Apples Steve Jobs Calls the Recording Industry Greedy

[GhostShip]

This has got to be a joke folks, :shock:  The greedy folks are fighting over the rich pickings  

http://news.com.com/Jobs+Record+labels+getting+greedy/2100-1027_3-5874443.html?tag=nefd.top

Apple Computer boss Steve Jobs, the man behind the popular iPod digital music player, called the music industry greedy for considering a hike in the price of digital downloads, warning that such a move would drive users back to piracy.

Record companies have begun rethinking how to price songs sold over Apple's iTunes Internet shop--99 cents each in the United States and 79 pence in Britain--before new contract negotiations come up with the California-based company.

"If they want to raise the prices, it means that they are getting greedy," Jobs, chief executive of Apple, said at a news conference here Tuesday. "If the price goes up, they (consumers) will go back to piracy and everybody loses."

What your not reading in this article is that the recording industry wants to adjust the price paid to something more aceptable to a wider range of folks, and I agree with their price structure in principle, as it does indeed seem fairer.

For recent material recordings and latest releases they would charge more, the price quoted was  $1.49
For the not so new and classic stuff a price of around 79cents was suggested , but.... heres the good news for the lovers of half forgotten tracks, they would cost something like 49cents, so Apples one price for all is not so attractive to those p2p users who are by nature anti top 40 folks.

I have to say though with the money this lot swing around as pocket change, arguing over who gets the biggest wedge of cake is the mark of a true glutton.

[Anonymous]

What your not reading in this article is that the recording industry wants to adjust the price paid to something more aceptable to a wider range of folks, and I agree with their price structure in principle, as it does indeed seem fairer.

IF the artists got 25-50% of such fees, it would be great.  But they don't.  Often they get NOTHING.

The final cost to consumer should not be the only reference.  It hides the fact that the poor artists are being ripped off.

The existing investor/employer control over creative intellectual property needs to be crashed and trashed.

Consider the social effects.

A bar/pub has 2 choices.  Entertainment by live performers or have a DJ or jukebox to play canned pop music.

Lots of budding musicians would be able to find work if not for the ubiquity of jukeboxes and DJs.  As it is, they are denied the opportunity, replaced by recorded, canned music.

And look at the $ trail.  Live musicians are an expence to a bar.  A jukebox is a source of revenue.

The owner of my local watering hole splits 85% of the jukebox income with the coinop vendor who provides it.  So the collection agency for the RUAA and artists get 15%.  And of that measly 15% [~5 cents], just how much flows back to the artists and song writers?  Little or nothing, as they are usually backcharged for all the recording, production and promotions costs [usually charged off at inflated rates to connected providers] so the artists gets near nothing from this arrangement.

All musicians and performers lose under this 'marketing method' except for the few hand picked entities who are willing to live by lottery in such a rigged game.  Such superstars are needed for the RIAA to trick naive artists into signing away all rights to their works for a mere CHANCE at hitting it big.  They would be better off keeping the rights to their songs and performances and buying a lottery ticket in a legit state game.  And the odds of hitting it big would probably be better than with an RIAA blue sky contract.

Boycott RIAA poptarts.
Support indie artists who self-release.
Help fight to restore exclusive rights to intellectual property to its creators, the artists and inventors.