This just in from the Institute of the Blatantly Obvious!

[Dark Jaguar]

http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/Movies/0...index.html

As it turns out, the most probable reason for the recent slump in movie sales is that the movies are not very good these days.

[Geno]

Wow, did it really take them that long to figure it out? I figured they'd just blame piracy. That's what the shitty musicians of today do.

[Great Rumbler]

the most probable reason for the recent slump in movie sales is that the movies are not very good these days.

No way!!

[Geno]

Never woulda guessed, would you? Only professionals could've figured that out. ;)

[Dark Jaguar]

Well, in the defense of the people who scanned the interweb's various forums to cull this data, at least now they have some empirical EVIDENCE that this is true. Just you wait, the guy giving the president of "movie company limited" (or whatever) this info is going to have that data weighed with equal time to the astrologer telling him that since virgo is in pisces (yeah, that's impossible I know, but it's not like the rest of astrology isn't) MORE ACTION MOVIES!

That said, the people blaiming piracy aren't completely off, but they really don't have the evidence to back up their claims. They really need to actually check the number of people who BUY music, including those that may have used to buy music at one time and switched only BECAUSE the music was now free. Then, examine how many people WOULD have bought the music anyway if they could not have downloaded it for free. THEN they have a good estimate of how much damage was actually done to the music industry by piracy.

But, I keep hearing that "the music sucks" is the reason. I still don't really get why they would pirate BECAUSE the music sucks. I mean, if the song sucks, I would think you wouldn't even want to get a free copy of it.

[Geno]

I can't speak on behalf of everybody in the world, but I've bought quite a few CDs from various artists after having sampled their music via online file sharing.

[A Black Falcon]

Excepting soundtracks packaged with games, I've never bought a music CD for myself in my life. :)

[EdenMaster]

I've bought CD's after hearing a few songs from the radio, a friend, a soundtrack, and other places. I think the only CD's I've completely downloaded were a copy of Bad Religion's Stranger Than Fiction (which I'd already bought, but it got ruined), and a couple CD's that I wasn't able to find in stores.

Myabe I'm weird, but I prefer an actual CD with artwork to a bunch of burned MP3s any day. Besides, even though I know they don't really need it most of the time, I don't mind supporting artists I enjoy.

[CoconutCommander]

I used to be like you Edenmaster, but then I took a step back and weighed the pros and cons of buying versus pirating. This list is mine and for me so if any one doesnt agree with these points thats your deal.

1. Why spend 17 bucks for a CD when I could get it for free?
2. Is album art really that important to me? I mean I look at it once for about 30 seconds and then the CD goes into my folder. I never see the case or album art again. After 300 or so CDs they start to take up space.
3. You can often get a CD, before it is released, online. I have had Disturbed's new album since the 10th and it will be released next tuesday the 20th.
4. If I dont like a CD after I bought it, I am out 17 bucks
5. If I do like a band and support them, buying their album would encourage them to make more music. But so would going to their intown show.
6. Less mainstream and older band's CDs are hard to find unless you have specialty record stores around. Admittedly those mall chains like FYE and Sam Goody are pretty good about finding and ordering the the albums for you.
7. I can download a CD in my sleep. It is not always convienient for me to get down to wherever and buy a CD. My schedule is pretty packed and between work, working out, commuting, sleep, and posting on Nintendo forums, I often don't even have a spare 15 minutes in my day.
8. I know it is against the law, but so is speeding.
9. Pirates were cool back in the early 1348923undreds and they are still cool. I pride myself on being labeled a pirate. (that is a gay reason but whatever)

[Great Rumbler]

[The Former DMiller]

I still buy my music, and probably always will. The fact is if you pay $17 for an album you are getting ripped off. The albums on iTunes are $9.99, and physical CDs can be found for $13 or less. I'm currently in a music group that charges $5.99 per CD, and it doesn't seem to be a scam since I've been doing it for a month now. I never buy a bad CD anymore since I can always preview them in iTunes even if I plan on buying the physical CD. I don't fault people who steal music, but I'm just saying that it's not something I would ever do.

[Great Rumbler]

I buy a lot of used CDs.

[Geno]

Myabe I'm weird, but I prefer an actual CD with artwork to a bunch of burned MP3s any day. Besides, even though I know they don't really need it most of the time, I don't mind supporting artists I enjoy.

Yeah, that's kinda how I feel. I'm not against file sharing, but in most cases, I just like having the legit CD in my possession. Though it's also true that I hardly glance at the art and then stash the case away somewhere while storing my CD in my folder for my car.

[Darunia]

I can't speak on behalf of everybody in the world, but I've bought quite a few CDs from various artists after having sampled their music via online file sharing.

Diddo. Bands that I penny-pinching me would never have bought hadn't I downloaded a few songs. The music industry should be thanking Napster. Now kiss and make up!!

[Geno]

Yeah, Napster wasn't all bad, now was it, Lars and all you other complainers? You've got new fans and we've got awesome new CDs! We should all appreciate the revolution Napster started!