Alanis vs HMV vs Starbucks
p2pnet.net News:- When HMV’s Canada announced it wasn’t going to carry Alanis Morissette’s re-cut of her Bitter Pill album because she’d given first grabs to Starbuck, the reaction ranged from So What? to How Could She?
It took a while for some members of the mainstream media to pick the story up, but they now seem to have it, mostly.
Below are a few of the many p2pnet Reader’s Writes on the subject >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Good for HMV. The store should continue this trend of boycotting artists that make there work available at other stores during a period of exclusitivity.
As a partner at Starbucks and a fan of Alanis Morissette, I am suprised about HMV’s reaction to the exclusivity of this release. In the past, HMV has had their own exclusive deals when you purchase a particular album. I distinctly remember getting an exclusive CD single for purchasing Sarah McLachlan’s Mirrorball CD through their website.
As the music industry continues to struggle on how to market to their audience, they have to find innovative ways to do this. I guess what I want to know is what would HMV do with an exclusive release if given the opportunity? Starbucks is committed to providing high quality releases and partnering with artists who are committed to the vision behind the music, as opposed to product.
HMV should redirect their efforts to work with Alanis and other artists to get the exclusives if they are so worried about Starbucks cannibalizing their sales. It’s very passive-aggressive and creating more of an issue than a solution. Starbucks’ entry into the music market has only been positive for music as a whole. What has HMV done to promote high quality artists vs. making a profit?
Tell me more! It seems like one more overblown pissing contest. I would be much more impressed if both parties could commit to a mutually beneficial situation. Sad really…. HMV should have put her back-catalog on sale at a greatly reduced price and donated all the money to her favourite charity. I’d like to see her respond to that one.
hahahaha i’d like to know how much it is at Starbucks if it is still cheaper then HMV would be. And are the other companies ticked off? I for one wont buy anything at my local HMV store, they are in a mall and therefore the prices are way more then any other stores. I think im going to go to Starbucks and get a Venti Chi cream frapachino for $5 and come home and download the cd. lol. I ordered a movie from HMV and when it came in it was 30bucks on vhs and Blockbuster ordered it for me for 10 lol.
Cheers!
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June 16th, 2005 at 7:33 am
sweet my post was used lol i did go and get a venti chi cream frapachino but i didnt downlaod the cd i kind of could care less about the cd but anyone wants to know they were selling the cd for 18 95 (can)
June 17th, 2005 at 8:22 am
Screw HMV
Let’s face it, you listen to music to listen to music. Although passing by the local HMV is likely to at least make you think about the latest poster-children for pop, you listen to what you think is good.
Screw HMV. Their recent decision to pull the Alanis Morissette catalog from their shelves is troubling on at least 4 levels, whether you like Alanis Morisette or not.
First of all, a free-market dictates you do what you do and the best plan wins, and the product gets better. The buzz is that’s exactly what happened with Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill: Acoustic. Great, good for them. THe HMV decision shows an arrogance that implies they think they’re better; HMV thinks it can set the pace.
Secondly, HMV is wrong. While making a point about corporate vengence, it isn’t the same as 7-11 pulling Playboy magazine from the magazine rack. There’s nothing potentially unseemly about the Morissette CDs they are presumably hiding in their back-rooms for a while. The only result of this is that HMV is implying that a consumer should make a choice: buy your music from Starbucks or buy it from us.
Imagine this thought though: “oh it’s only at Starbucks? I’m going to check it out.”
Suddenly Starbucks looks like they pulled a coupe, because they did, and HMV only reinforces it with their decision. So HMV must be quite stupid: read “uncool.”
Thirdly. Alanis is one of the select number of Canadian artists who has a true classic and international album, that will last long after HMV sells its remaining stock to Amazon. It’s disturbing to see that yes indeed, your worst impressions of the corportate music world are true. We’ve all heard the stories, but it’s true. They don’t really care what HMV is perceived as from the point of view of a Canada-loving consumer. “It’s just business.”
No it’s not, it’s music, it’s Canadian and in this case, inspired, hard-working and important, _even_ if you don’t like Morisette. HMV seems to have missed this fourth point altogether, and picked on Morissette as she enters a more relaxed phase of her career. Would they have made the same show with Avril Lavigne? It’s highly doubtlful, at least not now. For HMV to get away with this bullying of an important Canadian musician, would send a message that is , my dears, uncivilized. Don’t let them.
Khal @
http://www.damageready.com