Quote Originally Posted by r m
it seems to me that a way of sending a message to the record companies would be to have an International "Don't Buy Music Day". A publicity blitz followed by a strong show of support with people not purchasing music on the day would send a very strong message to the record industry that the general public, the consumers, have a powerful voice and ultimately pays the bill / creates the profits.
Unfortunately, most do-not-buy days or similar movements directed at a single company or industry have largely been unsuccesful (the gasoline boycotts of the last few years come to mind). But that said, I do think people are voting with their pocket books. I only buy CD's second hand, on sale, or from companies that specialize in multichannel (Telarc). I only pay full price from artists selling their own stuff w/o a label, smaller independent labels such as Mapleshade, and that's it. The point is clear why should I pay $18 for a CD when I can get the DVD for the same price.

As fard as decades old music, I have long felt that it should have a sliding scale in price according to age. The idea that I have to pay $16 for 20 year old Coltrane CD that is exactly the same recording as my Coltrane LP is highway robbery. This is why I buy all the old stuff second-hand. I can find some great deals on eBay and second hand music sites (I bought 103 jazz CD's for $40, recently, and every disk was mint condition!).

For the record, I have been boycotting Metallica ever since they acted like such self-righteous jack***ses about music downloads. Several of my friends have too. I know this isn't going to affect their bottom line, but I hear that in Europe thousands of people are doing so too and there have even been protests at their concerts. I guess they have a little more of a conscience there.