Excellent analysis!
And if I may abuse a common economics term, the 'curve of indifference' plays a role here. This is related to the market in that the price goes up or down any number of increments until it actually starts to matter to the consumer. So, if you'll pay $14 for a CD, you might pay $15. So on it went, until now where they are around $17 or $18. (Universal just lowered their prices to $15.) I don't think downloading makes a lot of difference economically, but it sure cheapens music on the whole.
The Poor House
12This example could be taken farther back to WWII and prior:
The average cost of a 78 record between the late 1930's to the late 40's was $.75. In adjusting that cost in 1938 to today's dollars you're paying $9.55 for two goddamn songs! Can you believe that? In 1948, just prior to the introduction of the LP those two songs would cost $5.60. Some of the cheapest records in the 30's could be had for $.25 - that's still $3.18 today; which is still more than what the legitimate online purveyers of music downloads are charging.
Between 1949 and 1952 most albums were released on LP and 4-5 78's. Those 78 albums were only $.25 to $1 less than the LP version - even though the 78 albums used more materials, there was still more value to be found in the format with better sound quality and longevity.
For those on a shoestring budget (i.e. teenagers, students, working class) there were 45 RPM singles and 78's. If you were really strapped for cash you could buy used 45's and 78's that came out of juke boxes for a nickel or dime a piece (about $.30-60 now) with sound quality that was equivalent to MP3 for its time. For a long time it was illegal to resell recorded music, but I'll leave that little saga for someone else to tackle.
Also something to consider in the cost of a CD:
Most new releases put out today usually have over an hour of music on them. Many damn near fill up the whole CD.
An LP would generally have 32-46 minutes total music. Yeah, if necessary, you could fit up to an hour on an LP, but it sounded like shit. At any rate, about 30-40 minutes. So when you buy a CD you're getting about twice the music that would come on an LP in the olden days. That seems like a great value (unless its outtake shit filler, which is probably the case with most pop CD's, but it usually works out well with classical), ya gets twice the music for the price you'd end up paying for half as much time on a more delicate, finicky format.
The average cost of a 78 record between the late 1930's to the late 40's was $.75. In adjusting that cost in 1938 to today's dollars you're paying $9.55 for two goddamn songs! Can you believe that? In 1948, just prior to the introduction of the LP those two songs would cost $5.60. Some of the cheapest records in the 30's could be had for $.25 - that's still $3.18 today; which is still more than what the legitimate online purveyers of music downloads are charging.
Between 1949 and 1952 most albums were released on LP and 4-5 78's. Those 78 albums were only $.25 to $1 less than the LP version - even though the 78 albums used more materials, there was still more value to be found in the format with better sound quality and longevity.
For those on a shoestring budget (i.e. teenagers, students, working class) there were 45 RPM singles and 78's. If you were really strapped for cash you could buy used 45's and 78's that came out of juke boxes for a nickel or dime a piece (about $.30-60 now) with sound quality that was equivalent to MP3 for its time. For a long time it was illegal to resell recorded music, but I'll leave that little saga for someone else to tackle.
Also something to consider in the cost of a CD:
Most new releases put out today usually have over an hour of music on them. Many damn near fill up the whole CD.
An LP would generally have 32-46 minutes total music. Yeah, if necessary, you could fit up to an hour on an LP, but it sounded like shit. At any rate, about 30-40 minutes. So when you buy a CD you're getting about twice the music that would come on an LP in the olden days. That seems like a great value (unless its outtake shit filler, which is probably the case with most pop CD's, but it usually works out well with classical), ya gets twice the music for the price you'd end up paying for half as much time on a more delicate, finicky format.
The Poor House
13throwing into the mix:
radio used to be all popular and stuff. seems like lotsa people nowadays really hate radio (i.e. "die, clearchannel, die!" type discussions). also, internet radio seems to have become extremely popular. also, believe it or not, there are people who use services like i-tunes to download mp3's and actually pay money for them, all legal-like. it's true.
radio used to be all popular and stuff. seems like lotsa people nowadays really hate radio (i.e. "die, clearchannel, die!" type discussions). also, internet radio seems to have become extremely popular. also, believe it or not, there are people who use services like i-tunes to download mp3's and actually pay money for them, all legal-like. it's true.
The Poor House
14Radio (along with the '29 stock market crash) almost killed record companies altogether in the early 30's. In fact it pretty much did kill the Paramount record company of Grafton/Port Washington, WI which released many of the early blues "race" records that are so sought after by collectors today.
When the option presented to you was to pay the equivalent of $10 today for 2 songs or to pay the equivalent of $400 for a radio that would give you free music, news and drama for many years - the choice seemed clear. It was only when DJ's started playing popular big band records by demand, and folks started collecting their favorite big bands that the record companies finally started to recover.
Quite a bit of radio programming back then that wasn't drama or comedy was live broadcasts of dances and concerts from the myriad of ballrooms that existed in the day. These were often simultaneously recorded to large 16" 33 RPM transcription discs (which were vertical cut, not lateral cut like modern LPs) and are the source of much "rare" and "unreleased" material from that time period.
When FM radio first appeard it was considered a 'cool' or 'unconventional' format. That didn't last long. A few NPO and publicly owned stations still remain, and play things like old jazz and brazilian music, but their wattage often leaves the appetite wanting for more.
When the option presented to you was to pay the equivalent of $10 today for 2 songs or to pay the equivalent of $400 for a radio that would give you free music, news and drama for many years - the choice seemed clear. It was only when DJ's started playing popular big band records by demand, and folks started collecting their favorite big bands that the record companies finally started to recover.
Quite a bit of radio programming back then that wasn't drama or comedy was live broadcasts of dances and concerts from the myriad of ballrooms that existed in the day. These were often simultaneously recorded to large 16" 33 RPM transcription discs (which were vertical cut, not lateral cut like modern LPs) and are the source of much "rare" and "unreleased" material from that time period.
When FM radio first appeard it was considered a 'cool' or 'unconventional' format. That didn't last long. A few NPO and publicly owned stations still remain, and play things like old jazz and brazilian music, but their wattage often leaves the appetite wanting for more.
The Poor House
15I have to say, this is the first message board or email group that has been anti-filesharing. This is good. For all the poor college students-- I advise getting involved with your college radio station. There should be a huge music library where you can 'try before you buy' until your heart's content.
The Poor House
16My friends and I make a point of buying independently released music and downloading major-label releases. A feeble effort, I know, but we're doing our part, right?
if i got lasik surgery on one eye, i could wear a monacle.
The Poor House
17danmohr wrote:Nice justification. Perhaps I could justify robbing music equipment dealers or recording studios because, jeez, I love all kinds of microphones and if I did not steal them, I would never be able to enjoy all the good stuff that is out there
funnily enough, i actually think that this is a good enough reason. why should someone be able exclusively own the right to copy music? the idea of 'theft' or 'piracy' doesn't even make sense...by my having a copy of a piece of music, no one else is deprived of it. even if copyright in general is justifiable for economic reasons (which given the term of copyright and its over-inflated market value), rights owners have been taking the piss for years.
imagine your computer could 'copy' microphones; make them out of materials you put into your computer at little cost i.e. you could download any mic you wanted from kazaa. would you?
The Poor House
18solum wrote: the idea of 'theft' or 'piracy' doesn't even make sense...by my having a copy of a piece of music, no one else is deprived of it.
You surely can not be THAT ignorant of the idea of itellectual property, can you?
Please check with Google:
http://www.google.com/search?q=define:I ... l+Property
The assumption that no one is deprived when a copy of music is stolen is hopeful at best, ignorant at the very least. Sounds to me more of a justification by someone who does not want to pony up to buy something that is obviously something they find of value, yet are easy to call it 'valueless' when it comes time to pay the bill.
The Poor House
19In response to Solum's post:
People just don't seem to fucking get it. There seems to be a lacking of first hand experience here.
To everyone out there who doesn't believe in the value or enforcibility of intellectual property rights laws:
1-Create or invent an original object, tool, device, artwork, audio or visual recording or creation (musical or not), or printed work (fiction or non) that takes you hundreds to thousands of hours to develop and produce.
2-Realize that what you've produced has real or intrisic value, usefulness, or interest to others, and that becuase of that others are likely willing to pay or exchange goods/services for the benifits of possesing or using your creation.
3-Legally register your creation or invention to claim for all legal purposes that you are the originator or source of this creation or invention (copyright, patent, trademark, etc...)
4-Sit back and smile at the sudden realization that others are using your creation/invention to enhance or benifit their lives.
5-Keep smiling at the further realization that, despite the success of your creation/invention that has enhanced the quality of life for so many, you recieve no financial or material compensation despite the days, months, or years of hard work you put into producing something that has found such utility or value for so many others.
Must be experienced to be appreciated.
Cheers,
People just don't seem to fucking get it. There seems to be a lacking of first hand experience here.
To everyone out there who doesn't believe in the value or enforcibility of intellectual property rights laws:
1-Create or invent an original object, tool, device, artwork, audio or visual recording or creation (musical or not), or printed work (fiction or non) that takes you hundreds to thousands of hours to develop and produce.
2-Realize that what you've produced has real or intrisic value, usefulness, or interest to others, and that becuase of that others are likely willing to pay or exchange goods/services for the benifits of possesing or using your creation.
3-Legally register your creation or invention to claim for all legal purposes that you are the originator or source of this creation or invention (copyright, patent, trademark, etc...)
4-Sit back and smile at the sudden realization that others are using your creation/invention to enhance or benifit their lives.
5-Keep smiling at the further realization that, despite the success of your creation/invention that has enhanced the quality of life for so many, you recieve no financial or material compensation despite the days, months, or years of hard work you put into producing something that has found such utility or value for so many others.
Must be experienced to be appreciated.
Cheers,