Best Buy Indie Music Sale Sparks Debate
On our podcast this week we debated whether or not downloading MP3s devalues music, and now it seems another similar issue has sprung up as a result of a crazy sale going on over at Best Buy in the U.S. right now. The Best Buy sale in question (detailed in this flyer) involves a number of albums from independent labels being sold at rock bottom prices… $7.99 to be exact. Best Buy is taking a loss to sell albums from bands like Bloc Party, The Arcade Fire, Cat Power and The New Pornographers in the hopes that it will draw people into the stores to buy other (hopefully more expensive) goods. On the one hand, it raises the question of whether such cheap prices actually lower the value of an album in the eyes of a potential consumer. The other, probably more vocal, objection to the sale stems from the fact that it screws over indie music stores who cannot possibly compete with prices like that. My response on that front is simple: independent music stores already lost the majority of their appeal the day Amazon.com and other online retailers opened their doors. The Best Buy sale only lasts until Feb. 11th apparently, but one wonders if it will be successful, and whether or not it may become a more frequent occurrence in the future. (I should note that I first read about both of these juicy topics courtesy of Frank over at Chromewaves, who does a great job of summarizing them and providing links for further reading.)
Comments (3)
whatever happened to the good old days of waiting for the release date for an album and going out and spending your hard work money on it. mind you i have not stepped up to buy any of the new techno for music to experience it, but i guess i am old fashion. i like going to the store to buy music and taking a chance on a album that i havent heard before on the internet or wherever. bring back the 8-track!!!
Posted by Chopper on January 31st, 2006The good thing about MP3s and file sharing is that you can sample so much more than you ever would have without them. On the other hand, it can like, blow your mind how much stuff is actually out there. I don’t think it’s humanly possible to listen to it all.
Posted by Sean on January 31st, 2006No, thats why it can be detrimentally overwhelming….For me I partially rely on internet and magazine reviews in regards to the stuff I like. And even then its hit and miss. Then again I find myself very picky on the stuff that qualifies as a good band/album/song or whatever.
Have to wade through the mire to find that gem still!
Posted by Bassmasta-Baychuk on January 31st, 2006Leave a Reply