buymusic.com - what y'all think?

[Biggus]

[quote] Buymusic.com sounds like bullshit. Why is everyone trying to sell one song for a $1.00. That's way overpriced. Mark my words, did you mark them yet? As soon as someone, or some company figures out how to get the ENTIRE catalog of all recorded music present, and past, ONLINE for 25 cents a song. THE SALES WILL GO THROUGH THE ROOF! And....... The Big 5 record companies will make more money than they ever have, and you won't hear anything more about this bullshit about file sharing. You can't sell songs online for the same price people buy the songs on a CD for. They're just testing the market to see if people are stupid enough to do that. Probably, one of the major impediments to online sales is the fact that the artists producing the music might be able to track sales better, and THEREFORE demand their fair share of the pie. [/quote]This is right on the money, Wewus. 25-50 cents per tune is about right. Its basically pure profit for the record label, too (well, minus the artists' miniscule cut, and the cut for the online distributor). There are no manufacturing costs, and most labels could milk their back catalogs for mucho dineiro. Never thought about the accountability issues of this model as far as artist royalties are concerned. But, in theory, all an artist would need to do is get weekly, monthly copies of the sites download server logs from the online distributor for a pretty accurate count of their piece of the pie...

[KenElevenShadows]

[quote]Originally posted by nursers: [b]Hi Ken, Would love to know what their response is (if any). :thu: [/b][/quote]I received the automatic response so far. I also found this on an emailing list - seems a few others are a bit miffed at BuyMusic.com allegedly using their music without permission: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Message: 9 Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2003 11:07:44 -0700 From: Jody Whitesides Subject: Re: BuyMusic.com and Orchard John: So far I've contacted the Orchard attempting to extricate myself from their "new" contract that I was not privy to when it changed. I've been chatting with friends who have dealt with them and found that none of them have been paid. Also, everyone one of us were under the impression that the Orchard had closed it's doors for business when they announced bankruptcy some time ago. I've also faxed BM's lawyer with a copyright infringement notice for my old band's CD that I control. Thankfully it's the only CD I ever did with the Orchard. I haven't heard back from them yet, but I did demand to be removed by 10 am pst Tuesday. That if I'm not removed by tomorrow morning at that time, that I will bring a class action suit against them. So, I'm asking anyone who was/is with the Orchard who hasn't been paid or had material returned to contact me. I already have about 4 bands that are on board. I have my lawyer already researching the case, both from the Orchard's changed contract and BM's copyright notice. Nice to have lawyer friends who specialize in this kind of thing! Let's take control of our material back from the Orchard! On Monday, July 28, 2003, at 04:02 AM, musicthoughts@yahoogroups.com wrote: > > In response to Jody's post, I have heard similar complaints from > users about BuyMusic.com, particularly the restrictions on usage > that makes the download worth much less than iTunes. So I hope > they crash and burn =). Secondly, I should note that even though > their website says you can remove your stuff, my friends are > having trouble getting it to happen. The most interesting thing > is that The Orchard has revised their policy and no longer allows > terminations of their agreement. Here's what they said: > >> Our contracts can also not be terminated. The contracts for these >> titles >> are in perpetuity and can not be deleted. Our agreements also state >> that >> these titles can be used for any sort of legitimate distribution >> including digital distribution with you knowing or not. > > I'm no lawyer, but can they do this? I'm assuming the massive > breach of contract (in terms of any payment) would allow some > sort of termination, but I dunno... > > -- > John Wu > Blue Audio - http://www.blueaudio.com/ > Border Blue Records - info@borderblue.com > Jody Music you'll love or hate! http://www.cdbaby.com/jodywhitesides or visit: http://jodywhitesides.com" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I just want them to either take down my song. They can send a contract over for me to consider, but they certainly cannot charge people money for a song that I did not give them permission to use and then pocket all the change.

[zele]

Still recording direct from radio stations -- right onto a large drive of a Masterlink -- try this one --- http://www.radioparadise.com/?song_id=20070

[tld]

[quote]Originally posted by Loopy C: [b]The following is quoted from Macworlds weekly news summary: As the Associated Press reported, "BuyMusic founder Scott Blum called Apple CEO Steve Jobs 'a visionary, but he's on the wrong platform.' While Apple users constitute about 3 percent of the personal computer market, BuyMusic is targeting the 97 percent of people with PCs." [/b][/quote]So I guess (according to Scott Blum) us Linux users don't exist. But that's ok...we know better than to go within 100 miles of them and their MS DRM (or 'Deceptive' Rights Management) horseshit anyway, where you don't find out until you 'buy' a song that you've actually just 'rented' it. You know what they can do with that whole business model... Tom

[Addix Metzatricity]

[quote]Originally posted by tld: [b]So I guess (according to Scott Blum) us Linux users don't exist. But that's ok...we know better than to go within 100 miles of them and their MS DRM (or 'Deceptive' Rights Management) horseshit anyway, where you don't find out until you 'buy' a song that you've actually just 'rented' it. You know what they can do with that whole business model... Tom[/b][/quote]I doubt it's that you don't exist. I don't have any data whatsoever, just my own flawed observation, but it wouldn't surprise me if Linux, and other non-Windows/MAC OS users, constituted less than 1%. No, that's not an insult and I could very easily be wrong.

[tld]

[quote]Originally posted by Addix Metzatricity: [b]I doubt it's that you don't exist. I don't have any data whatsoever, just my own flawed observation, but it wouldn't surprise me if Linux, and other non-Windows/MAC OS users, constituted less than 1%. No, that's not an insult and I could very easily be wrong.[/b][/quote]Well I think the reality is that nobody has much data on this, especially when it comes to Linux used as a desktop. Since Linux can be obtained for free, there really aren't any sales numbers that can be used. I think the number is a lot higher than you think. When I bought my new Dell a few weeks ago, formatted the driver, and installed Linux on it, I probably got counted as another Win XP user. In terms of total use (including servers) I believe Linux use may actually exceed Mac, though I reallize that's a very different statistic. Tom

[KenElevenShadows]

I've now gotten a reply by email that says something to the effect of: "Due to the nature of your request, we have escalated your email to an expert queue..."

[Botch.]

Um, I wasn't even thinking about the GUI. I was thinking more about the iMac and how everything from other computers to cell phones came in different colors, etc. Sheesh.. :confused:

[nursers]

[quote]Originally posted by Ken/Eleven Shadows: [b]I've now gotten a reply by email that says something to the effect of: "Due to the nature of your request, we have escalated your email to an expert queue..."[/b][/quote]Thanks for the updates Ken - keep us informed :thu:

[Rog]

"From their Customer Agreement,"all downloaded Content is sublicensed to End Users and not sold, notwithstanding use of the terms “sell,” “purchase,” “order,” or “buy” on the Site or this Agreement." More [url=http://slashdot.org/articles/03/07/30/0152255.shtml?tid=141&tid=187&tid=188]here.[/url]

[Alndln]

[quote]Originally posted by nursers: [b]Still don't buy the argument :) How many other services allow you to browse and purchase music within the application that plays the music?[/b][/quote]That's an entirely different argument,the argument was about buy.com ripping off Apple's idea which is of course absurd since it wasn't Apple's idea to begin.But I agree about Buy.com doing it wrong though,nor do I wan't to be chained to Apples software or any of their other products.The first company that sells the songs in a format I can use without any software or hardware rules get's my money,til then........

[Addix Metzatricity]

[quote]Originally posted by Alndlng King: [b]That's an entirely different argument,the argument was about buy.com ripping off Apple's idea which is of course absurd since it wasn't Apple's idea to begin.But I agree about Buy.com doing it wrong though,nor do I wan't to be chained to Apples software or any of their other products.The first company that sells the songs in a format I can use without any software or hardware rules get's my money,til then........[/b][/quote]I agree 8000%. It's so strange when you can buy the same music on a CD with NO restrictions as to when, where, or how long you play a song. I don't know what they're trying to accomplish with this.

[Dan South]

Do these sites offer full resolution WAV files (44.1/16), or just El Cheapo MP3's. I HATE the sound of MP3 files. I'd rather buy the CD and get ten times the resolution. Am I the only person who can hear the difference?

[Alndln]

[quote]Originally posted by Dan South: [b]Do these sites offer full resolution WAV files (44.1/16), or just El Cheapo MP3's. [/b][/quote]Apple offers MP4 and Buy.com offers WMA.Both are a cut above MP3 but not quite .wav.I like WMA slightly better quality-wise,but WMA is a pain in the ass restriction-wise.Both can be stripped and turned into .wav though with the right tools.

[nursers]

An interesting viewpoint on BuyMusic.com from one consumer: http://www.scriptygoddess.com/archives/004057.php

[tld]

[quote]Originally posted by nursers: [b]An interesting viewpoint on BuyMusic.com from one consumer: http://www.scriptygoddess.com/archives/004057.php [/b][/quote]Wow....unreal. Thanks for the link. Perhaps this is a taste of what folks are in for if they buy into any if this DRM crap. Tom

[Addix Metzatricity]

[quote]Originally posted by nursers: [b]An interesting viewpoint on BuyMusic.com from one consumer: http://www.scriptygoddess.com/archives/004057.php [/b][/quote]Wow! I'm glad people are starting to understand that just 'cause you paid to download it doesn't mean it's any less yours to do with as you wish.

[Rim]

[quote]Originally posted by Alndlng King: [b] [quote]Originally posted by Dan South: [b]Do these sites offer full resolution WAV files (44.1/16), or just El Cheapo MP3's. [/b][/quote]Apple offers MP4 and Buy.com offers WMA.Both are a cut above MP3 but not quite .wav.I like WMA slightly better quality-wise,but WMA is a pain in the ass restriction-wise.Both can be stripped and turned into .wav though with the right tools.[/b][/quote]I'm pretty sure WMA format starting with Windows Media Player 9 is a lossless compression format so it should be the same quality as WAV. I think Sound Forge 5 can open WMA so that's one way to get WAV files out of it.

[Rim]

[quote]Originally posted by nursers: [b]An interesting viewpoint on BuyMusic.com from one consumer: http://www.scriptygoddess.com/archives/004057.php [/b][/quote]Thanks for the link, nursers. Ouch!

[Alndln]

[quote]Originally posted by Rim: [b]I think Sound Forge 5 can open WMA so that's one way to get WAV files out of it.[/b][/quote]Although I don't use Soundforge anymore,I'm pretty sure it can open/convert/srtip WMA to .wav or whatever.I know the shareware SonicFoundry Siren JukeBox(discontinued) can convert them(WMA).Sonic Foundry authored WMA for MS by the way.