[atlantaprog] prince

I read that Prince is doing something interesting.  He's giving away copies of 
his new cd to everyone who attends his concerts, which considering he just sold 
out the Phillips Arena, is a lot of folks.  Of course up-and-coming bands have 
given away demo cds and cassettes for years, but I haven't heard of a 
major-label star like him doing it before.  In an era of lower cd prices, 
filesharing and higher concert ticket prices, it may make sense.  Not everyone 
who goes to a concert would normally buy the new cd, but now they have it and 
his new music is exposed to a wider audience.  Plus, he can build the cost into 
the ticket price without too much complaint ($50-$80 per ticket can absorb the 
cd cost) and avoid the filesharing erosion on cd sales.  Essentially, he's 
making his concertgoers buy his cd, albeit at a reduced price (prix fixe).  
According to the article, these cds still count toward Soundscan so I guess 
he's buying them, and the increased "sales" thus boost him on the charts as 
well.

Brian
LO

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