Alright who is going to paint the signs and where are we going to march!

You forget that I stacked most of your CDs in that new place of yours. I know that you've gotten a few newer CDs, Mister Star Wars Episode I CD.
Gives new meaning to the "starving musician" saying.

I got an episode I CD?!? Where?!?

I think the last thing I personally bought was a goofy telarc star trek compilation. Ellen's bought some stuff after that though. She's part of the problem!

I can appreciate the emotion which springs forth when dealing with the music industry. It's so much fun to get all charged up over imagined injustices; to make signs and march in endless circles; looking busy but never quite going anywhere or accomplishing anything.

It is, however, incumbent upon all of us to at least have a fleeting relationship with the truth.

It took me all of twenty minutes to go to the various websites and dig up this information...any of you could do the same...if you wanted to.

Here are the numbers for three of the largest music groups in the world:

Warner Music Group: Sales: $4.0 billion
(2001) Profit: $226 million 5.7%

Sony Music Group: Sales: $5.0 billion
(2001) Profit: $152 million 3.0%

BMG (Bertelsmann): Sales: $3.0 billion
(2000) Loss: $43 million -1.4%

BMG reports in euros which are roughly equivalent to dollars.

I dont know where you get your "fact" that record companies make "billions" in profits every year. It is clear they do billions in sales each year however, as everyone knows, sales are NOT the same as profits...not in the least.

As you can see, the profit margins here are nowhere near outrageous...in fact BMG is losing money.

Sure you can say they are all just a bunch of incompetent suits who dont know how to properly manage a business and you very well could be right. The fact is, however, you dont have any basis for your statements except for your perception of the music industry which are fueled by a whole bunch of half truths and assumptions.

I am not an apologist for anyone...I just hate it when people buy into these popular "positions" for no other reason than they happen to be "popular".

Good enough. I did in fact try to research the profit reports, because, in spite of perception, I tend not to hang my fanny out with pure from-authority arguments. As I recall, the numbers I pulled were from a WIRED article, which just shows I should know better. Thanks for the correction.

no problemo! thats why they call me "mr. helpful"

heh heh heh

I thought you also had a Dixie Chicks CD in there (and they are fairly recent). You gonna blame that on Ellen too?

Speaking of supposed Facts, according to EMI: "There are 250 Million blank CDRs and tapes bought and used this year for copying music in comparison to 213 Million prerecorded audio media"

Hmm, I suppose they are counting that 100 pack that I bought for backing up my computers and making some compilation CD's for my own use (still legal as far as I know). Since 98 of the CDRs have not been used (how many unused CDRs do you have?) - I think their numbers may be off a bit.

I agree that it does not hurt big bands to download a song or two. That's like taking some grass from a mansion, it matters not. But when you download songs from unknown bands, they need every penny they can get. It works both ways. Bands are not the music industry.