Thursday, October 14, 2004

Confused

I am honestly confused about how to react to this story. It seems that Wal-Mart, the folks who don't have a problem paying minimum wage to their employees, who forces manufacturers to reduce their prices (forcing companies to outsource), has decided that CDs cost too much.


Now the country's largest record store, Wal-Mart wants the record companies to reduce prices or they won't be sold at Wal-Mart. According to the article, "Last winter, Wal-Mart asked the industry to supply it with choice albums -- from new releases from alternative rockers the Killers to perennial classics such as Beatles 1 -- at favorable prices. 'We're in such a competitive world, and you can't reach consumers if you're not in Wal-Mart,' admits another label executive. " And, "making sure Wal-Mart is happy remains one of the music industry's major priorities. That's because if Wal-Mart cut back on music, industry sales would suffer severely -- though Wal-Mart's shareholders would barely bat an eye. While Wal-Mart represents nearly twenty percent of major-label music sales, music represents only about two percent of Wal-Mart's total sales."


So, if Wal-Mart stops selling records, a long shot, to be sure, record industry sales will implode, forcing the RIAA to sue more 12 year olds for downloading music, and causing declining sales, right? (Bear in mind that the record industry lost a class action lawsuit recently that charged they had overcharged on CDs since the 80s. I even got $20 as part of the settlement.) And Wal-Mart still doesn't have to raise wages!


Gosh!


Who should I be upset about? Somebody help me!


Here's a photo I found on the Internet. I didn't create, but can't remember where I found it. So if you made it, drop me a line and I'll link to you.


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