The Recording Industry Association of America doesnt have many friends, and it seems to do a great job of pissng off just about everyone - Artists, music lovers, independent lables and more.   Continuing that trend, the RIAA are claiming the cost of CD’s is waaay to cheap. I’m not talking about $2 or $3 more per CD, nooo, they claim CD’s should be $35 or thereabouts.  Are these guys on the same drugs as Britney Spears?

If you visit the Key Stats/Facts page on the RIAA website, you’ll notice a justification for pricing CDs. The biggest argument appears to be the fact that the Consumer Price Index rose nearly 60 percent between 1983 and 1996, even though the price of a CD actually went down. While this might be a true statement, this is virtually worthless in determining how much a CD should cost.

Let’s examine this statement, directly from the website: If CD prices had risen at the same rate as consumer prices over this period, the average retail price of a CD in 1996 would have been $33.86 instead of $12.75.  Tell me, how much music would you purchase if the average price was $35 or more?  Not a lot I’d guess

Source: WHAS11