Why should i pay for Maeonnas Ferrari?

[FanaticBee]

Hi.I understand that its not right stealing music and that the right way is buying them.What i dont understand is whay all the stars are having jet set lifes,driving around in expensive cars and owning private jets... I mean the just sing.Its an important job,but there are other jobs much more imortant.Police officers should drive around in Ferraris.I myself am a medical doctor and i make 1/100 of what a star makes.I had to study almost 13 years to become one.And singers just look good and sing!! And most of them dont even have a nice voice!! So why pay for music that is priced 100 times what it is worth??

[m.r.m.]

it?s all a matter of supply and demand. they have people willing to pay them that much (us). creative jobs always stand out and such artists always get paid more, just as people with a college education (f.e. doctors) get paid more than construction workers or waiters f.e.

artists, actors and sports stars captivate the imagination of the masses more than people with "normal" jobs. they get paid as much for supplying you with the dream of a life less ordinary as they are for singing, acting etc.

i, for one, still prefer studying medicine though. :)

[Offline69]

In addition to supply and demand, it's a matter of value to many vs. value to few. Obviously medicine is the more noble profession, but doctors provide great value to relatively few people. On the other hand, musicians, actors, even mutual fund managers provide a small amount of value to a huge group of people. When you add up the total economic value, crass as it is, it's no surprise that successful entertainers make more than people like doctors and policemen.

[FanaticBee]

Ok i understand that,but why pay for their Cds? I mean if they make so much money what do they want more?? If a Cd would cost 5$ id pay for it but i am not paying 20$!!!

[Offline69]

I assume you make good money as a doctor, but why would you want more? You make a lot more than a farmer in China or even doctors working in Cambodia. Does that mean they have a right to your services for free? Or for 1/3 of what you charge?

Maybe cds are overpriced, but the fact remains, some people are willing to pay for them, some people would pay more, the cd that you buy may be subsidizing the cost of producing a less popular act.

I'd like to buy my girlfriend a Gucci purse, but just because it's grossly overpriced at $900, it doesn't mean I have a right to buy or produce knockoffs.

[FanaticBee]

Yes but when people come to me with no money i do surgery for free.And i think that i do a little more then a pop star and spend 12 years of my life studying. The popstar didnt do that.And when i do surgery for free i dont sue them afterwards LOL

[NiTRO]

I have a number of points to weigh in on. I was in the music biz for 15+ years. I owned a recording studio and toured with major label rock bands.

The average band makes about $1 per every Cd sold when signed to a major label. That dollar must be split between all members in the band. The remaining $ goes to management and the label in the form of representation fees, recoupment of recording & videos, promotional fees, and tour preparation/costs. Often labels will front the money for videos, touring, etc... but all of that money must get repaid. Most bands actually make most of thier money from touring not selling Cds.

Also remember for every 1 band/artist who is rich enough to drive a ferarri, there are 10s of thousands who are scraping by just to pay their rent. Policemen do not generally make a lot of money but the higher-ups like high level detectives and chiefs sure do.

FanaticBee: You said "they just sing" well, the life of a successful singer/band comes with the obvious money & fame but don't undermine how difficult a life that is. There are all sorts of issues and hoops to jump through. The band must write and record music that sells well enough to pay back all debts including label, crew, venues, travel/lodging for both band and crew, videos, lawyers, merchandise, and fill the seats in the arena they booked. Multiple interviews and appearences must be done in each and every city. The wear and tear of sleeping on a bus most nights (going to bed after shows at 2am and waking up at 8 or 9am) is brutal especially in wintertime. Performing each and every night whether you're in a bad mood, sick, tired, or injured is also much tougher than anyone can imagine especially for the singer. These are just the obvious things. Nonetheless, it is a much less glamourous life than portrayed on MTV and in the press. Why do you think people like Mariah Carey have nervous breakdowns or Britney Spears takes a 1 year break or successful bands lose members at the height of their career? If everything were easy, nobody would ever quit a band but it's tough as hell to ride the wave and keep everything together.

I realize there are more noble jobs out in the world but it doesn't change the fact that musicians are providing a product that they worked extremely hard to produce and if the consumer wants the product they should pay for it. Unfortunately, the labels are the evil ones who are jacking up the prices which ultimately hurt the bands they represent. Fortunately, the winds of change are blowing strongly with bands like Pearl Jam and Prince altering the game and opting out of thier major label contracts so they can release their music independantly and for more reasonable prices to the consumer. The reality is though that music is not surgery. Music, movies, art, etc.. are luxury items that do cost money and are not going to cost lives if they are not given out for free. I'm all for major change in the music industry but stealing music is just not fair to the artist.