Another downloading thought......

[Rosanna]

I truly believe downloading music, when done
honestly, can help the music industry. Many
people, such as myself use downloading as
a test to see if they like the music. If they
like what they are hearing, they will buy it.
There are still many music stores that will NOT let you listen before you buy. Why
not? If you don't like it, you certainly can not return it.If you buy clothes, you can
try them on first. A car, well, a test drive.
Even the major book stores will allow you
to sit and read a book cover to cover in a coffee shop which they provided, at their expense,in their store, to see if you like
it enough to buy it. Wal Mart is one of this
countries largest music retailers, and
they refuse to take the disc out of that
sacred NASA enforced plastic. Why? Will
it be damaged over a 5 or 10 minute session.
I think not. Would it cost more than a penny
to re-plastic the disc, I think not. Somebody
mentioned in an earlier topic that the music
indusrty is the shooting themselves in the foot, and they are. We've all been there.
We've all heard a great song on the radio
by this "great" band or performer, we rush
out to buy the album, and what happened?
One good song. The rest, crap. I'm not
talking about GL albums. We all know exactly
what Gl stuff is out there, no surprises. It seems the industry wants us to keep buying, but won't meet us half way. I don't know how
it is in the U.S., but here in Canada an
average CD costs about $22, thats a lot of money, especially considering a huge percentage of that is govt taxes. And what
about the government? Thay don't care either way. As long as they get their tax $. If you buy a cd from the store, they get tax $, if
you download, they get tax $ off of blank cd's and your internet bills. And what about
the record labels? The ones who are crying foul? Well, how about getting out of the
recordable CD business, guys. Yes, I'm talking to you
Sony. If you want people to stop downloading
YOUR music, beacause it is such a crime, stop
providing the weapon. It is almost like smoking in this country. Everyone knows
it kills you and others, but if the govnt
continues to make 5-6 dollars in taxes per
pack, whats the problem? Govt makes money,
big business makes money, everyones happy, right? Bottom line? The whining and bitching
from all of the above mentioned Kazillion-aires is making me ill.

[Doug Letcher]

I truly believe downloading music, when done
honestly, can help the music industry. Many
people, such as myself use downloading as
a test to see if they like the music. If they
like what they are hearing, they will buy it.
There are still many music stores that will NOT let you listen before you buy. Why
not? If you don't like it, you certainly can not return it.If you buy clothes, you can
try them on first. A car, well, a test drive.
Even the major book stores will allow you
to sit and read a book cover to cover in a coffee shop which they provided, at their expense,in their store, to see if you like
it enough to buy it. Wal Mart is one of this
countries largest music retailers, and
they refuse to take the disc out of that
sacred NASA enforced plastic. Why? Will
it be damaged over a 5 or 10 minute session.
I think not. Would it cost more than a penny
to re-plastic the disc, I think not. Somebody
mentioned in an earlier topic that the music
indusrty is the shooting themselves in the foot, and they are. We've all been there.
We've all heard a great song on the radio
by this "great" band or performer, we rush
out to buy the album, and what happened?
One good song. The rest, crap. I'm not
talking about GL albums. We all know exactly
what Gl stuff is out there, no surprises. It seems the industry wants us to keep buying, but won't meet us half way. I don't know how
it is in the U.S., but here in Canada an
average CD costs about $22, thats a lot of money, especially considering a huge percentage of that is govt taxes. And what
about the government? Thay don't care either way. As long as they get their tax $. If you buy a cd from the store, they get tax $, if
you download, they get tax $ off of blank cd's and your internet bills. And what about
the record labels? The ones who are crying foul? Well, how about getting out of the
recordable CD business, guys. Yes, I'm talking to you
Sony. If you want people to stop downloading
YOUR music, beacause it is such a crime, stop
providing the weapon. It is almost like smoking in this country. Everyone knows
it kills you and others, but if the govnt
continues to make 5-6 dollars in taxes per
pack, whats the problem? Govt makes money,
big business makes money, everyones happy, right? Bottom line? The whining and bitching
from all of the above mentioned Kazillion-aires is making me ill.

[BILLW]

Doug,

There is really that much tax on a pack of smokes ? How much do they retail for ?

Bill

[Rosanna]

quote:Originally posted by BILLW:
Doug,

There is really that much tax on a pack of smokes ? How much do they retail for ?

Bill


Bill,

I am in the nations capital, Ottawa. A pack
of smokes here sells for about $9.00 per
pack ( $7.00 U.S ), and well over 50 % of that cost is taxes.

[This message has been edited by Doug Letcher (edited April 27, 2004).]

[Doug Letcher]

quote:Originally posted by BILLW:
Doug,

There is really that much tax on a pack of smokes ? How much do they retail for ?

Bill


Bill,

I am in the nations capital, Ottawa. A pack
of smokes here sells for about $9.00 per
pack ( $7.00 U.S ), and well over 50 % of that cost is taxes.

[This message has been edited by Doug Letcher (edited April 27, 2004).]

quote:Originally posted by BILLW:
Doug,

There is really that much tax on a pack of smokes ? How much do they retail for ?

Bill

The lion share of the price of cigarettes is government taxes in the States too. My husband works for a wholesale grocery distributor and the only thing that is kept under lock and key and inventoried daily is the cigarettes because the government requires it to protect their "investment". If they come up short and can't explain it...in typical government fashion, 16K forms have to be filled out in triplicate.

As for the original topic, Doug...I am still on the fence. I am not a fan of the music moguls and you do bring up an excellent point about why don't they let us listen in the stores before we buy (there are a few that do, but not enough). Still, I think that there are way too many people (kids) who download, burn and share so they don't have to buy the cd. I fear it's a never ending debate with no universal solution.

C

quote:Originally posted by BILLW:
Doug,

There is really that much tax on a pack of smokes ? How much do they retail for ?

Bill

The lion share of the price of cigarettes is government taxes in the States too. My husband works for a wholesale grocery distributor and the only thing that is kept under lock and key and inventoried daily is the cigarettes because the government requires it to protect their "investment". If they come up short and can't explain it...in typical government fashion, 16K forms have to be filled out in triplicate.

As for the original topic, Doug...I am still on the fence. I am not a fan of the music moguls and you do bring up an excellent point about why don't they let us listen in the stores before we buy (there are a few that do, but not enough). Still, I think that there are way too many people (kids) who download, burn and share so they don't have to buy the cd. I fear it's a never ending debate with no universal solution.

C

[Rosanna]

This morning I contacted my local Wal Mart
head office. Their posistion is clear. No
music may be opened in the store before
purchase. I was also informed that there is
an extra hidden tax on blank discs. I'm
really glad all of Gl's albums are great
because as far as other artists and albums
are concerned, it's getting too expensive to buy the unknown.

[Doug Letcher]

This morning I contacted my local Wal Mart
head office. Their posistion is clear. No
music may be opened in the store before
purchase. I was also informed that there is
an extra hidden tax on blank discs. I'm
really glad all of Gl's albums are great
because as far as other artists and albums
are concerned, it's getting too expensive to buy the unknown.