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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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January 27, 2012
The Right to Re-Sell Purchased Digital Contentby David Harrell
I've long believed that the pricing of digital albums, with the exception of the sub $5 specials at Amazon MP3 and the cheaper offerings in the eMusic catalog, too often fails to account for the loss of the potential resale value that purchasers of music CDs enjoy.
But from the details in this WSJ piece on Apple's foray into the digital textbook market, it appears that Apple is offering a substantial discount from physical book prices, one that is much greater than that of most digital music:
"It's nothing new," said Gonzalo Garcia, director of technology, marketing and communications for the South Kent School, an all-boys boarding school in Connecticut, though he said the "shocking news" was the $15 price. Currently, students pay $20 to $60 for a 180-day rental or splurge as much as $100 for a higher-end title.Meanwhile, ReDigi has responded to the complaint from EMI Capitol Records about the ReDigi marketplace for used digital music. (A PDF of the ReDigi response can be found here, along with a letter to the district judge who is overseeing the case.)
While I don't have enough knowledge of copyright law to offer any informed comments on the underlying legal arguments, I will say, that as a consumer, I'm philosophically in favor of the right to re-sell legally purchased digital content. And if that right is given up as we move from physical to digital content, the pricing of digital goods should reflect that concession.
Labels: digital music pricing, ebooks, ReDigi, used digital content
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January 19, 2012
One Quick SOPA Thoughtby David Harrell
I've mentioned it before, but the one thing that really struck me yesterday was the incredible power/platform that Google's homepage provides. It's something that has to be used sparingly, but Google can instantly air its views or promote a cause without spending a penny on advertising or lobbying. (Though GOOG does spend big bucks on the latter!)
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Popular Posts
A Long Tail Experiment
By the Numbers: Using Last.fm Statistics to Quantify Audience Devotion
Lala.com Owes Me Sixty Cents
An Interview with Jonathan Segel of Camper Van Beethoven
Price Elasticity of Demand for McCartney
Sony and eMusic: What I Missed
The Digital Pricing Conundrum series:
Part One Part Two Part Three Part Four
THE LAYAWAYS
Out Now -- "Maybe Next Year" -- The New Holiday Album:
"This is a sweet treat, deliciously musical without being overbaked for mass media consumption." -- Hyperbolium
"Perfect listening to accompany whatever holiday preparations you may be making today." -- Bag of Songs
O Christmas Tree - free mp3 lyrics and song details
Away In A Manger - free mp3
Download from eMusic, iTunes, Amazon MP3, or Bandcamp. Listen to free streams at Last.fm.
"...about as melodic and hooky as indie pop can get." -- Absolute Powerpop
"Their laid-back, '60s era sounds are absolutely delightening." -- 3hive
"...melodic, garage-influenced shoegaze." -- RCRD LBL
Where The Conversation Ends - free mp3
January - free mp3
Keep It To Yourself - free mp3
Download from eMusic, iTunes, Amazon MP3, or CD Baby, stream it at Last.fm or Napster.
"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
Silence - free mp3 lyrics and song details
The Long Night - free mp3
Download from eMusic, Amazon MP3, or iTunes, stream it at Last.fm, Napster, or Rhapsody.
"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
Let Me In - free mp3
Ocean Blue - free mp3
Download from eMusic, Amazon MP3, or iTunes, stream it at Last.fm, Napster, or Rhapsody.
More Layaways downloads:
the layaways website