Submission + - RIAA: Cost of CDs should be higher
EatingSteak writes: "The folks over at Techdirt just put up a great story today, with the RIAA claiming the cost of a CD has gone down significantly relative to CPI (Consumer Price Index). The link FTA to the RIAA page of "Key Facts" claims that based on the 1983 price of CDs, the 1996 price should have been $33.86.
So naturally, the cost of a CD has actually gone down, so you should feel like you're getting a bargain. Sounds an awful lot like the cable companies saying cable prices are really going down even though they're going up.
Furthermore, the RIAA "Facts" page goes on to say: "though some factions of the industry see price resistance — CD prices are relatively low and home videos rentals are still a bargain — consumers don't seem to balk at the rising price of fun in this strong, family-friendly economy."
Wait a minute. Consumers not balking at rising prices of other types of fun (assuming fun == media consumption)? I disagree. Movie theater attendence has has been slipping for a long time, and who says consumers are not balking at high prices of movie rentals? At Blockbuster, a movie rental is $3.95! After taxes, I don't even get a $1 bill back out of my $5. Needless to say, I haven't been spending much time or money there. Finally, I contend that movie rental prices have been decreasing. Now, instead of paying $4 every time I watch a movie, I can just watch all the movies I want for the price of two or three single rentals. And no crap about phantom late fees either. The RIAA should be happy they're still getting as much for CDs as they are, because they're certainly not going to be getting $33.86 anytime soon."
So naturally, the cost of a CD has actually gone down, so you should feel like you're getting a bargain. Sounds an awful lot like the cable companies saying cable prices are really going down even though they're going up.
Furthermore, the RIAA "Facts" page goes on to say: "though some factions of the industry see price resistance — CD prices are relatively low and home videos rentals are still a bargain — consumers don't seem to balk at the rising price of fun in this strong, family-friendly economy."
Wait a minute. Consumers not balking at rising prices of other types of fun (assuming fun == media consumption)? I disagree. Movie theater attendence has has been slipping for a long time, and who says consumers are not balking at high prices of movie rentals? At Blockbuster, a movie rental is $3.95! After taxes, I don't even get a $1 bill back out of my $5. Needless to say, I haven't been spending much time or money there. Finally, I contend that movie rental prices have been decreasing. Now, instead of paying $4 every time I watch a movie, I can just watch all the movies I want for the price of two or three single rentals. And no crap about phantom late fees either. The RIAA should be happy they're still getting as much for CDs as they are, because they're certainly not going to be getting $33.86 anytime soon."
