Independent Record stores enjoying the p2p buzzNice post by Dubber over at The Wireless, who's dug up an article that reports independent music stores are starting to see a 'buzz' created around tracks that are being downloaded illegally via p2p.

The owner of one store blames major label greed as the difference between kids buying a CD, and deciding to download it from kazaa/soulseek/shareaza/whathaveyou. The going price for a new release is US$18, but should be, according to this particular record shop owner more like US$15. "That $3 can make the difference in terms of whether or not a CD is going to sell." And furthermore, the availability of all that music on the web turns people into music junkies - they just can't get enough, in any format, and the only thing holding them back is the cost.

The story is the same from the several record store owners interviewed. And one of them is savvy enough to point out "it's like radio, another form of promotion that spurs sales." Hooray, they've seen the light. As Dubber points out, there was the same palaver when radio was born, last century...

"...the record companies screamed. Why would anyone want to buy records now that you could hear your favourite songs for free over the radio? And high-rotates?! Agh! You're killing us!"

In other news, the NZ government looks set to at least allow us to burn a CD we own (just once, mind you), in an update to the local copyright laws. A step in the right direction at least, but one that seems to be at odds with the major labels theories on what is right and wrong. I heard Adam Holt, managing director of Universal NZ (and a usually sensible soul when it comes to the music biz), complaining about it on National Radio this morning. His argument was along the lines of "Why would anyone need to copy a CD they own just so they could have it at their bach? Why not just take the CD to the bach?" Jesus. I'm in the habit (so, repeat offender, if any law-enforcement officer is reading this - I'm ready for the cuffs) of making a copy of any CD I buy, and stashing the original away in an archive box. Why? I've got two pre-schoolers, and I don't want to see my $20-$30 investment destroyed in a moment by an inadvertent scratch when one of them's clumsily loading a disc into the stereo. This sensible (or at least, I think it's sensible) behaviour is currently illegal, and the majors don't even lose out if the law is passed, as I've already bought the disc. Unless, of course, they forsee the scratched disc problem, and are actually banking on me having to buy it again in x number of years anyway. Wouldn't put it past them actually. Anyway, Dubber again nails it on the head...

This is archetypal stuff from the majors: self-interested, counter-intuitive, anti-consumer, plain old bad business and even worse PR. Adam Holt's due for a bonus from these guys. And this from someone who reportedly likes the Smiths. For shame.
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