charles white

The major labels are more concerned about stopping illegal internet music downloads, gaining a foothold in legal internet music downloads and industry consolidation than pushing high resolution and/or multi-channel sound formats. I guess they believe if they could push the unwashed masses back to purchasing compact discs for $17.99, then they may consider a viable replacement for compact discs.

Phil A

Charles you are absolutely correct. Some of those problems they have brought on themselves by not carefully managing their business in terms of funds going out the door on overpriced contracts. They also want to control the distribution. Blockbuster Video had all the technology ready to go to have downloads to their stores (with the CDs produced there) and a printer to print the artwork and the record labels made sure they protected their current distribution network and CD release structure. Imagine the nerve of the public wanting only a couple of the good songs from an album by a particular artist and have a CD of stuff they like vs. buying one that is high priced with a few things they like.