital letters - if you want to support the music you do enjoy, it's still important to pay for those albums eventually, or to pay to see them in concert, or whatever. It's just a case of the power in the seller/buyer relationship shifting to the buyer, at least for now.
Smokey Robinson constantly looks like he's trying to act natural after being accused of farting.
He has said, he has friends on major labels, but that he also knows that ANY contract a band signs with a label is exploitative.
To me, thats facts right there. Few people have the integrity and moral standing that Ian Mackaye does. The guy literally is like some kind of Saint. And thats not overstating the case in the slightest.
yeah, so what?? surely none of us think any differently from mackaye on this issue.
hes not a fucking saint. hes human like the rest of us.
hear my name
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
New question. Say your dad manages to scratch the shit out of your R.E.M cd to the point where it will no longer play, is it permissible to download the tracks and burn them to disc?
See if I bought the album again from amazon, it would cost me £6.68 for the cd, or £4.99 if I downloaded it from them. So presumably the content of the cd is worth 4.99, and the packaging is worth 1.69. I don't need a new cd case and booklet, and technically I've already paid for the content. Bear in mind that I could be putting that money towards a cd I don't own and thus supporting another band.
New question. Say your dad manages to scratch the shit out of your R.E.M cd to the point where it will no longer play, is it permissible to download the tracks and burn them to disc?
See if I bought the album again from amazon, it would cost me £6.68 for the cd, or £4.99 if I downloaded it from them. So presumably the content of the cd is worth 4.99, and the packaging is worth 1.69. I don't need a new cd case and booklet, and technically I've already paid for the content. Bear in mind that I could be putting that money towards a cd I don't own and thus supporting another band.
Thoughts?
which REM is it??
just buy it again.
technically youve paid for it ONCE. thats all your money entitles you to.
hear my name
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
New question. Say your dad manages to scratch the shit out of your R.E.M cd to the point where it will no longer play, is it permissible to download the tracks and burn them to disc?
See if I bought the album again from amazon, it would cost me £6.68 for the cd, or £4.99 if I downloaded it from them. So presumably the content of the cd is worth 4.99, and the packaging is worth 1.69. I don't need a new cd case and booklet, and technically I've already paid for the content. Bear in mind that I could be putting that money towards a cd I don't own and thus supporting another band.
Thoughts?
which REM is it??
just buy it again.
technically youve paid for it ONCE. thats all your money entitles you to.
In all seriousness this is a question no one answers. I have posted it multiple times and no one has given an adaquate answer to it. Most libraries, have cd's for borrowing. So the library bought these cd's or was given them by patrons. Is it stealing to burn them if you borrow from a library? How about something as benign as a friend buys the new Wilco album, and you say "No way, how is it", and you friend says "I will burn you a copy and bring it for you tomorrow". Is that stealing?
People always act like illegal downloading is some sketchy thing people do in the dark, that its some shady underground activity. But as I said before, most of the people who look like us, as in they are young and our age Teens and 20 year olds, all download illegally.
And its important to note that not all illegal downloading is done via torrent or Kazzaa. As I said, technically and for all intents and purposes, if you buy the new Bob Dylan cd and then burn it for a friend, you have broken the law. Whether that is the same as going on a Torrent or going on Kazzaa is a matter of discussion, the point is, there isnt just a all or none thing here. Its varying degrees and varyign points of view.
I think the fundamental question here, is what is music worth. And what are you willing to do to obtain it. If you have 100 bucks, you could go to a store and buy 5 cd's. Or you could go to a store and get 5 spindles of 50 blank cd's, and then come home and burn all those cd's. Most people have chosen to the do the latter. And I think will continue to do so.
For whatever reason, I and alot of other people, dont want to spend 15-20 bucks on cd's anymore. I dont feel its worth it. Its overpriced. And as I said, if most of that money was GOING TO THE ARTIST that would be a different situation.
As it stands most of the money goes to the label. I have no problem stealing money from a multibillion dollar label made up of 50-60 year old males who only care about the flavor of the month. The fact I love music, the fact that my identity and life has been altered and changed, and that music is what makes me want to get out of bed each morning, the record label and its executives couldnt give a hoot about that. So yeah, I feel no shame, that I and hundreds of millions of other kids are stealing profit from them.
Again, we bought all the bands stuff on LP's and vinyl. Then we BOUGHT THE SAME STUFF AGAIN, on 8 track. Then we BOUGHT THE SAME STUFF AGAIN on cassette, then we BOUGHT THE SAME STUFF AGAIN on CD. So yeah, I have no guilt whatsoever saying "hey record label, I aint gonna do it again".
Less cds bought = less money for the record companies.
Less money for record companies = less bands getting signed
Less bands geting signed = less choice, lower quality in music, ticket prices and merchandise will go up to cover missing revenue.
Bands start getting jobs because they can't live from their music career (Hey its happening wether you believe it or not. Mudhoney all have day jobs) = less tours.
Thats before we consider that record companies also invest in new recording & sound technology for recording & home systems.
Stealing music is wrong. You're not entitled to free bread and your not entitled to free music unless it's the artist & recored companies say it's Ok. However i do think the music industry need to change their infastructure in how much to charge and who gets a percentage. in HMV some cds are priced like £16!!!! Thats rediculous. I think £6.99 or £7.99 is a more resonable price for a cd. I ain't paying that!
The whole system seems a little archaic and i think it needs a good look at before we can seriously start attacking those who download. When it comes to people like Elton John and Metallica downloading isn't gonna put them on the breadline but everyone seems to forget that 99% of musicians don't make a great deal and need the income just to live so they can do what they love.
The whole system seems a little archaic and i think it needs a good look at before we can seriously start attacking those who download. When it comes to people like Elton John and Metallica downloading isn't gonna put them on the breadline but everyone seems to forget that 99% of musicians don't make a great deal and need the income just to live so they can do what they love.
I can't help thinking that the bands you are talking about, wouldn't make a living solely from music regardless - even when bands sell a few million records, it doesn't mean they are all multi-millionaires.
Like I mentioned before, bands and record companies have plenty of alternative opportunities to make money, yet they're all clinging onto a principle which ultimatley they won't be able to enforce. Why not just cut your losses and embrace new ways of making money? As long as they're getting paid in some way or another, does it matter where it comes from?
musicismylife... If the labels are so bad, why do bands continue to want to get signed with them? Because they're fucking helpful.
I disagree, and with the recent success of bands releasing stuff on their own, without the backing and or promotion of a major, it seems to show that quite the opposite is true, labels hinder rather than help the process.
Radiohead is the most obvious example. Bloc Party, The Raconteurs and NIN also come to mind in terms of in Bloc party and Raconteurs case, bands who came out of nowhere, and just one day said, "hey fans, we are releasing a new record in a few weeks", or in the case of NIN, completely bypass the label and just release things online.
The answer to your question is pretty obvious, and its the same answer to why Pearl Jam caved, and went back to Ticketmaster, after their battle with them. If you read my posts I dont bash indie labels. Those are different. In the case of a Dischord, or Alternative Tentacles, the whole "artist/label" relationship in those two labels is virtually unrecognizable compared to the major/artist relationship. Ian Mackaye doesnt even make a salary on Dischord which of course he runs and owns and operate. And no band on that label has any sort of contract. He talks about how, "its a bizaare idea, but we feel any band working with us, should feel happy and proud to do so". What a concept! I would assume Alt Tentacles is much the same way. I have heard that Dischord and the artists split profit 50 50. That to me is just and fair. But honestly, your high if you think Sony or Arista or whoever is also doing this. They dont split it 50 50. The percentages are more tipped to the label, and I just think thats absolute madness.
But back to the point, the reason so many bands sign to majors is several fold: one they actually believe what they have seen on tv, that once a band signs to a major they will have girls galore, cars galore and money galore. Thats obviously not the case. More often than not those things go to the label as I just stated above. Secondly, the Ticketmaster Pearl Jam metaphor I was using, is the same for the labels. Bands sign with majors because: what else is there. PJ went back to Ticketmaster because: what else is there?
The bands you listed were bands that already had an established fan base. Labels help with promotion, etc.. etc...
Would you have heard of NIN or Jack White if they weren't signed in the first place. Be honest.
Believe me, when I was growin up, I thought the worst thing you could turn out to be was normal, So I say freaks in the most complementary way. Here's a song by a fellow freak - E.V
The bands you listed were bands that already had an established fan base. Labels help with promotion, etc.. etc...
Would you have heard of NIN or Jack White if they weren't signed in the first place. Be honest.
Maybe he/she should have listed some of the thousands of bands who've been treated like shit by record labels, or dropped because their second album didn't sell as many as their first?
The record labels couldn't care less what they're selling, music is a product to them, nothing more, nothing less. They take the vast majority of royalties made for them by the band, and what's more, THEY failed to act back when music downloading first took off. They dragged their feet then, and failed their artists, and now they're pissing and moaning about it, but the reality now is it's too late. If they really gave a shit about their artists, they would be investing more time, money and efforts into developing new business models to bring in more money.
I genuinely feel for artists, I really do, but they're kidding themselves if they think they are going to make their primary income via cd sales. If you stop people downloading for free now, you could potentially sabotage the growth potential of your fan base. People are fickle, if they can't experience your music on their own terms, they'll just move on to another band or stick with the few bands they know.
The bands you listed were bands that already had an established fan base. Labels help with promotion, etc.. etc...
Would you have heard of NIN or Jack White if they weren't signed in the first place. Be honest.
Maybe he/she should have listed some of the thousands of bands who've been treated like shit by record labels, or dropped because their second album didn't sell as many as their first?
The record labels couldn't care less what they're selling, music is a product to them, nothing more, nothing less. They take the vast majority of royalties made for them by the band, and what's more, THEY failed to act back when music downloading first took off. They dragged their feet then, and failed their artists, and now they're pissing and moaning about it, but the reality now is it's too late. If they really gave a shit about their artists, they would be investing more time, money and efforts into developing new business models to bring in more money.
I genuinely feel for artists, I really do, but they're kidding themselves if they think they are going to make their primary income via cd sales. If you stop people downloading for free now, you could potentially sabotage the growth potential of your fan base. People are fickle, if they can't experience your music on their own terms, they'll just move on to another band or stick with the few bands they know.
You make a lot of valid points especially about coming up with new business models but at the same time we shouldn't be letting people get in the frame of mind that downloading is OK more like this will have to do until you come up with something more reasonable. I do think the problem now does lie with the record companies ect and we all need new ways of how we listen, purchase and expierience music.
You make a lot of valid points especially about coming up with new business models but at the same time we shouldn't be letting people get in the frame of mind that downloading is OK more like this will have to do until you come up with something more reasonable. I do think the problem now does lie with the record companies ect and we all need new ways of how we listen, purchase and expierience music.
I know what you are saying, about not giving people the impression that it's ok, but there are ways around that. I hate to use Trent Reznor as an example again, it's almost become cliche, BUT, he does make some really good points. He wrote a piece giving advice to new bands. Here's an extract:
"Forget thinking you are going to make any real money from record sales. Make your record cheaply (but great) and GIVE IT AWAY. As an artist you want as many people as possible to hear your work. Word of mouth is the only true marketing that matters.
To clarify:
Parter with a TopSpin or similar or build your own website, but what you NEED to do is this - give your music away as high-quality DRM-free MP3s. Collect people's email info in exchange (which means having the infrastructure to do so) and start building your database of potential customers. Then, offer a variety of premium packages for sale and make them limited editions / scarce goods. Base the price and amount available on what you think you can sell. Make the packages special - make them by hand, sign them, make them unique, make them something YOU would want to have as a fan. Make a premium download available that includes high-resolution versions (for sale at a reasonable price) and include the download as something immediately available with any physical purchase. Sell T-shirts. Sell buttons, posters... whatever."
Sounds like solid advice to me. Like I said before, does it really matter where the money comes from? At least if you give the music away from your site, you have the opportunity to build up a database of your fans, and selling to your fans isn't so hard- just ask Pearl Jam .
If you buy a Pearl Jam record, and then burn a copy for a friend or your Dad, is that stealing? And I would assume, alot of people do this. Even people who are against downloading.
If you copy a cd from the library is that stealing? Should the library be responsible?
The record buisness is rich because of US. People bought records of all their favorite artists. Actual LP's. This money went to the record company. Then they bought the same bands albums on 8 track, again, this money went to the label. Then they bought the SAME records again on cassette, then finally on CD.
Is that not greedy at its peak! Why do you act like I should feel sorry for these people? Cause the band aint getting the money. If bands get 1 dollar for every cd sold. That means record labels get the majority. Its stealing from the label, not from the band
If you buy a Pearl Jam record, and then burn a copy for a friend or your Dad, is that stealing? And I would assume, alot of people do this. Even people who are against downloading.
If you copy a cd from the library is that stealing? Should the library be responsible?
The record buisness is rich because of US. People bought records of all their favorite artists. Actual LP's. This money went to the record company. Then they bought the same bands albums on 8 track, again, this money went to the label. Then they bought the SAME records again on cassette, then finally on CD.
Is that not greedy at its peak! Why do you act like I should feel sorry for these people? Cause the band aint getting the money. If bands get 1 dollar for every cd sold. That means record labels get the majority. Its stealing from the label, not from the band
HELLO! AnYONE THERE?
Record labels need money too. Not all corporations are big evil entities that eat babies for breakfast. They need money to record, engineer, promote and manufacture cds so yeah they should take a big cut. Like i said they need to change the whole way we listen, promote and buy our music but stealing it is W R O N G. It's not OK to steal bread, paintings, cars, daffodils, someone's mum so its NOT OK to steal music. A change is needed but not theft. Not every one bought multiple copies of every peice of work you will find most people buy one copy and that will be enough. Its the record companies problem they didn't move with the times but rather then trying to fuck 'em over we should help them by trying to come up with a system that works. Please see me previous posts too.
I think also, its been stressed before, the blame lies not at the feet of downloaders, because lets be honest, given the choice between downloading 50 cds for free, and having to pay 20 bucks times 50 for 50 cd's, I dont really think their is a discussion really. If its free, people are gonna get it and want it.
Secondly, the blame lies squarely at the feet of the record labels. They were at a crossroads in 1999. Shawn Fanning created Napster, and it was spreading like wildfire across campuses. The record labels had a bunch of options. One that they rejected, was Fanning offering them 1 billion to parter together.
So they had a bunch of options and the option THEY chose was to criminalize, harass, fine and jail, their customers, the people who have paid their salaries for decades.
I have said it a million times. In 1999, all the labels should have gotten together with the download sites and said, "we will make a deal. Every month, just like the utilities bill, or the water bill, we will mail out a bill, for 20 bucks a month, for unlimited downloads to our customers". I also think they could have also, done something completely different like lowering the price on every cd made from 1999 on. Instead of a 18 dollar cd, what about a 10 dollar cd, all across the board?
Do you know how much dough they would be raking in now if they had done that?
They made their decision. To me, I see it as a battle, a struggle, a war. And I for one, will never be seen fighting for the greedy.
If you buy a Pearl Jam record, and then burn a copy for a friend or your Dad, is that stealing? And I would assume, alot of people do this. Even people who are against downloading.
If you copy a cd from the library is that stealing? Should the library be responsible?
The record buisness is rich because of US. People bought records of all their favorite artists. Actual LP's. This money went to the record company. Then they bought the same bands albums on 8 track, again, this money went to the label. Then they bought the SAME records again on cassette, then finally on CD.
Is that not greedy at its peak! Why do you act like I should feel sorry for these people? Cause the band aint getting the money. If bands get 1 dollar for every cd sold. That means record labels get the majority. Its stealing from the label, not from the band
HELLO! AnYONE THERE?
Record labels need money too. Not all corporations are big evil entities that eat babies for breakfast. They need money to record, engineer, promote and manufacture cds so yeah they should take a big cut. Like i said they need to change the whole way we listen, promote and buy our music but stealing it is W R O N G. It's not OK to steal bread, paintings, cars, daffodils, someone's mum so its NOT OK to steal music. A change is needed but not theft. Not every one bought multiple copies of every peice of work you will find most people buy one copy and that will be enough. Its the record companies problem they didn't move with the times but rather then trying to fuck 'em over we should help them by trying to come up with a system that works. Please see me previous posts too.
As I said, the blame lies not with the downloaders but with the record labels who overprice cd's, who under pay their artists and who are as clueless as a rock.
Trent Reznor said they are the most clueless idiots around. I dont think he has ever spoken a truer word. They dont get it, and its surprising so many on here dont get it either.
Again, its not STEALING FROM AN ARTIST. If the label is ripping off an artist and paying them only a dollar per cd, the illegal downloading of an artists cd is hurting the label most, not the artist.
For me, Sony, EMI, Arista, etc... they are evil. I am surprised ANYONE here or elsewhere would have a kind word to say about them. As a music lover and consumer, they dont care
If you buy a Pearl Jam record, and then burn a copy for a friend or your Dad, is that stealing? And I would assume, alot of people do this. Even people who are against downloading.
If you copy a cd from the library is that stealing? Should the library be responsible?
The record buisness is rich because of US. People bought records of all their favorite artists. Actual LP's. This money went to the record company. Then they bought the same bands albums on 8 track, again, this money went to the label. Then they bought the SAME records again on cassette, then finally on CD.
Is that not greedy at its peak! Why do you act like I should feel sorry for these people? Cause the band aint getting the money. If bands get 1 dollar for every cd sold. That means record labels get the majority. Its stealing from the label, not from the band
HELLO! AnYONE THERE?
Record labels need money too. Not all corporations are big evil entities that eat babies for breakfast. They need money to record, engineer, promote and manufacture cds so yeah they should take a big cut. Like i said they need to change the whole way we listen, promote and buy our music but stealing it is W R O N G. It's not OK to steal bread, paintings, cars, daffodils, someone's mum so its NOT OK to steal music. A change is needed but not theft. Not every one bought multiple copies of every peice of work you will find most people buy one copy and that will be enough. Its the record companies problem they didn't move with the times but rather then trying to fuck 'em over we should help them by trying to come up with a system that works. Please see me previous posts too.
As I said, the blame lies not with the downloaders but with the record labels who overprice cd's, who under pay their artists and who are as clueless as a rock.
Trent Reznor said they are the most clueless idiots around. I dont think he has ever spoken a truer word. They dont get it, and its surprising so many on here dont get it either.
Again, its not STEALING FROM AN ARTIST. If the label is ripping off an artist and paying them only a dollar per cd, the illegal downloading of an artists cd is hurting the label most, not the artist.
For me, Sony, EMI, Arista, etc... they are evil. I am surprised ANYONE here or elsewhere would have a kind word to say about them. As a music lover and consumer, they dont care
Well thats still a dollar you have taken from the artist.
What would happen if everyone stopped buying cds and just downloaded for free all their music tomorrow?
Pretty poor reasons for breaking the law if you ask me.
Well thats still a dollar you have taken from the artist.
What would happen if everyone stopped buying cds and just downloaded for free all their music tomorrow?
Pretty poor reasons for breaking the law if you ask me.[/quote]
Well, the alternative is to continue as it is, buying 20 dollar overpriced cd's, with the current system intact. The artist gets a whole dollar, wow. They obviously deserve the entire 20. So I dont really see your logic. The current system as it IS, is unsustainable. Giving an artist 1 buck for their art, is absurd and demeaning.
The answer of course is a new system. And we aint gonna get that if people continue to support the old system.
We need a new system of music industry. One where the artist is respected, paid more, and has more control over their art. Thats whats needed. Not some arcane law fining and jailing downloaders.
Again, its not STEALING FROM AN ARTIST. If the label is ripping off an artist and paying them only a dollar per cd, the illegal downloading of an artists cd is hurting the label most, not the artist.
For me, Sony, EMI, Arista, etc... they are evil. I am surprised ANYONE here or elsewhere would have a kind word to say about them. As a music lover and consumer, they dont care
See I wouldn't go as far as calling them evil, they're just greedy. It's pretty much common knowledge that the fat cats at the top of the labels are/were earning a fortune off the backs of the successful artists signed to their labels. As you rightly said, they had a choice ten years ago, but they were greedy and didn't want to compromise, and now it's biting them in the arse.
The reason they say illegal downloaders are taking money from artists, is because they know this is the consumers' achilles heel. We care about the bands we listen to, we make an emotional investment in them and what they stand for. This site is a prime example of that, people here live their lives through Pearl Jam's music. People buy their bootlegs, t shirts, posters etc, because being a fan of the band helps define them as a person, and how better to define yourself than to buy a load of shit with their name written on it?! I'm not mocking, I'm guilty of indulging at times, but ultimately, for me, it comes down to the music - that is what I'm most passionate about, it's that reason that I will download an early leak, because nothing comes above the music, no packaging or fancy booklet, or coloured vinyl - it's all about the music.
. Not every one bought multiple copies of every peice of work you will find most people buy one copy and that will be enough. Its the record companies problem they didn't move with the times but rather then trying to fuck 'em over we should help them by trying to come up with a system that works. Please see me previous posts too.[/quote]
you didnt understand my point about multiple copies of a piece of work.
People bought The Who's Quadrophenia on LP because thats all their was, turntables and LP's. Then times changed and LP's and records werent in style. So 8 tracks were popular, so people bought Quadrophenia on 8 track. Then 8 tracks were not popular and out of style and people bought cassette players, cassettes and a cassette copy of Quadrophenia. Finally cassettes are out of style so people bought CD players, cd's and Quardrophenia on CD.
Thats fact right there. I dont really understand an argument for another view on this particular point. Its what most everyone did. They bought an entire original collection for every new technology that came along. They had 100 LP's, then bought those same 100 and more, on 8 track, then those same 100 and more on cassette then those same 100 and more on CD.
Pretty poor reasons for breaking the law if you ask me.
Never broken the law yourself then? Didn't ever drink or smoke under age? Tried pot? Broken the speed limit? Good for you if you haven't but I think the vast majority of adults have at some point. I don't understand that whole self-righteous angle at all.
Again, its not STEALING FROM AN ARTIST. If the label is ripping off an artist and paying them only a dollar per cd, the illegal downloading of an artists cd is hurting the label most, not the artist.
For me, Sony, EMI, Arista, etc... they are evil. I am surprised ANYONE here or elsewhere would have a kind word to say about them. As a music lover and consumer, they dont care
See I wouldn't go as far as calling them evil, they're just greedy. It's pretty much common knowledge that the fat cats at the top of the labels are/were earning a fortune off the backs of the successful artists signed to their labels. As you rightly said, they had a choice ten years ago, but they were greedy and didn't want to compromise, and now it's biting them in the arse.
The reason they say illegal downloaders are taking money from artists, is because they know this is the consumers' achilles heel. We care about the bands we listen to, we make an emotional investment in them and what they stand for. This site is a prime example of that, people here live their lives through Pearl Jam's music. People buy their bootlegs, t shirts, posters etc, because being a fan of the band helps define them as a person, and how better to define yourself than to buy a load of shit with their name written on it?! I'm not mocking, I'm guilty of indulging at times, but ultimately, for me, it comes down to the music - that is what I'm most passionate about, it's that reason that I will download an early leak, because nothing comes above the music, no packaging or fancy booklet, or coloured vinyl - it's all about the music.
here here. the music wasnt the point of it all, at least for the record industry from the start. Those early bluesmen and black rockers they were all about the music, but the labels they signed to werent obviously.
Its never been about the music to them. EVER.
Their is not a human face on a souless company like Sony or EMI to me. The people who run those companies, I have said it before, dont give a damn if my life was changed when I bought Quadrophenia. They only care about the bottom line.
You are right, the music is the ultimate thing. Its why I have the username I do. Its why like I said, I get up each morning even though things are bad. Its what keeps me going.
So anyone, ANYONE who impinges on people to create and enjoy music, is an enemy to me. And the record label fits that mold.
To connect with a band, or album, is a spiritual experience. To feel like some band 1,000 miles away captured how you personally feel, thats a true blessing. And whats sad is, Sony, EMI, and Arista, couldnt give a damn.
Well, the alternative is to continue as it is, buying 20 dollar overpriced cd's, with the current system intact. The artist gets a whole dollar, wow. They obviously deserve the entire 20. So I dont really see your logic. The current system as it IS, is unsustainable. Giving an artist 1 buck for their art, is absurd and demeaning.
The answer of course is a new system. And we aint gonna get that if people continue to support the old system.
We need a new system of music industry. One where the artist is respected, paid more, and has more control over their art. Thats whats needed. Not some arcane law fining and jailing downloaders.
They deserve the whole $20 even though the record company gave them an advance to record the album, paid them to work for them, and then promoted the album?
Stores are making money off CDs as well, should we penalize record stores as well? I've seen in the last 10 years my HMV go from selling just CDs to just 1/2 CDs, the rest being movies and video games. I'm sure if everyone was buying CDs, this wouldn't be a good problem.
Believe me, when I was growin up, I thought the worst thing you could turn out to be was normal, So I say freaks in the most complementary way. Here's a song by a fellow freak - E.V
Again, its not STEALING FROM AN ARTIST. If the label is ripping off an artist and paying them only a dollar per cd, the illegal downloading of an artists cd is hurting the label most, not the artist.
For me, Sony, EMI, Arista, etc... they are evil. I am surprised ANYONE here or elsewhere would have a kind word to say about them. As a music lover and consumer, they dont care
See I wouldn't go as far as calling them evil, they're just greedy. It's pretty much common knowledge that the fat cats at the top of the labels are/were earning a fortune off the backs of the successful artists signed to their labels. As you rightly said, they had a choice ten years ago, but they were greedy and didn't want to compromise, and now it's biting them in the arse.
The reason they say illegal downloaders are taking money from artists, is because they know this is the consumers' achilles heel. We care about the bands we listen to, we make an emotional investment in them and what they stand for. This site is a prime example of that, people here live their lives through Pearl Jam's music. People buy their bootlegs, t shirts, posters etc, because being a fan of the band helps define them as a person, and how better to define yourself than to buy a load of shit with their name written on it?! I'm not mocking, I'm guilty of indulging at times, but ultimately, for me, it comes down to the music - that is what I'm most passionate about, it's that reason that I will download an early leak, because nothing comes above the music, no packaging or fancy booklet, or coloured vinyl - it's all about the music.
here here. the music wasnt the point of it all, at least for the record industry from the start. Those early bluesmen and black rockers they were all about the music, but the labels they signed to werent obviously.
Its never been about the music to them. EVER.
Their is not a human face on a souless company like Sony or EMI to me. The people who run those companies, I have said it before, dont give a damn if my life was changed when I bought Quadrophenia. They only care about the bottom line.
You are right, the music is the ultimate thing. Its why I have the username I do. Its why like I said, I get up each morning even though things are bad. Its what keeps me going.
So anyone, ANYONE who impinges on people to create and enjoy music, is an enemy to me. And the record label fits that mold.
To connect with a band, or album, is a spiritual experience. To feel like some band 1,000 miles away captured how you personally feel, thats a true blessing. And whats sad is, Sony, EMI, and Arista, couldnt give a damn.
But by downloading your iminges on people who love and create music. Take 15 % of your next pay check and then give it away to a total stranger. How would you feel then? You say you dont want to support the record companies? Then fine. Have you go on to every bands website of who you have downloaded and bought a piece of merchandise to cover the cost of the money they would have recieved from the album sale? No? didin't think so. So how are you supporting them now eh?You just seem to be on some holy crusade against these eveil record companies but you fail to see how you are hurting the industry as much as they are.
Well, the alternative is to continue as it is, buying 20 dollar overpriced cd's, with the current system intact. The artist gets a whole dollar, wow. They obviously deserve the entire 20. So I dont really see your logic. The current system as it IS, is unsustainable. Giving an artist 1 buck for their art, is absurd and demeaning.
The answer of course is a new system. And we aint gonna get that if people continue to support the old system.
We need a new system of music industry. One where the artist is respected, paid more, and has more control over their art. Thats whats needed. Not some arcane law fining and jailing downloaders.
They deserve the whole $20 even though the record company gave them an advance to record the album, paid them to work for them, and then promoted the album?
Stores are making money off CDs as well, should we penalize record stores as well? I've seen in the last 10 years my HMV go from selling just CDs to just 1/2 CDs, the rest being movies and video games. I'm sure if everyone was buying CDs, this wouldn't be a good problem.
I've noticed this too and HMV is the only place in my town to get cds except supermarkets now :(
Comments
I disagree, and with the recent success of bands releasing stuff on their own, without the backing and or promotion of a major, it seems to show that quite the opposite is true, labels hinder rather than help the process.
Radiohead is the most obvious example. Bloc Party, The Raconteurs and NIN also come to mind in terms of in Bloc party and Raconteurs case, bands who came out of nowhere, and just one day said, "hey fans, we are releasing a new record in a few weeks", or in the case of NIN, completely bypass the label and just release things online.
The answer to your question is pretty obvious, and its the same answer to why Pearl Jam caved, and went back to Ticketmaster, after their battle with them. If you read my posts I dont bash indie labels. Those are different. In the case of a Dischord, or Alternative Tentacles, the whole "artist/label" relationship in those two labels is virtually unrecognizable compared to the major/artist relationship. Ian Mackaye doesnt even make a salary on Dischord which of course he runs and owns and operate. And no band on that label has any sort of contract. He talks about how, "its a bizaare idea, but we feel any band working with us, should feel happy and proud to do so". What a concept! I would assume Alt Tentacles is much the same way. I have heard that Dischord and the artists split profit 50 50. That to me is just and fair. But honestly, your high if you think Sony or Arista or whoever is also doing this. They dont split it 50 50. The percentages are more tipped to the label, and I just think thats absolute madness.
But back to the point, the reason so many bands sign to majors is several fold: one they actually believe what they have seen on tv, that once a band signs to a major they will have girls galore, cars galore and money galore. Thats obviously not the case. More often than not those things go to the label as I just stated above. Secondly, the Ticketmaster Pearl Jam metaphor I was using, is the same for the labels. Bands sign with majors because: what else is there. PJ went back to Ticketmaster because: what else is there?
He has said, he has friends on major labels, but that he also knows that ANY contract a band signs with a label is exploitative.
To me, thats facts right there. Few people have the integrity and moral standing that Ian Mackaye does. The guy literally is like some kind of Saint. And thats not overstating the case in the slightest.
I fail to see how a label that takes away YOUR earnings and DESERVED pay is helpful. As I said, most labels, most majors and artists contracts are not 50 50. Most slant towards more money being paid to the label. I think that is wrong.
I also fail to see their relevance anymore. Nowadays even amatuer and small bands can post on Myspace or You Tube or make a website where they sell or stream or offer free Mp3's of their songs and records. So again, how exactly are record labels helpful in 2009?
Yeah I've done the same in the past, and had both good and bad experiences. Sometimes they are amazing records, and others just gather dust on my shelf. Having the opportunity to hear the records first means I can make better decisions and choose more wisely what I spend my hard earned cash on - it's not just artists who slave away in their work after all.
But not in the example I gave, because 99.9% of the people I'm talking about would never have bought the album anyway - the band never would have seen their money, so the band isn't being hurt.
Trust me, I feel absolutely no need to justify myself to you. I'm merely trying to point out the other side of the coin. In my example there are no victims. I download it, don't enjoy it, either delete it or forget it's on my pc - at no point, even if downloads didn't exist, would I ever have parted with any of my cash, or continued to listen to the album. If you're trying to argue that this hypothetical band are victims because they didn't manage to dupe me into blindly buying their album, then, uh, well........I guess we really aren't on the same page.......
BUT - and it's an important but, hence the capital letters - if you want to support the music you do enjoy, it's still important to pay for those albums eventually, or to pay to see them in concert, or whatever. It's just a case of the power in the seller/buyer relationship shifting to the buyer, at least for now.
yeah, so what?? surely none of us think any differently from mackaye on this issue.
hes not a fucking saint. hes human like the rest of us.
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
See if I bought the album again from amazon, it would cost me £6.68 for the cd, or £4.99 if I downloaded it from them. So presumably the content of the cd is worth 4.99, and the packaging is worth 1.69. I don't need a new cd case and booklet, and technically I've already paid for the content. Bear in mind that I could be putting that money towards a cd I don't own and thus supporting another band.
Thoughts?
which REM is it??
just buy it again.
technically youve paid for it ONCE. thats all your money entitles you to.
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
In all seriousness this is a question no one answers. I have posted it multiple times and no one has given an adaquate answer to it. Most libraries, have cd's for borrowing. So the library bought these cd's or was given them by patrons. Is it stealing to burn them if you borrow from a library? How about something as benign as a friend buys the new Wilco album, and you say "No way, how is it", and you friend says "I will burn you a copy and bring it for you tomorrow". Is that stealing?
People always act like illegal downloading is some sketchy thing people do in the dark, that its some shady underground activity. But as I said before, most of the people who look like us, as in they are young and our age Teens and 20 year olds, all download illegally.
And its important to note that not all illegal downloading is done via torrent or Kazzaa. As I said, technically and for all intents and purposes, if you buy the new Bob Dylan cd and then burn it for a friend, you have broken the law. Whether that is the same as going on a Torrent or going on Kazzaa is a matter of discussion, the point is, there isnt just a all or none thing here. Its varying degrees and varyign points of view.
I think the fundamental question here, is what is music worth. And what are you willing to do to obtain it. If you have 100 bucks, you could go to a store and buy 5 cd's. Or you could go to a store and get 5 spindles of 50 blank cd's, and then come home and burn all those cd's. Most people have chosen to the do the latter. And I think will continue to do so.
For whatever reason, I and alot of other people, dont want to spend 15-20 bucks on cd's anymore. I dont feel its worth it. Its overpriced. And as I said, if most of that money was GOING TO THE ARTIST that would be a different situation.
As it stands most of the money goes to the label. I have no problem stealing money from a multibillion dollar label made up of 50-60 year old males who only care about the flavor of the month. The fact I love music, the fact that my identity and life has been altered and changed, and that music is what makes me want to get out of bed each morning, the record label and its executives couldnt give a hoot about that. So yeah, I feel no shame, that I and hundreds of millions of other kids are stealing profit from them.
Again, we bought all the bands stuff on LP's and vinyl. Then we BOUGHT THE SAME STUFF AGAIN, on 8 track. Then we BOUGHT THE SAME STUFF AGAIN on cassette, then we BOUGHT THE SAME STUFF AGAIN on CD. So yeah, I have no guilt whatsoever saying "hey record label, I aint gonna do it again".
Less money for record companies = less bands getting signed
Less bands geting signed = less choice, lower quality in music, ticket prices and merchandise will go up to cover missing revenue.
Bands start getting jobs because they can't live from their music career (Hey its happening wether you believe it or not. Mudhoney all have day jobs) = less tours.
Thats before we consider that record companies also invest in new recording & sound technology for recording & home systems.
Stealing music is wrong. You're not entitled to free bread and your not entitled to free music unless it's the artist & recored companies say it's Ok. However i do think the music industry need to change their infastructure in how much to charge and who gets a percentage. in HMV some cds are priced like £16!!!! Thats rediculous. I think £6.99 or £7.99 is a more resonable price for a cd. I ain't paying that!
The whole system seems a little archaic and i think it needs a good look at before we can seriously start attacking those who download. When it comes to people like Elton John and Metallica downloading isn't gonna put them on the breadline but everyone seems to forget that 99% of musicians don't make a great deal and need the income just to live so they can do what they love.
I can't help thinking that the bands you are talking about, wouldn't make a living solely from music regardless - even when bands sell a few million records, it doesn't mean they are all multi-millionaires.
Like I mentioned before, bands and record companies have plenty of alternative opportunities to make money, yet they're all clinging onto a principle which ultimatley they won't be able to enforce. Why not just cut your losses and embrace new ways of making money? As long as they're getting paid in some way or another, does it matter where it comes from?
Automatic For The People. So my money doesn't actually entitle me to the music on the disc, just the disc itself?
The bands you listed were bands that already had an established fan base. Labels help with promotion, etc.. etc...
Would you have heard of NIN or Jack White if they weren't signed in the first place. Be honest.
Maybe he/she should have listed some of the thousands of bands who've been treated like shit by record labels, or dropped because their second album didn't sell as many as their first?
The record labels couldn't care less what they're selling, music is a product to them, nothing more, nothing less. They take the vast majority of royalties made for them by the band, and what's more, THEY failed to act back when music downloading first took off. They dragged their feet then, and failed their artists, and now they're pissing and moaning about it, but the reality now is it's too late. If they really gave a shit about their artists, they would be investing more time, money and efforts into developing new business models to bring in more money.
I genuinely feel for artists, I really do, but they're kidding themselves if they think they are going to make their primary income via cd sales. If you stop people downloading for free now, you could potentially sabotage the growth potential of your fan base. People are fickle, if they can't experience your music on their own terms, they'll just move on to another band or stick with the few bands they know.
You make a lot of valid points especially about coming up with new business models but at the same time we shouldn't be letting people get in the frame of mind that downloading is OK more like this will have to do until you come up with something more reasonable. I do think the problem now does lie with the record companies ect and we all need new ways of how we listen, purchase and expierience music.
I know what you are saying, about not giving people the impression that it's ok, but there are ways around that. I hate to use Trent Reznor as an example again, it's almost become cliche, BUT, he does make some really good points. He wrote a piece giving advice to new bands. Here's an extract:
"Forget thinking you are going to make any real money from record sales. Make your record cheaply (but great) and GIVE IT AWAY. As an artist you want as many people as possible to hear your work. Word of mouth is the only true marketing that matters.
To clarify:
Parter with a TopSpin or similar or build your own website, but what you NEED to do is this - give your music away as high-quality DRM-free MP3s. Collect people's email info in exchange (which means having the infrastructure to do so) and start building your database of potential customers. Then, offer a variety of premium packages for sale and make them limited editions / scarce goods. Base the price and amount available on what you think you can sell. Make the packages special - make them by hand, sign them, make them unique, make them something YOU would want to have as a fan. Make a premium download available that includes high-resolution versions (for sale at a reasonable price) and include the download as something immediately available with any physical purchase. Sell T-shirts. Sell buttons, posters... whatever."
Sounds like solid advice to me. Like I said before, does it really matter where the money comes from? At least if you give the music away from your site, you have the opportunity to build up a database of your fans, and selling to your fans isn't so hard- just ask Pearl Jam
If you buy a Pearl Jam record, and then burn a copy for a friend or your Dad, is that stealing? And I would assume, alot of people do this. Even people who are against downloading.
If you copy a cd from the library is that stealing? Should the library be responsible?
The record buisness is rich because of US. People bought records of all their favorite artists. Actual LP's. This money went to the record company. Then they bought the same bands albums on 8 track, again, this money went to the label. Then they bought the SAME records again on cassette, then finally on CD.
Is that not greedy at its peak! Why do you act like I should feel sorry for these people? Cause the band aint getting the money. If bands get 1 dollar for every cd sold. That means record labels get the majority. Its stealing from the label, not from the band
HELLO! AnYONE THERE?
Record labels need money too. Not all corporations are big evil entities that eat babies for breakfast. They need money to record, engineer, promote and manufacture cds so yeah they should take a big cut. Like i said they need to change the whole way we listen, promote and buy our music but stealing it is W R O N G. It's not OK to steal bread, paintings, cars, daffodils, someone's mum so its NOT OK to steal music. A change is needed but not theft. Not every one bought multiple copies of every peice of work you will find most people buy one copy and that will be enough. Its the record companies problem they didn't move with the times but rather then trying to fuck 'em over we should help them by trying to come up with a system that works. Please see me previous posts too.
Secondly, the blame lies squarely at the feet of the record labels. They were at a crossroads in 1999. Shawn Fanning created Napster, and it was spreading like wildfire across campuses. The record labels had a bunch of options. One that they rejected, was Fanning offering them 1 billion to parter together.
So they had a bunch of options and the option THEY chose was to criminalize, harass, fine and jail, their customers, the people who have paid their salaries for decades.
I have said it a million times. In 1999, all the labels should have gotten together with the download sites and said, "we will make a deal. Every month, just like the utilities bill, or the water bill, we will mail out a bill, for 20 bucks a month, for unlimited downloads to our customers". I also think they could have also, done something completely different like lowering the price on every cd made from 1999 on. Instead of a 18 dollar cd, what about a 10 dollar cd, all across the board?
Do you know how much dough they would be raking in now if they had done that?
They made their decision. To me, I see it as a battle, a struggle, a war. And I for one, will never be seen fighting for the greedy.
As I said, the blame lies not with the downloaders but with the record labels who overprice cd's, who under pay their artists and who are as clueless as a rock.
Trent Reznor said they are the most clueless idiots around. I dont think he has ever spoken a truer word. They dont get it, and its surprising so many on here dont get it either.
Again, its not STEALING FROM AN ARTIST. If the label is ripping off an artist and paying them only a dollar per cd, the illegal downloading of an artists cd is hurting the label most, not the artist.
For me, Sony, EMI, Arista, etc... they are evil. I am surprised ANYONE here or elsewhere would have a kind word to say about them. As a music lover and consumer, they dont care
Well thats still a dollar you have taken from the artist.
What would happen if everyone stopped buying cds and just downloaded for free all their music tomorrow?
Pretty poor reasons for breaking the law if you ask me.
Well thats still a dollar you have taken from the artist.
What would happen if everyone stopped buying cds and just downloaded for free all their music tomorrow?
Pretty poor reasons for breaking the law if you ask me.[/quote]
Well, the alternative is to continue as it is, buying 20 dollar overpriced cd's, with the current system intact. The artist gets a whole dollar, wow. They obviously deserve the entire 20. So I dont really see your logic. The current system as it IS, is unsustainable. Giving an artist 1 buck for their art, is absurd and demeaning.
The answer of course is a new system. And we aint gonna get that if people continue to support the old system.
We need a new system of music industry. One where the artist is respected, paid more, and has more control over their art. Thats whats needed. Not some arcane law fining and jailing downloaders.
See I wouldn't go as far as calling them evil, they're just greedy. It's pretty much common knowledge that the fat cats at the top of the labels are/were earning a fortune off the backs of the successful artists signed to their labels. As you rightly said, they had a choice ten years ago, but they were greedy and didn't want to compromise, and now it's biting them in the arse.
The reason they say illegal downloaders are taking money from artists, is because they know this is the consumers' achilles heel. We care about the bands we listen to, we make an emotional investment in them and what they stand for. This site is a prime example of that, people here live their lives through Pearl Jam's music. People buy their bootlegs, t shirts, posters etc, because being a fan of the band helps define them as a person, and how better to define yourself than to buy a load of shit with their name written on it?! I'm not mocking, I'm guilty of indulging at times, but ultimately, for me, it comes down to the music - that is what I'm most passionate about, it's that reason that I will download an early leak, because nothing comes above the music, no packaging or fancy booklet, or coloured vinyl - it's all about the music.
. Not every one bought multiple copies of every peice of work you will find most people buy one copy and that will be enough. Its the record companies problem they didn't move with the times but rather then trying to fuck 'em over we should help them by trying to come up with a system that works. Please see me previous posts too.[/quote]
you didnt understand my point about multiple copies of a piece of work.
People bought The Who's Quadrophenia on LP because thats all their was, turntables and LP's. Then times changed and LP's and records werent in style. So 8 tracks were popular, so people bought Quadrophenia on 8 track. Then 8 tracks were not popular and out of style and people bought cassette players, cassettes and a cassette copy of Quadrophenia. Finally cassettes are out of style so people bought CD players, cd's and Quardrophenia on CD.
Thats fact right there. I dont really understand an argument for another view on this particular point. Its what most everyone did. They bought an entire original collection for every new technology that came along. They had 100 LP's, then bought those same 100 and more, on 8 track, then those same 100 and more on cassette then those same 100 and more on CD.
Well the music industry would have to adapt a hell of a lot quicker than they have so far.
Never broken the law yourself then? Didn't ever drink or smoke under age? Tried pot? Broken the speed limit? Good for you if you haven't but I think the vast majority of adults have at some point. I don't understand that whole self-righteous angle at all.
here here. the music wasnt the point of it all, at least for the record industry from the start. Those early bluesmen and black rockers they were all about the music, but the labels they signed to werent obviously.
Its never been about the music to them. EVER.
Their is not a human face on a souless company like Sony or EMI to me. The people who run those companies, I have said it before, dont give a damn if my life was changed when I bought Quadrophenia. They only care about the bottom line.
You are right, the music is the ultimate thing. Its why I have the username I do. Its why like I said, I get up each morning even though things are bad. Its what keeps me going.
So anyone, ANYONE who impinges on people to create and enjoy music, is an enemy to me. And the record label fits that mold.
To connect with a band, or album, is a spiritual experience. To feel like some band 1,000 miles away captured how you personally feel, thats a true blessing. And whats sad is, Sony, EMI, and Arista, couldnt give a damn.
Stores are making money off CDs as well, should we penalize record stores as well? I've seen in the last 10 years my HMV go from selling just CDs to just 1/2 CDs, the rest being movies and video games. I'm sure if everyone was buying CDs, this wouldn't be a good problem.
But by downloading your iminges on people who love and create music. Take 15 % of your next pay check and then give it away to a total stranger. How would you feel then? You say you dont want to support the record companies? Then fine. Have you go on to every bands website of who you have downloaded and bought a piece of merchandise to cover the cost of the money they would have recieved from the album sale? No? didin't think so. So how are you supporting them now eh?You just seem to be on some holy crusade against these eveil record companies but you fail to see how you are hurting the industry as much as they are.
I've noticed this too and HMV is the only place in my town to get cds except supermarkets now :(