Cheaper Thrills Can Save the Record Business!

I was skimming through Rolling Stone earlier and I found this article by Steve Knopper on how Universal and Amazon are slashing prices on albums and can this move save the record industry. He made an interesting argument on how albums by bands such as Vampire Weekend, Them Crooked Vultures are going for 3.99 and 2.99 respectively. When it comes to it; this decision could help a lot. I’ve had this theory for awhile.

“Okay, how can selling albums at a cheaper price save an almost bankrupt industry?” Let me give you an example, I kind of have a weight problem. So, I try to use low calorie alternatives for some snack cravings. In my case, if something is lower in calories I’ll use that as justification to eat more of said snacks because I feel that I have a license to eat more of it.

Now, you’re probably thinking “what does your penchant for low-cal junk food alternatives have to do with record buying?” Well, actually everything… here’s the point I’m trying to make.
If you have an album that’s 2.99 and 3.99 to 7.99, it’s more affordable to a short of money audience that will buy more of it whereas a 12.99 album would sell fewer copies to a cash strapped audience. In the words of Frank Zappa, “If We can’t be free, we can at least be cheap.”