Jane Siberry’s “you decide what feels right” pricing: “
Sex, Drugs and Updating Your Blog describes how some small-scale recording artists are succeeding on the web. One interesting bit mentions the ‘pay what you can policy’ used by Jane Siberry. The result: People wind up paying more than they would at iTunes.
Like many, I’m restless and impatient with living in a world where people are made to feel like shoplifters rather than intelligent peoples with a good sense of balance. I want to treat people the way I’d like to be treated. ‘Dumbing UP’ (as opposed to ‘dumbing down’)….You decide what feels right to your gut. If you download for free, perhaps you’ll buy an extra CD at an indie band’s concert. Or if you don’t go with your gut feeling, you might sleep poorly, wake up grumpy, put your shoes on backwards and fall over. Whatever. You’ll know what to do…This is not a guilt trip. Feel no pressure. The most important thing is that the music flow out to where it could bring enjoyment. And THAT is the best thing you could give me.
The current pricing statistics listed at the site:
18% Gift from Artist
18% Standard
05% Pay Now
58% Pay Later
Avg Price/Song $1.17
07% Paid Below Suggested
80% Paid At Suggested
14% Paid Above Suggested
(Via Signal vs. Noise.)
I wonder what it would be like if authors started allowing their material to be available like this? I know I tend to read stuff on my computer more than others, so I’m not sure if it’s ready for that yet. Even if I send a four-page short film script out, I usually find printed versions when I meet with the person. I know I’d be much more likely to buy a book online where I can throw a few dollars directly to the author than to purchase another physical product which I probably won’t touch for months.
Leave a Reply