How the pirates became saviours of the record industry

[MaverickX]

Even technologically challenged music fans who could no more download an illegal MP3 file than pilot a space shuttle owe a debt of gratitude to the Napster generation.
For years record buyers have complained that CDs are overpriced and the music industry has responded by saying, as politely as possible, put up or shut up.

Now, panicked by the pirates, they've finally been compelled to slash prices to a reasonable level and sales have reached an all-time high.


http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/news/story/0,11711,1020734,00.html

[lcordero]

1. they aren't slashing prices everywhere

I know plenty of people that have sworn off CDs for life and are successful at it.

[robertarctor]

2. That's a short opinion piece

without a lot to back it up. I was hoping to read something with more facts and figures. And the writer is talking about the English music market, not the American.

[Pab Sungenis]

3. It's still probably significant....

Britain's CD prices have been much higher than here in America. When the author mentions charging 16.99 for a CD, that's in pounds sterling. We're talking anywhere from $25-30 American at that rate.