For anyone out there that still needs further proof that the established record industry model is desperately clawing for every nickel and dime they can squeeze out of gullible consumers, rather than thinking progressively and trying to craft a profitable business model that’s based on the real world of today rather than the days of Ozzie & Harriet, dig this:
There was a time, not so long ago, when the automatic increases in album and single sales which followed the death of a popular musician were understandably welcomed by that artist’s label(s). Occasionally, they’d even throw together a quick repackaging of some of the best-known tracks from that artist’s back catalog to take advantage of the unexpected surge of consumer interest.
Now, they just instantly (and crassly) jack the prices of albums already sitting on the shelf, within minutes of a “time of death” certification - knowing full well that everyone will be able to see that they’ve done this, and likely find it repulsively opportunistic.
But you see, they don’t care about good PR these days.
They’d rather be hated and wealthy than revered and merley comfortable.
That’s why they file onerous, high-profile lawsuits for small amounts of file-sharing offenses and refuse to renegotiate artist contracts to reflect the TRUE costs of releasing a “record” in today’s digital age, thus guaranteeing that the label still makes way more than their fair share of revenue from said recordings, and the artists continue to get the shaft.
