Jermaine Dupri (JD) recently wrote a blog in support of JayZ's decision to release his new album as full album only (meaning you can't buy individual songs, as you usually can). He goes on to make numerous [bad] points. I don't understand why this guy, and the record industry just can't seem to get it. I'm sorry that Apple has stripped away all of your power, but that's what you get for not caring about what the consumer wants. Ultimately, any business that does not care about the customer will lose their business, it's that simple. If you take a look at the current state of affairs of the music industry, as they scramble to retake hold of what they've lost, it's glaringly obvious that it's probably already too late for them. Let's analyze a little of his argument.
Maybe Hova coulda sold another 100,000 to 200,000 units by playing it iTunes' way, but he still had the number one album last week
I suppose that an extra 100-200,000 units is not a big deal to you? He only did 450,000 total, another 200,000 would be a pretty huge chunk of that!!
Soulja Boy sold almost 4 million singles and only 300,000 albums! We let the consumer have too much of what they want, too soon, and we hurt ourselves
But he sold 4 million singles!!!! I can 100% guarantee you that he would not have sold 4 million more albums if singles were not an option. People aren't going to pay $10 for one good song, because we don't have to! Your argument is seriously that you let the consumer have what they want? Have you forgotten who is buying your music in the first place?
Why do people not care how we - the people who make music - eat?
Oh come on, give me a break...I've seen MTV Cribs, you're eating just fine!
Every album is created for you to hear the next song, especially on rap albums. Rappers make intros on their records for a reason- they want you to listen it to set the mood and get ready for that second song
And if consumers want to hear that next song, the way you want us to, we'll buy the whole album. But, I personally don't like rap much at all...I only like a select few songs. Actually, your absurd "intros," which largely consist of ebonics speech, make me NOT want to buy the whole album. There is no chance that I will buy nearly any rap CD, but I will buy a song. That is one sale you would not have made otherwise. Thousands of others feel the same as me. Also...news flash...not all of your songs are good!
But that doesn't mean the people who investing their time, money and sweat into a record shouldn't have the right to decide how it's gonna be sold, whether that's in single units or as a whole
You can decide to do whatever you want, just like Jay-Z did. It's just a very bad idea and will absolutely cost you in sales.
Apple, why are you helping the consumer destroy our canvas? We don't tell you to break up your computers into bits and pieces and sell off each thing. When you go to the Apple store you may only need one thing, but you have to buy all their plug ins and stuff. You have to buy their whole package, even if you don't necessarily want it, or your equipment won't work
Apple is helping your sales tremendously. Remember a little thing called Napster, a while back. Then, people were getting your music for free (read: you made nothing). Apple gave the music company an easy and efficient way to deliver their music that consumers actually wanted to use! I can easily get any album I want for free online, but I often pay to get it from iTunes. If it's not on iTunes, or it's not available as a single...I'll let you guess how I get it. Hint: I don't buy CD's, ever, for any reason.
And, they actually do sell computers in bits and pieces. If you're going to give an example of something relevant, at least make it correct! You have to buy an entire computer only so far as you need certain components for it to work. However, you can change these components in countless configurations. And, if it's not required for the computer to work, you can buy it separately. Last I checked, Apple was not bundling external keyboards or mice with laptop computers, didn't include a carrying case, an extra charger, an extra battery, AppleCare, .Mac, or anything of the sort. If they are doing that, I got ripped off big time!! Did they make you buy the USB hub, or keyboard, or AirPort Extreme when you went there?
What it comes down to is that I probably shouldn't have expected anything better from a rapper. Read the article yourself and tell me how intelligent he sounds. (link). Listen to this, music industry, and listen good. What you are doing is clearly not working, because you do not give the consumer what they want. If you continue to ignore the consumer, then your spiral into oblivion will continue.
Jay-Z and JD, you're gonna lose sales by doing it your way, no two ways about it. I'm going to show you, right now, what happens when you don't give the consumer what they want.
Jay-Z's American Gangster...absolutely FREE!!
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