[Dixielandjazz] When you pay less, you get less" changing patterns of music merchandising; -Ken Dryden writes

[Paul Kurtz Jr]

I've been very interested to read the comments on distribution of music. When Itunes became accessible for the blind, latter part of 2008, I was over-joyed!! For the first time in my life, I could finally read the information about tunes without having to produce a Braille label and have somebody take the time to read it out to me. I copied every one of my 900 or so CDs onto my computer with Itunes and haven't looked back. With only a FEW exceptions, my entire collection of CDs is now in boxes. 
I think a few technical clarifications are in order. When importing my CDs, I set my import levels to the highest bit rate possible so I could get the widest breadth of sound the CD could offer. And, I got it. There's no degradation or changes in this type of import. 
Since that point, I've bought almost exclusively through downloads from Itunes, Amazon, etc. I immediately have the songs, don't have to memorize or create a Braille list of where I put the CDS, and can search/select in whatever way I want. I've compared both CDs and LPs with what I have on the computer and don't really find enough difference to worry about. (in terms of sound quality) Having now bought a new computer (instead of my old piece-parts machine), I find that the sound production is even better. 
Now, from a marketing perspective, I guess it can be argued that my $9.99 or whatever price I pay for a download is under-cutting CDs and their sales and that might be true. But, I can tell you that I've spent more now that I can download, be it from individual songs or full sets, than I ever did before. It's too easy not to!! I get a song or author in my head, go find them, and buy! It's less expensive per, but more is made in the aggregate by the musicians playing. Trumpeter friends of mine are simply taking control and selling their own material. 
The book written fairly recently (name escapes me) about the suicide of the recording industry is right on the money and I can't honestly sympathize with them. They didn't care about inaccessibility of materials for me and they really didn't care about the customer needs and desires in general. I do hope they survive because I'm sure there are good and dedicated people working in these entities. But, they resisted things that could have helped me 10 years ago or more and now, they pay the price of not being willing to think forward. 
One other quick note is this. As music formats become better, i.e. .m4a as opposed to .mp3, the music will do nothing but get better. And with storage space being so cheap, production costs will be cut, the consumer will keep getting a better price, and the artist will not lose. 
One last little point. I can now focus a trumpet student on the specific area of music in a recording that highlights the technical stuff I'm trying to get across to them and the reasons for exercise assignments. This is helpful and now easier than with CD and more especially LP.
Paul Kurtz Jacksonville, FL