When you actually buy a CD, it has an average of 12 to 15 songs, with an average price of $12 to $15. This price includes the physical CD, the process of burning the music into it, the artwork in the CD and the jewel case, the jewel case, the celophan wrapper, the packaging (per case, for transportation), transportation from the point of manufacturing to the store, taxes, and a profit for the retailer, on top of royalty fees, (writer, singer, producer, copyrighter, distribuitor, middlemen,etc). Incidentally, did you know the actual artist gets only 1 to 3 percent of the actual price of the CD?

Which of these costs are included when you buy a legal download? You are right, only two: Royalty fees and taxes. You pay for the CD, the burning (computer, CD writer, software, electricity), the jewel case (or other storage form) and the artwork (if you wish to print some).

So the question is quite simple: If it costs an average of 99 cents per song when you buy a CD, why should it cost still 99 cents when you download it, considering that there are many costs not incurred?

The answer still is quite simple: Greed. You see, the receivers of royalty fees “suddenly” realized they can increase their share of the pie when other costs are eliminated, and they are counting the americans are so dumb they won’t figure out the sleight of hand in this cost “switcheroo”, and will keep paying whatever price they want for a product that is getting scarce (fewer new artists, fewer albums per year every year) and less artistically valuable.

At least this american is saying “no” to them. I’ll buy legal downloads if and when:
1) The costs come dramatically down, to 40 cents per song or less, and
2) The actual artist gets a much bigger share of the monies. After all, CDs are bought not because of the producer, or the copyrighter, or the manager: John Q. Public knows the artist and the song and likes or dislikes them, buys or doesn’t buy the CD. Period.