For example, I would happily pay 40, maybe even 50 dollars for a complete, decent release of Phantom Menace. But this price is really reserved for "very good" scores. 25-30 would be ok for very good releases of "really good" scores.

Making 25-30 dollars the regular soundtrack album price would make me go bankrupt.

distributors charge out the butt for the CDs. The labels charge the distributors out the butt to ship them TO the distributor...and the distributor passes it on to the store who pass it on to you, the consumer

it's a vicious cycle.

In a perfect world, with no middle man, I think we could realistically pay only $10, if not less, for a CD. Hell it only costs, what? -- $2 to manufacture a CD?

and you can also thank orchestral unions, too.

When I got ID4-Expanded it cost me $50 somewhat dollars.

One of the many joys of living in Canada....

Go figure!!

I second your points regarding the CDs. Actually, if the scores are on a major label such as Sony, they are manufactured in Canada, thus they are $14.99-19.99.

However, imports such as the Varese label CDs are the wallet-busters; I often pay $22.49, just because of the import factor.

However, imports such as the Varese label CDs are the wallet-busters; I often pay $22.49, just because of the import factor."

Greetings,

I order most of my scores of the internet so I always pay the import fees . Luckly, tax is not included....

I live in Toronto and Thunder Bay, and remember: HMV has free shipping eclusively for us Canadians. Until our dollar stablizes (not very likely), buy from a Canadian site.

quote:

---

I am already paying $20-$25 dollars for a normal score release.
When I got ID4-Expanded it cost me $50 somewhat dollars.
One of the many joys of living in Canada....
-Racerprose

---

I hear you brother. Especially these days.
$1 USD = 0.64 CAN
AAAH!

quote:

---

(from Alwin)
However, imports such as the Varese label CDs are the wallet-busters; I often pay $22.49, just because of the import factor.

---

Why do I have a feeling you shop where I do? http://www.hmv.com

Which is still better than the prices they have in stores. The HMV store where I live has Varèse CD's at $23.99CAN. Used to be $21.99 a few years back. And let's not even talk about Hollywood Records CD's which run at $29.99CAN if they're not manufactured by Universal in Canada.

To answer the main question of this topic: No. I would not pay that much for all soundtracks. Maybe the ones I really like.

But just like Marian, I wouldn't buy so much stuff unheard (as I do now).
And my wallet would be much emptier. Plus I'd be able to hear a lot less music.

If you can shop at the 333 Yonge Street Toronto Superstore, that location's prices would be the lowest, in terms of retail pricing. In Thunder Bay, I pay about a $4-5 difference, and often, the staff have to order from the supplier due to zero demand for movie scores.

We do get screwed over Varese CDs, and certain Hollywood Records. The Patriot did come in at $17.99. Also, Polygram used to manufacture Canadian versions of Hollywood Records titles (The Rock, Crimson Tide, etc).

And a few years ago, there was a lawsuit settled, and the news media said that the prices should go down. Suprise! They didn't. The record companies on down want the big profit at the expence of the customer.

If CD's went up to $25, I'd quit buying them. The new ones are too expensive now.

Kevin

At least one store has already begun to raise CD prices slightly because of this. Most haven't yet, and I hope they won't.

It cost me Lm 7.50, which is about $16.80

When I buy CDs off the Internet, they usually cost less with shipping included. And there's more choice. But I have to wait 10-20 days.

I wish Napster really did affect sales in a negative way, to the point were the music industry would be forced to reduce the average CD price to 11 or 12 bucks. Just watch what will happen to the number of units they sell if they had to do this. Through the roof! People don't want to buy a CD for $18.97, but they have NOOOO problems buying at $11.97 or $12.97. It's insane.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Racerprose:
I am already paying $20-$25 dollars for a normal score release.

When I got ID4-Expanded it cost me $50 somewhat dollars.

One of the many joys of living in Canada....

---

That's funny. I live in the US, and buy CDs from Canada! mymusic.com has great prices.

I'd like to see music released on DVD-V. A DVD can hold about 10 hours of PCM or 50-100 hours of dolby digital. Maybe it wouldn't work for scores (because of licensing fees, copyright fees, etc), but certainly for something like a Beethoven symphony set. I have suggested this approach to Naxos.

Try living in Canada and getting promos from the US at 19.99USD. And if you get them from Intrada, Footlight or SuperCollector, they actually put the amount you paid for the CD on the cute little green label I'd like to rip off the package.

So when the package arrives there's $5CAN to pay for duty services plus the 7%GST, plus (at least in my case) the 7.5%QST on the amout of the purchase ($19.99, converted into canadian dollars, these days at 64cents).

That is NOT funny.