Pay what you want for music downloads?

LoathsomePete · 11-19-2010, 08:44 PM

I think that there's some real strength behind the idea of charging for a better bitrate. If you want it for free you get 128kb/s, you pay something like 5 dollars then you get 320kb/s, you pay 10 dollars then you can have it in whichever damn format you wish. I listen to just as much music as anyone else and I could really care less what the bitrate is (so long as it's 128kb/s or better) and neither do a lot of people. There exists enough people that do who I'm sure would be willing to part with some money for a higher quality download, I mean there are people anal enough to want everything in FLAC. The people who want stuff for free can still have it, and the people who want a finer quality product can pay for it, just like in the real world.

~~someonecompletelyrandom~~ · 11-19-2010, 08:50 PM

That's one of the best ideas I've heard in a while.

LoathsomePete · 11-19-2010, 09:02 PM

I think a couple of artists have already tried it but I'm not sure of the success they have had. I know some people were complaining about the bitrate quality when Radiohead released In Rainbows you get what you pay for, or don't pay for which may be the case. I have a lot of admiration for the bands who release their music for free in any bitrate, but I think that by putting a fee for higher bitrates the band can generate revenue, the fans won't feel like they're being forced to buy it and at the end of the day everyone can feel good about themselves.

docfunkenstein · 11-23-2010, 10:07 PM

very interesting idea. make it like listener supported radio; 128 is free, but if you pledge $5 or more you get it in 256, pledge $10 or more you get 320, etc.

but honestly, i have to strain to hear the difference between anything 256 and higher

s_k · 11-23-2010, 10:11 PM

The trick is listening to 320 all the time and then going back to 256.
You have to know what you miss ;D.
That's the problem with all this audiophile stuff, the further you inprove, step by step, the worse your previous setups are going to sound. Same goes for mp3's ;D.

Eitherway, I don't want to pay for something I can't touch.
I'm glad I live where I live. I am allowed to download whatever I want as long as I don't share it.
I'm not taking advantage of it, I buy lots and lots of music, but I love the internet. Altough I do hear the difference between mp3 and 'losless', I love finding out about new artists, listening to new albums via the internet. And when I really like it, I support the artist. I go to festivals and gigs and buy records.
The internet is a great music supplier for me and it's making me buy even more records. But paying for the stuff on my hard drive? It's just not logical to me.

View Poll Results: Was radioheads 'pay what you want' experiment for In Rainbows a good idea?
Yes	16	84.21%
No	3	15.79%
Voters: 19. You may not vote on this poll

11-19-2010, 08:44 PM	#31 (permalink)
LoathsomePete Cardboard Box Realtor Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Hobb's End Posts: 7,648	I think that there's some real strength behind the idea of charging for a better bitrate. If you want it for free you get 128kb/s, you pay something like 5 dollars then you get 320kb/s, you pay 10 dollars then you can have it in whichever damn format you wish. I listen to just as much music as anyone else and I could really care less what the bitrate is (so long as it's 128kb/s or better) and neither do a lot of people. There exists enough people that do who I'm sure would be willing to part with some money for a higher quality download, I mean there are people anal enough to want everything in FLAC. The people who want stuff for free can still have it, and the people who want a finer quality product can pay for it, just like in the real world. __________________ Last.FM 101 Albums That May Not Change Your Life, But I Really Like And You Might Too

11-19-2010, 09:02 PM	#33 (permalink)
LoathsomePete Cardboard Box Realtor Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Hobb's End Posts: 7,648	I think a couple of artists have already tried it but I'm not sure of the success they have had. I know some people were complaining about the bitrate quality when Radiohead released In Rainbows you get what you pay for, or don't pay for which may be the case. I have a lot of admiration for the bands who release their music for free in any bitrate, but I think that by putting a fee for higher bitrates the band can generate revenue, the fans won't feel like they're being forced to buy it and at the end of the day everyone can feel good about themselves. __________________ Last.FM 101 Albums That May Not Change Your Life, But I Really Like And You Might Too

11-23-2010, 10:11 PM	#35 (permalink)
s_k Music Addict Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,206	The trick is listening to 320 all the time and then going back to 256. You have to know what you miss ;D. That's the problem with all this audiophile stuff, the further you inprove, step by step, the worse your previous setups are going to sound. Same goes for mp3's ;D. Eitherway, I don't want to pay for something I can't touch. I'm glad I live where I live. I am allowed to download whatever I want as long as I don't share it. I'm not taking advantage of it, I buy lots and lots of music, but I love the internet. Altough I do hear the difference between mp3 and 'losless', I love finding out about new artists, listening to new albums via the internet. And when I really like it, I support the artist. I go to festivals and gigs and buy records. The internet is a great music supplier for me and it's making me buy even more records. But paying for the stuff on my hard drive? It's just not logical to me. __________________ Click here to see my collection

11-19-2010, 08:50 PM	#32 (permalink)
~~someonecompletelyrandom~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,538	That's one of the best ideas I've heard in a while.

11-23-2010, 10:07 PM	#34 (permalink)
docfunkenstein Music Addict Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: rural new jersey Posts: 60	very interesting idea. make it like listener supported radio; 128 is free, but if you pledge $5 or more you get it in 256, pledge $10 or more you get 320, etc. but honestly, i have to strain to hear the difference between anything 256 and higher