Charity shops are the new downloading

[Jim Cassius]

In a bit of a drunken stupour the other week I sent an email to the BPI asking how much they estimate buying records at charity shops costs the industry. I was taking the piss a bit but was also getting a wee bit miffed by the tired old downloading=death of record industry nonsense.

To their credit the BPI got back to me and said "as far as I'm aware - most music fans don't go to charity shops to buy
music, so I'd say the net effect on record sales is minimal."

So, how much do you think it actually does cost the industry? I mean, I'm sure we've all found things cheap that we would have otherwise bought for full whack...

If the industry is so concerned about teenage Metallica fans downloading the Black Album, should it be bothered by us?

[son of stan]

The music biz already had their cut when the record was originally sold. In that respect, it doesn't affect them at all

I suppose if i found something in a charity shop it would mean I would be unlikely to buy a reissue of the same record. But then again, demand for scarce originals from folks like us is often what leads to stuff being reissued. So this cuts both ways.

The only way it affects them that I can think of is that if it weren't for the availability of 2nd hand records, I might spend more on brand new. Then again, I might not bother and spend it on something else altogether.

Guess it all goes to show, you can't beat The Man!

[Nick Cope]

I don't understand how charity shops cost the music industry anything at all. Have they been making noises about it? If they have, it wouldn't exactly surprise me. Majors will whine about absolutely anything rather than face up to the fact that they've screwed up and that's why they've lost millions from their previous trillions. I mean, who gives a fuck? They clearly don't but expect everyone else to feel sorry for them. It's like they're the Israel of the entertainment world... Hmmm, rant over!

[Lord Thames]

Garth Brooks (or is it Garth Crooks? The country singer, not the footballer anyway) tried to mount a campaign against the second-hand music trade, saying musicians were losing out, but it didn't last long - good job too.

[mik]

personally, I'd buy music from ANY source where the record industry didn't get a cut. On the rare occasion I want a new record, I buy a promo off Ebay. just doing my bit!

[Jim Cassius]

Well according to the spokesperson I bothered, they're not whining about it. But I was thinking that I've bought so much from charities that I'll never buy again. It seems a similar kind of logic to the download thing really...

...person downloads Metallica (or Garth Brooks&#33 so the won't buy the album...person buys Metallica in a charity shop so they won't buy it from a *proper* shop...

I don't think charity/second hand shops hurt the music biz really, nor do I think downloads hurt the music biz really. Just wondering aloud and noting that there hasn't been much of a fuss about it.

[Col Wolfe]

Quote[/b] (Lord Thames @ Oct. 10 2004,15:31)]Garth Brooks (or is it Garth Crooks? The country singer, not the footballer anyway) tried to mount a campaign against the second-hand music trade, saying musicians were losing out, but it didn't last long - good job too.

This is something I've never understood.
If you buy a second hand capri (saw an episode of The Professionals earlier), Ford don't expect to get a payment from you.

[Jim Cassius]

What is the legal angle? I presume buying stuff second hand is 100% above board excpet where it says 'not for resale' on eg a promo?

[ladyboygrimsby]

Quote[/b] (Jim Cassius @ Oct. 10 2004,17:55)]What is the legal angle? I presume buying stuff second hand is 100% above board excpet where it says 'not for resale' on eg a promo?

Technically promos belong to the record company and they could ask for them back if they so wished. They never used to because everyone - journalists, DJs etc. - took it as a little perk of the job that they could sell them to MVE or wherever. Nowadays, some labels are issuing CDs, with YOUR name on it. The last few I've received from Warner Bros have my name etched on them, so they can trace back whoever is putting their music up for download. The dirty cads.

[Nick Cope]

Well at least that's better than something with extended whining noises dispersed throughout the tracks...

[son of stan]

Quote[/b] (ladyboygrimsby @ Oct. 10 2004,18:20)]

Quote[/b] (Jim Cassius @ Oct. 10 2004,17:55)]What is the legal angle? I presume buying stuff second hand is 100% above board excpet where it says 'not for resale' on eg a promo?

Technically promos belong to the record company and they could ask for them back if they so wished.

Imagine the havoc they could cause the world of rare record collecting if they chose to exercise this right...

"That Frank Wilson record you just paid $30,000 for? Well, the thing is, see where it says "Promotional. Not For Resale" on the label..?"

[sermad]

Oxfam do have a digital downloads service btw.

[Jim Cassius]

Yeah, I saw that Oxfam site mentioned round here a while ago.

So, in terms of charities or second hand shops more generally, does it actually make any kind of dent in the music industry's armour? What was Brook's argument?