Comments on: The letter Danny Stein didn't write http://blog.hecker.org/2009/06/03/the-letter-danny-stein-didnt-write/ Mozilla, open source, and other random topics Sat, 20 Feb 2010 20:07:37 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: UsedToLikeEMusic http://blog.hecker.org/2009/06/03/the-letter-danny-stein-didnt-write/#comment-1273 UsedToLikeEMusic Sat, 04 Jul 2009 19:18:28 +0000 http://swindleeeee.com/?p=261#comment-1273 eMusic also neglected to mention an innovation that is unique in the market place: that some album purchases will not work in the subscribers favor - i.e., fewer than 12 tracks are there, with at least 1 requiring album purchase, and eMusic charges 12 credits. I provided the following example when I asked eMusic about this because I thought it was a mistake: http://www.emusic.com/album/Herbie-Hancock-Head-Hunters-MP3-Download/11478633.html, but there are many others, including some full-length album tracks that require 12 credits: http://www.emusic.com/album/Harry-Henshaw-Insomnia-The-Ocean-Soothing-Relaxation-Music-Wi-MP3-Download/11258699.html. In this case, this isn't even a Sony track - it used to require just one download under the old pricing. Here is what they wrote to me: " Thank you for contacting eMusic Customer Support. Perhaps the easiest way to understand album pricing is to think of it like buying a CD. The cost (credits required) of an album is independent of the track count (just like a CD). Some albums don't offer album pricing at all: the credits required to download the entire album equals the number of tracks. More often, you'll see albums with 12+ tracks offered at 12 credits. Sometimes you'll see an album priced at 12 credits when it has fewer than 12 tracks, as in the example you've given. Usually this happens when an album is comprised of very long tracks, but it may also be stipulated by record company licensing agreements. Regards, Kenneth - eMusic Customer Support " Yay - way to look after your customer base, eMusic. iTunes doesn't even do it that way. eMusic also neglected to mention an innovation that is unique in the market place: that some album purchases will not work in the subscribers favor – i.e., fewer than 12 tracks are there, with at least 1 requiring album purchase, and eMusic charges 12 credits. I provided the following example when I asked eMusic about this because I thought it was a mistake:
http://www.emusic.com/album/Herbie-Hancock-Head-Hunters-MP3-Download/11478633.html, but there are many others, including some full-length album tracks that require 12 credits:
http://www.emusic.com/album/Harry-Henshaw-Insomnia-The-Ocean-Soothing-Relaxation-Music-Wi-MP3-Download/11258699.html. In this case, this isn’t even a Sony track – it used to require just one download under the old pricing.

Here is what they wrote to me:

”
Thank you for contacting eMusic Customer Support.

Perhaps the easiest way to understand album pricing is to think of it like buying a CD. The cost (credits required) of an album is independent of the track count (just like a CD). Some albums don’t offer album pricing at all: the credits required to download the entire album equals the number of tracks. More often, you’ll see albums with 12+ tracks offered at 12 credits. Sometimes you’ll see an album priced at 12 credits when it has fewer than 12 tracks, as in the example you’ve given. Usually this happens when an album is comprised of very long tracks, but it may also be stipulated by record company licensing agreements.
Regards,

Kenneth – eMusic Customer Support
”

Yay – way to look after your customer base, eMusic. iTunes doesn’t even do it that way.

]]> By: Manny http://blog.hecker.org/2009/06/03/the-letter-danny-stein-didnt-write/#comment-1289 Manny Mon, 08 Jun 2009 05:27:51 +0000 http://swindleeeee.com/?p=261#comment-1289 Nice job on easing the subscribers' pain. You obviously could never be a corporate titan. (that's a compliment.) Nice job on easing the subscribers’ pain. You obviously could never be a corporate titan. (that’s a compliment.)

]]> By: Andrew http://blog.hecker.org/2009/06/03/the-letter-danny-stein-didnt-write/#comment-1288 Andrew Sat, 06 Jun 2009 03:23:17 +0000 http://swindleeeee.com/?p=261#comment-1288 I'm all for the price increase, as long as the artists benefit! My favorite music has mostly been on indie labels. Ironically, since subscribing to eMusic, most of my physical CD/LP purchases have been major label releases unavailable from eMusic. I actually prefer the MP3 format, as I'm running out of physical space for my record collection. Several of my favorite indie artists have spoken out against illegal MP3 downloads. I subscribed to eMusic to support the artists. I’m all for the price increase, as long as the artists benefit!

My favorite music has mostly been on indie labels. Ironically, since subscribing to eMusic, most of my physical CD/LP purchases have been major label releases unavailable from eMusic.

I actually prefer the MP3 format, as I’m running out of physical space for my record collection. Several of my favorite indie artists have spoken out against illegal MP3 downloads. I subscribed to eMusic to support the artists.

]]> By: Andrew Careaga http://blog.hecker.org/2009/06/03/the-letter-danny-stein-didnt-write/#comment-1287 Andrew Careaga Fri, 05 Jun 2009 16:40:24 +0000 http://swindleeeee.com/?p=261#comment-1287 Nice ghost-writing. Too bad eMusic couldn't have leveled with us in such a fashion. If anyone's interested, I've written my own <a href="http://highered.prblogs.org/2009/06/05/emusic/" rel="nofollow">open letter to eMusic</a> expressing my own conflicted views of the situation. Nice ghost-writing. Too bad eMusic couldn’t have leveled with us in such a fashion.

If anyone’s interested, I’ve written my own open letter to eMusic expressing my own conflicted views of the situation.

]]> By: EV Debs http://blog.hecker.org/2009/06/03/the-letter-danny-stein-didnt-write/#comment-1286 EV Debs Fri, 05 Jun 2009 02:51:13 +0000 http://swindleeeee.com/?p=261#comment-1286 Incidentally, have you noticed that they've also quietly gotten rid of unlimited re-downloading? After four downloads they're now going to start to charge you. Incidentally, have you noticed that they’ve also quietly gotten rid of unlimited re-downloading? After four downloads they’re now going to start to charge you.

]]> By: EV Debs http://blog.hecker.org/2009/06/03/the-letter-danny-stein-didnt-write/#comment-1285 EV Debs Fri, 05 Jun 2009 02:46:35 +0000 http://swindleeeee.com/?p=261#comment-1285 I do think this letter puts the best possible spin on things. No offense, but it's really not so hard to write a letter like this. So why didn't they? The Sony/price increase roll-out has really been a case study in bad marketing. It's just incredible to me that they'd do it so poorly. And as far as I can tell, they still haven't figured out the damage they've done. At least judging from the traffic on the eMu message boards, the two official responses--which essentially try to continue the happy talk--have been understandably met with more rage. At the very least, whoever came up with this strategy needs to get sacked. I do think this letter puts the best possible spin on things. No offense, but it’s really not so hard to write a letter like this.

So why didn’t they?

The Sony/price increase roll-out has really been a case study in bad marketing. It’s just incredible to me that they’d do it so poorly. And as far as I can tell, they still haven’t figured out the damage they’ve done. At least judging from the traffic on the eMu message boards, the two official responses–which essentially try to continue the happy talk–have been understandably met with more rage.

At the very least, whoever came up with this strategy needs to get sacked.

]]> By: david http://blog.hecker.org/2009/06/03/the-letter-danny-stein-didnt-write/#comment-1283 david Thu, 04 Jun 2009 16:52:07 +0000 http://swindleeeee.com/?p=261#comment-1283 yes, this would have been much less upsetting than what he posted. You have to wonder about a company when the leadership is clearly incompetent! yes, this would have been much less upsetting than what he posted. You have to wonder about a company when the leadership is clearly incompetent!

]]> By: qwynwyn http://blog.hecker.org/2009/06/03/the-letter-danny-stein-didnt-write/#comment-1281 qwynwyn Wed, 03 Jun 2009 23:15:18 +0000 http://swindleeeee.com/?p=261#comment-1281 This is a great letter that Danny Stein should have written! Seriously! Oh well. I wonder who gave him feedback about his letter.... This is a great letter that Danny Stein should have written! Seriously! Oh well. I wonder who gave him feedback about his letter….

]]> By: Nergal http://blog.hecker.org/2009/06/03/the-letter-danny-stein-didnt-write/#comment-1280 Nergal Wed, 03 Jun 2009 20:45:53 +0000 http://swindleeeee.com/?p=261#comment-1280 Frank, again again wonderfully thought out. That's why I'm so happy to have you in my RSS's One note (for future readers) could you use an anchor tag on the Endnotes i.e. click [4]in the text jump to note 4 click [4] in the note jump back to text 4 Again frank always great to read your items :) (I still say I'm glad for the chance at the columbia jazz and classicals) Frank, again again wonderfully thought out. That’s why I’m so happy to have you in my RSS’s
One note (for future readers) could you use an anchor tag on the Endnotes i.e. click [4]in the text jump to note 4 click [4] in the note jump back to text 4
Again frank always great to read your items :)
(I still say I’m glad for the chance at the columbia jazz and classicals)

]]> By: Tony http://blog.hecker.org/2009/06/03/the-letter-danny-stein-didnt-write/#comment-1279 Tony Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:01:18 +0000 http://swindleeeee.com/?p=261#comment-1279 In my own greed, I'll be sad to see my .25/track deal go away, but as anyone paying emusic less than 30-some cents a track has to realize, someone's losing money on me, as I use all my downloads every period. I've woken up, and I've smelled the coffee. But OTOH, I have been very casual with music purchases when the price is that low, including springing for a whole album based on only a track or two. Will I spend 5 Bucks for MP3s of an unheard album? Probably not. Will I spend 5 bucks for MP3s of a Sony "Nice Price" CD special? Probably not. Will I get a plan that costs me 50 cents for an MP3? No. Absolutely not. But I'll hold on. Sony is about a lot more than old Dylan and Springsteen and Janis Joplin and Billy Joel. They have lots of Masterworks catalogue I'd love to see and select tracks from. Sometimes you just want to buy some Lotte Lenya at 3 in the morning, y'know? While the inventory at my local used-CD store has arbitrary restrictions (not every title is in all the time), I'll be going back there more, I think. After all, I endure the arbitrary restrictions of eMusic's selection, too. In my own greed, I’ll be sad to see my .25/track deal go away, but as anyone paying emusic less than 30-some cents a track has to realize, someone’s losing money on me, as I use all my downloads every period. I’ve woken up, and I’ve smelled the coffee.

But OTOH, I have been very casual with music purchases when the price is that low, including springing for a whole album based on only a track or two.

Will I spend 5 Bucks for MP3s of an unheard album? Probably not.

Will I spend 5 bucks for MP3s of a Sony “Nice Price” CD special? Probably not.

Will I get a plan that costs me 50 cents for an MP3? No. Absolutely not.

But I’ll hold on. Sony is about a lot more than old Dylan and Springsteen and Janis Joplin and Billy Joel. They have lots of Masterworks catalogue I’d love to see and select tracks from. Sometimes you just want to buy some Lotte Lenya at 3 in the morning, y’know?

While the inventory at my local used-CD store has arbitrary restrictions (not every title is in all the time), I’ll be going back there more, I think. After all, I endure the arbitrary restrictions of eMusic’s selection, too.

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