about/contact
Digital Audio Insider is David Harrell's blog about the economics of music and other digital content. I write from
the perspective of a musican who has self-released four albums with the indie rock band the Layaways.
My
personal website has links to my LinkedIn and Google+ pages and you can send e-mail to david [at] thelayaways [dot] com.
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Friday Fun: Variable Pricing in 1983
by David HarrellFriday Fun: Variable Pricing in 1983
In 1983, a very young-looking REM made its national TV debut, playing "Radio Free Europe" and the not-yet-titled "So. Central Rain" on the David Letterman show. In this clip, Letterman talks to the band before they play their second song. Listen for the discussion with bassist Mike Mills @ 1:01 about the effect of the lower-than-average list price for the Murmur album ($6.98 vs. the then-standard $8.98) on record sales:
"The Layaways make fine indie pop. Hushed vocals interweave with understated buzzing guitars. The whole LP is a revelation from the start." -- Lost Music
"Catchy Guided by Voices-like rockers who lay it on sweetly and sincerely, just like Lionel Richie." -- WRUV Radio
"These are songs that you want to take home with you, curl up with, hold them close -- and pray that they are still with you when you wake up." -- The Big Takeover