Radiohead generation believes music is free

[KeilanS]

One thing I've found to help with CD prices is the use the online distributors. iTunes is good if you're okay with the copyright stuff on them.

First of all, most CD's are $10, there is a huge selection (especially for those of you in the US, the Canada store is much smaller), and it even addresses the problem Walla brought up: that is, instead of spending $20 on a CD you only like 3 songs on, spend $3 for those $3 songs.

Music piracy is a big issue of mine, I used to pirate hundreds of songs and then suddenly I realized it was outright stealing with a little guidance from a church leader. Since then I've found that music doesn't have to be a rip off if you have an internet connection. That and there's nothing wrong with listening to a Christian radio station once in awhile.

[Shad]

Instead of going after people for insane amounts of money that they will never be able to pay anyhow the RIAA needs to wake up and realize things have changed and they need to use CD's as a FREE way of advertising concerts. You get the music out in the public free of charge for them to decide if they like it or not and those that do are always going to show up to the concerts regardless if they can get the songs for free. So by putting out some free music online you potentially boost the number of people who will go to concerts and the money they saved by not having to buy the CD in a store they will most likely spend on t-shirts and other items at the concert itself.

[KeilanS]

Instead of going after people for insane amounts of money that they will never be able to pay anyhow the RIAA needs to wake up and realize things have changed and they need to use CD's as a FREE way of advertising concerts. You get the music out in the public free of charge for them to decide if they like it or not and those that do are always going to show up to the concerts regardless if they can get the songs for free. So by putting out some free music online you potentially boost the number of people who will go to concerts and the money they saved by not having to buy the CD in a store they will most likely spend on t-shirts and other items at the concert itself.

That's an interesting idea. I'd like to see it tested and find out if it actually brought in more money. The main problem I see is that the band can't be everywhere at once. Millions and millions of people have access to a CD in a store, but how many have access to a concert? Most bands don't even tour in Canada, so they'd lose 30 million potential customers right there.