Doobie
22nd November 2003, 01:32
I think on-line music sales can at least break even, even without a royalty drop. At about a dollar per song, there seems to be enough money left after startup costs are wrickles are put behind. And, even without a big profit, being a big player in one field will carry over to everything else a business does. Apple won't just sell more iPods, but they'll sell more of those ripoff Macs. Joe Music Consumer will be more familiar with the Apple name and thus more likely to buy any Apple product.
But, what annoys me is that this ammounts to a subsidy of the music business. Instead of the music industry being forced to reduce royalties to reasonable levels, other big businesses chip in.
This sort of thing happens sometimes. One of the most highly subsidized companies is Microsoft. Retailers sell over-priced Microsoft products near cost, sometimes below cost (especially the Windows OS).
Neither the RIAA or Microsoft need the charity. They're just greedy and the corrupt politicians in Congress help them get away with it.
But, what annoys me is that this ammounts to a subsidy of the music business. Instead of the music industry being forced to reduce royalties to reasonable levels, other big businesses chip in.
This sort of thing happens sometimes. One of the most highly subsidized companies is Microsoft. Retailers sell over-priced Microsoft products near cost, sometimes below cost (especially the Windows OS).
Neither the RIAA or Microsoft need the charity. They're just greedy and the corrupt politicians in Congress help them get away with it.