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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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February 11, 2013
Monday Odds and Endsby David Harrell
Amazon has received a patent for a method of selling "used" digital files. More coverage from Wired and a statement from ReDigi. (The firm had previously indicated that it would roll out a marketplace for pre-owned digital books.)
Is Apple testing an IOS-powered watch?
The Businessweek story on Doug Morris.
And the Gizmodo story on how Monster Cable, the lawsuit-happy purveyor of expensive audio and video cables, fared poorly in its business relationship with Beats Audio.
Labels: Amazon, Doug Morris, Monster Cable, used digital content
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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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November 15, 2011
ReDigi and the RIAAby David Harrell
And so it begins -- from today's NY Times article on ReDigi:
Last Thursday the Recording Industry Association of America, which represents the major record companies, sent ReDigi a cease-and-desist letter, accusing it of copyright infringement.
Labels: ReDigi, RIAA, used digital content
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October 18, 2011
Two Quick Thoughts About ReDigiby David Harrell
A couple things that surprised me about the launch of ReDigi, the platform for buying and selling "used" digital music tracks:
1. No Lawsuits
Don't get me wrong, I'm glad that someone is making a strong stand for establishing a "first sale" right for digital goods. (ReDigi's FAQ section makes it clear that the firm believes the first sale doctrine gives it legal cover.) And I've long believed that digital albums are overpriced relative to CDs, given the lack of resale value. But I'm amazed that ReDigi has made it this far without being sued by the major labels or music publishers. As I noted earlier in the year, the user agreements for Amazon MP3 and eMusic prohibit the transfer of purchased music files to other parties. (I couldn't find explicit language in the iTunes user agreement forbidding the transfer of files to another party, but I assume it's in there somewhere.) It seems extremely unlikely that the labels and publishers won't soon file lawsuits. Scott Kirsner of the Boston Globe contacted the RIAA, Sony Music, and Warner Music but couldn't get anyone to comment on ReDigi.
2. The Prices
If you're selling a used car with zero miles on the odometer, you'd probably ask for something close to the price of a new one, and there's obviously no wear and tear on a digital file. Yet while the "starting at 59 cents" prices at ReDigi are a healthy discount from a $1.29 or 99-cent download, in many cases you could buy the same tracks "new" for less at eMusic, which has tens of thousands of digital tracks available for 49 cents. I suppose, however, there's only so low ReDigi can go with prices, as it has to charge enough to make selling your digital tracks an attractive option.
Labels: digital music pricing, first sale doctrine, ReDigi, used digital content
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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