So I was talking to a friend the other day and I mentioned that I had a new CD coming in the mail that I was looking forward to. His response threw me for a loop. He said, “You actually buy music? Why would you want to do that?” That, unfortunately is the attitude of most of the people I talk to: when music is so easily free, why would we want to pay for it? Music has unfortunately lost its value to more than a few Americans.
In my opinion, music is worth the money. I personally enjoy a CD much more when I know I paid for it and am supporting the artist who put his or her time and talent into making it for my entertainment. Now, I know some say that file-sharing is good for the music industry, but if it bankrupts the business in the process of getting up-and-comers discovered, what good has it done?
I like the feeling of having a new CD in my hands, one with a real cover and jewel case. I’m going to buy my music, thank you very much. File-sharing is stealing, and music is too precious a commodity to be driven out of society by thieves.
I agree with you. A free download is not the same as a real CD. I also still buy music and I (almost) never regret it.
BUT… music is culture and art and the question is: Shouldn’t culture and art be available for EVERYONE, no matter how much money they have?! And I also don’t know what a fair price for culture and art would be.
All in all that all is not so easy I think.
Yeah, the price of music has gone up quite a lot from when I started buying CDs. On the other hand , people have to get paid (and not just the artists: producers, technicians, agents, etc.) which keeps the music from being free, just like any other art form. I agree that it’s not an easy issue, but I do believe that buying music, just like books and paintings, is the right way to go. Eventually we will have to have the discussion as to what the fair price is, for music and other forms of entertainment which have driven prices through the roof. As long as we as a society are willing to pay that much, though, that will not change.
Of course I know that the people who worked on the music have to get paid. But it seems to me like the big bosses and “superstars” are getting richer and richer but at the same time the music industry is complaining about low sales. The record companies should invest more money in new bands and uncommercial music.
In my opinion music shouldn’t be about money or succes – it just should be music.