Tell me, do you feel more virtuous these days? More law-abiding? The recording industry seems to think you are, and they've certainly never been wrong before.
According to a report from the International Federation of Phonographic Industries -- those whacky kids -- the number of legal music downloads during the first half of 2005 was three times higher than during the same period last year, while the dastardly efforts of illegal file swapping pirates only increased a very little teeny bit. Industry representatives are seizing this as proof that their heavy-handed legal attacks and constant anti-piracy tirades are having some effect besides annoying the bejesus out of their customers.
"We are now seeing real evidence that people are increasingly put off by illegal file-sharing and turning to legal ways of enjoying music online," said John Kennedy, IFPI chairman and lead vocalist. "Whether it's the fear of getting caught breaking the law, or the realization that many networks could damage your home PC, attitudes are changing, and that is good news for the whole music industry."
posted
You're exactly right, Chris. I now buy the bulk of my music through iTMS because of the convenience factor. However, I no longer buy records -- haven't bought one since I started using iTMS. And as I mentioned on a thread yesterday, I buy far less big-label music.
It isn't a conscience issue for me, though. I still pirate some music (and I recently finished watching the entire first season of Lost) when it's convenient for me to do so.
Posts: 10886 | Registered: Feb 2000
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I go to one of the schools that Napster partnered with and let me tell you, it made getting music so much easier. The service is suspended during the summer and I can't wait to get it back in August.
Posts: 2867 | Registered: May 2005
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Yeah, it's true. Convenience is better. I always figured this was inevitable, though; paying $.99 for a song and downloading it in 10 seconds is better than getting a free song downloaded over 10 minutes, possibly full of spyware.
Posts: 1515 | Registered: Feb 2002
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My biggest problem with paying $.99 for a song is that you are usually getting it in 128kbit format. On a CD you get the pure audio with no degradation and pay not a whole lot more per song. Plus you get a hard copy that you can rip your own mp3s from at whatever level of compression you want.
I think that they should offer higher bitrate mp3s or even a lossless format option for the same price or maybe slightly more (no more than $1.50). But maybe there aren't that many people who care about the audio quality (or who can hear the difference).
Posts: 1336 | Registered: Mar 2002
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At least at itunes, what you get is 128 kbps AAC, which is significantly better than 128 kbps mp3 (more like 192).
Posts: 15770 | Registered: Dec 2001
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I don't think it's worth paying a whole dollar just for a 128 bitrate mp3. It's all about 320 bitrate, baybee.
Posts: 9942 | Registered: Mar 2003
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That article was hilarious, and completely true for so many people: my parents (both in their mid 50s) took a flying leap onto the iTunes bandwagon because of simple mathematics (numbers guesstimated, thanks):
Average number of songs per album: 12.
Median album cost via iTunes: $9.99
Average time it takes to find one song, at decent quality, without any weirdness via a P2P program: 12 minutes.
Average time to obtain album via P2P program: 144 minutes, or 2.4 hours.
Average salary: $20/hour. In fact, let's be ultra conservative and go with Seattle's minimum wage, which is $7.01/hour.
Average cost of album via P2P program: $16.82.
$9.99 < $16.82
Bing, we have a winner.
Posts: 4313 | Registered: Sep 2004
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Most of the time I'd rather just take the CD out of the library and rip it at 320 bitrate than pay on a site that may not have the obscure, unpopular stuff I usually crave.
Posts: 9942 | Registered: Mar 2003
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quote: Most of the time I'd rather just take the CD out of the library and rip it at 320 bitrate than pay on a site that may not have the obscure, unpopular stuff I usually crave.
Your library carries obscure, unpopular stuff?
Posts: 37449 | Registered: May 1999
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iTunes and the other services are what you use after you've already ripped all of your own CDs, your friends' CDs, your parents' CDs, the CDs from the library, CDs left in nearby unlocked cars...
Posts: 7790 | Registered: Aug 2000
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In my experience, sadly, it only has about a 50% chance of being there. While my top five all-time favourite albums don't reflect it, I have fairly broad tastes.
Posts: 10886 | Registered: Feb 2000
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I know. I wanted Pink Martini and it isn't on iTunes. It was VERY hard to find a legit digital download. I found it, but it was such a pain that I only got one song and then just ordered the CD.
Posts: 14745 | Registered: Dec 1999
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While my top five all-time favourite albums don't reflect it, I have fairly broad tastes.
