New kids on the block

October 20, 2006 11:08 AM

Amie Street: "[A] recently launched music Web site that carries independent -- and mostly little-known -- artists, is trying an unusual model for selling music. Instead of selling songs at one fixed price, the site determines prices for songs based on how frequently they're downloaded." [WSJ link].
posted by pfafflin (6 comments total)

And in more digital download news: The online, indie record store InSound has announced it will start offering its inventory as downloads. But unlike its competitors, where you can cherry pick single songs, InSound will only offer up full albums.
posted by pfafflin at 11:10 AM on October 20, 2006

Your favorite band sucks
(in the way it distorts the pricing structure)
posted by ernie at 11:35 AM on October 20, 2006 [1 favorite]

pretty interesting. I had a hard time finding out how purchases affect the song price; it looks like a more-purchased song is higher in price (the artificial-scarcity model) rather than lower in price (the recouping-fixed-costs model).
posted by hattifattener at 12:00 PM on October 20, 2006

So you're saying writing the 2.5 minute pop gem is more profitible than the long-form experiment in sound? Well, I never!
posted by basicchannel at 12:12 PM on October 20, 2006

Hattifattener, it seems reasonable; music has very low fixed costs, and if a track is more popular, they can justify charging a higher price for it.

I'm a children's musician on the weekends, and have been looking for a good site like this -- I think I'll be posting a song or two. Not that lots of people go to sites like this looking for children's music, but at least I'll stand out to those who do.
posted by davejay at 12:42 PM on October 20, 2006

It's all a lot of fun, but nobody can make a living at pennies per song unless they are selling millions. I'm not sure why anyone not selling millions seriously considers these sorts of models.

Better to ask more money per fan- as in sponsorships. Then the 50 people who love you might actually be helping.

Steam Powered Studio
posted by Liv Pooleside at 1:14 PM on October 20, 2006