Amazon's pricing strategy will really test how much we all value music
I think this situation is rather interesting. While Amazon gains traction and collects market share that iTunes may otherwise seem disinterested in (for whatever reasons - profit margins, publisher harassment, etc) it seems to be making a run at toppling Apple’s digital giant. However, something I think that can be a valuable observation to take out of this situation is a psuedo-evaluation of what consumers consider a fair price for their music. Previously, iTunes offered music at the price it offered and that was that. Amazon might offer different variety but they were usually in a similar price range (especially in the singles market). With price adjustments and sales such as this, there may in fact be strong indicators that the public doesn’t see music as a free consumption good - despite what many industry pundits might believe.
I’m also excited that Amazon is bringing prices down for albums. A shift toward singles in the music industry has robbed it of a lot of the magic of old and while I hesitate to become stuck in a nostalgic frame of thinking I can’t help but miss the days when artists put together full albums that had flair and personality to them as though every song was constructed so as to be put in its proper place on the release. If low-priced albums drive up purchases and spark artists to really try to put coherent works out again all I have to say is yay!
