In Reply to: Same here as well. You know what I don't get? posted by Dave_K on September 12, 2016 at 16:11:17:
" If the record labels would just offer a lossless 16/44 download in a standard format (FLAC, AIFF, WAV) for the same or less than what the CD sells for on Amazon, they would make me happier and make more money."
It would make me happy too. But the major record companies don't want to add overhead by servicing and running a retail operation. Those that do offer downloads mostly appear keep it simple by offering a restricted catalogue and MP3.
I think that the record companies are realising that digital distribution offers them a way of getting rid of their manufacturing and physical distribution arms. Digital distribution can be outsourced to partner companies. That leaves the record companies with head office functions only ( A&R, marketing, copyright management and legal services). But income can remain similar with lower overheads. Nice (for them).
One other difficulty with record companies running the store is that the consumer has to know which label which artist appears on to get to the transaction. In the early days of digital distribution ideas were floated of forming industry gateways to aggregate access to all of the industry's online catalogue. This was abandoned when it was realised that it could result in anti-trust litigation.
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Follow Ups
- RE: Same here as well. You know what I don't get? - PAR 01:08:11 09/13/16 (0)