6.3.11 Adam News & Info

Morning all... Oh my Q3 don't even get me started!!! Ok, when have I ever kept my mouth shut:-)

Yes I totally agree. I have a small ma/pa type of online business and yes things are changing. My DH keeps saying "you just wait, one day people will wake up and see that the internet is not really a good thing". He does not use the computer, but I live an internet life. As time goes on I start to believe he is correct.

I love the internet for so many reasons but hate it for so many others. This topic is one of the downsides. I think in this example that artists will need to start to crack down. I don't think they can really stop the small person from the illegal downloads and need to find some creative small person money making options. BUT the mega giants taking over the world they certainly should be able to do something about - if there is a way to deal with the gov anti-trust, price fixing issues.

Q3 could Gaga and Co have said NO to selling the album for less than X price? It may need to start with the artist setting minimum thresholds in order to NOT degrade the music/album/brand and maybe keep some competition/revenue stream in the mix for smaller players.

My greatest fear is that we are going to wake up one day and there will only be one mega giant in their respective space unless you are truly a small niche. We are loosing jobs that will never return. In my business, some of the companies I purchase from have seen their brands degraded/cheapened by people purchasing their products and selling them very cheaply or as loss leaders. Some of them have started to require a minimum price (located in Europe) or they will stop wholesaling to the vendor who is offending. Some others have increased their minimum for bulk purchases to try to curb the cut-throats who are cheapening their brand.

What does this have to do with Adam. A) I don't want his brand to be cheapened B) I want physical CDs and DVDs of his work and willing to pay reasonable market value for it C) I hope he uses some alternative marketing. For example, take Russia. I would pay for a HD DVD of that live concert - I love the online fan vids but would also purchase an HQ DVD as I don't have time to download from the web and make my own. Perhaps making less money but coming up with more ventures is another option - sort of how Adam kept repurposing the FYE album. US labor rates aside, how hard or expensive would it be to put out a DVD of his live shows - or at least select ones - I LOVE my Glam Nation Live. There must be some creative ways to make supplemental money for the artist?

Conclusion: Gov. is owned by wall street, big business, billionaires and banks that are to big to fail. The rest of us will be screwed/hosed in the end. Some countries call it taking bribes, we call it lobbying. Where is our youth when it comes to taking a stand. I asked my son (little older than Adam) and he said they are all too busy playing video games and becoming lemmings of the PTB. End of rant...

Q3 comment: I am so far behind that I am dropping this in here. There are a couple of legal ways to keep retailers from selling below a desired price in the US -- but it is difficult. A manufacturer can set MAP (Manufacturer's Advertising Pricing) and fund the advertising with that price in it. A manufacturer can have dealer agreements that prohibit certain types of pricing. If iTunes did this, there could be a Federal case on Predatory Pricing but, since Amazon has such low market share, it is hard to argue that this is an attempt to create a monopoly and drive out competition.

I agree with you! I love that music is so accessible. Music has always been a force that connects people from different worlds together.

Thanks 4Msrmyn wow you are amazing will get all these when I get home from work.