eCommerce

I had a conversation with Tom today about the future of the brick n' mortar stores of the music industry (Tower, Wherehouse, etc. etc.) and how their demise seems inevitable. Thanks to Best Buy and Wal-Mart's constant "loss-leaders" (you know those $7.99 - $9.99 CD's you can't resist?) it seems like the other stores just can't compete. That fact coupled with several other factors - including price fixing, radio conglomeration, and a slumping economy to name a few - has and will change the industry. But ya know what? I'm kind of looking forward to a change. I certainly enjoy having a robust CD collection but it's just not a wise expense to spend $17.99 on one disc - or $13.99 on an EP. It's not that the music isn't worth it, it's just a waste of money when you can buy it cheaper online. Sure you lose that sense of immediacy but that's what downloads are for! I'm not saying the future holds all great things, but it should, at the very least, hold some interesting developments.