Cast your mind back to just a few years ago and pop lovers in Australia were paying just $1.99 for a physical CD single with anything from two to five tracks on them. Back then, one had the satisfaction of holding something in one’s hand, gazing at the artwork and enjoying all that the disc had to offer.
But in 2010 (and in the latter part of the ’00s), the price of a single digital track has, in some cases, surpassed the $2 mark.
In the days of the CD single, the product had to be manufactured, shipped to stores and priced – all for just $2. These days, a single digital file can cost more. How?
While some outlets like BigPond Music charge just 99c for their top ten, other sites like iTunes regularly charge $2.19 for a single digital track. But how much is too much? We thought we’d ask you in our latest debate… Is $2.19 too much to pay for a single digital track? There’s a spanking new poll over there in the right hand column – have your say!
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mairanya says
I’m surprised at how many people write as though the shipping, physical production etc are all we’re paying for.
Music used to be very expensive here compared to UK and I presumed that difference was the cost of shipping. I wonder whether the licensing etc costs for digital are flat sums or for a set number of downloads. Perhaps it’s harder to recoup those costs here.
It’s a bit scary to think how much musicians might get out of 99c especially when you look at the small figures for sales in Australia. In the US maybe they get enough sales for it to be worthwhile. That would rarely be true here.
I’m happy to pay if the artists involved get more. I’ll always buy physical CDs if they’re available and for favourite artists will buy a single to get the music earlier.
Anonymous says
Don’t worry, auspOp – I definitely remember the $1.99 CD single and not just from years and years ago! While most singles at JB in recent years have been $4.99 in recent years, there were definitely more than just a couple that they regularly had available for $1.99 (these singles usually shot to the top of the charts). We pay far too much for digital tracks these days, although I can’t help remembering that in 1990, a two-track 7″ single cost $3.99 (up to $4.99 in early 1991, just before the 7″ disappeared virtually overnight – cassingles still cost $4.99 for two tracks, though). We paid so much more for music back then (a vinyl album cost $20 – a hell of a lot of money in those days!). Kids these days don’t realise how lucky they have it, but you only have to look at the Top 100 for the decade to see that singles sales are booming now (thanks to digital downloads) – over half of the 100 biggest selling singles of the entire decade were released in 2008 and 2009, relegating many big hits from earlier in the decade to the lower reaches of the chart, even though most of them were more popular in their day than a lot of big sellers these days. All interesting stuff!
Anonymous says
CD singles were definately $2 at Dick Smith Powerhouse stores in Victoria (at least) from about 2003-2005, then they increased to $3 and would sometimes be on sale for $2. Many JB Hi-fi’s in Victoria, mainly ones located near a DS Powerhouse also sold singles for $3. Dick Smith continued this until early 08 when they introduced digital kioks into their stores. So no more arguements ok? They were once $2- and it applied to every single at Dick Smith. I too, bought literally 100s.
The last single I bought was in June 09 and i don’t think I’ll ever buy another one. I have to buy albums now.
Anonymous says
I don’t remember physical singles ever being $1.99, unless that was a clearance price. JB Hifi was always $3 and most other stores $4-6.
$2.19 is fair. I would argue most record labels do offer tracks at $1.69 for most artists other than BEP and Lady Gaga. Sony regularly drops the price of Australian artists to $1.19 when they have a new single out.
Using the exchange rate rule, you would realise we pay more for most things. That’s because our standard of living is higher.
Trillington says
Dick Smith was selling CD singles for $2 around 2003 2004. I bought literally hundreds of them
JimJim says
Sorry AuspOp, but what on Earth are you talking about – since when were physical singles ever $2?!
The average retail was always around $4.95 (from say, 2000-2007), sometimes up to $8.95 in ridiculous circumstances.
Digital singles ftw, but long live the physical album!
MusicMan says
I love CD Singles very much and though it’s costlier,I just love to look at the cover.
The death of CD Singles is indeed very sad,especially in US but thank god European regions are still pressing CD Singles!
Especially Germany,France and UK.
Anonymous says
The problem with itunes is now singles are dying out. Not just cd singles…but singles in general. On itunes you can download any track, and if enough people do that, then it hits the charts, and radio is left to play catch up.
The good old days of the cd single…the weird part is its still the preferred format in the uk!
Anonymous says
digital price = $0.08
physical price = $3.79
buying digital is ridiculous it should be free based on your download usage
the decline in the physical single is one of the major disasters of the 00’s.
Anonymous says
hmm, i don’t like $2.19, but if I really wanted it I would buy it.
I only buy singles if
a) mega fan
b) they have decent b-sides (new tracks, live or acoustic)
I generally wait till the album then buy it for cheaper.
Aaron says
I’m with dbf on this one – 2.19 isn’t fantastic, but it’s not too bad – It’s OK.
Also, with JestaCat – I won’t buy the song if it’s on an album I’m interested in, I’ll wait – and lower prices won’t change that.
And with ippy – I can’t honestly remember CD’s ever being that cheap – I think they used to be around 3-5 dollars anyway….
That said, I have found one-track CD singles at a local store for 1.99 – and I think the 30 cents extra is more than justified!
Shane says
Oh how I could go on about this all day.
First off, individual tracks shouldnt be chart eligible.
A single has always been at least 2 tracks….I feel digital downloads should be a package deal to be chart eligible.
Everyone is missing out on the wonder of what singles used to be.
Also do not get me started on Sony and Warners new concept of the 1 track CDsingle…grrrrr
Digital has devalued product and people do not think of the costs of making a physical product.
If I had more time i’d waffle on more.
MusicMan says
$ 2.19 for a download? Insane!
dbf says
I agree with ippy… the only time I remember CD singles being $2 is for a period of about 6 months at Dick Smith Electronics … other than that, I only remember them costing $5 at KMart/Target and $5-$10(!) at Sanity (boy, were we getting ripped off then…)
These days of course, I only buy albums, not singles (and only on CD, no downloads).
Honestly, I don’t think $2.19 is a terrible price for a song… you’ve got to consider all the costs involved with recording a song (which will invariably end up getting charged back to the artist in the end); it’s probably a fair price.
fishpOp says
These days singles cost $5, not many songs get released in that format and they’re hard to get.
PLUS there are a lot of 1 track singles now. The ones that have more than 1 track are 80% remixes about. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE CD singles, but $5 is a terribly unreasonable price for what’s on them. I’d be happy with 1 track singles for $2, but if they’re $5 they should have something like:
1. Main track NOT RADIO EDIT
2. New song, demo, or GOOD remix
3. New song or demo exclusive to the single only.
4. Acapella or instrumental or exclusive song.
5. Optional extra remix, preferably one featuring another KNOWN GOOD artist.
$2.19 is NOT worth it for a 1 track (3.5 minutes) digital download. If they are like they are now, the songs shouldn’t be more than $1, probably even around 50-70c. Video clips shouldn’t be more than $2-$2.40. There’s no shipping, packaging, CD burning or anything involved.
iTunes encourages people to pirate music due to the price of the digital downloads they provide. If music was cheaper, I’d buy EVERY song I wanted.
If singles were available for $3 a week like they were six months ago at JB, and rarely were 1 track singles, I’d go back to buying 2-3 singles a week. NONE of my CD singles bought pre-July 2009 are 1 track singles. Over 70% of them have an extra exclusive track.
iTunes, the way to stop music piracy is not raising the price of legal downloads. It’s decreasing it.
Brad says
Well, on iTunes, the prices range. They can get as low as $1.19 (only Australian artists will sell them that low), a majority are $1.69 but the most popular titles are $2.19 each.
Is it much? Well compared to the United States, yes. Their iTunes prices only range from 99c-1.29 USD. Most songs are $1.29, and if you convert that to Australian dollars it is about $1.39. So, they are in fact paying a lot less for their music. Like 80c less than what we have to pay..
It is better value for money if you purchase an American iTunes card from eBay or somewhere, and use the U.S. store. There is a greater selection of songs, and things generally are released earlier.
JestaCat says
I’m happy with the $4-$6 mark DEPENDING ON CONTENT.
I refuse to by solo-track singles if the song will be on an album I’m planning on purchasing. No additional content = no sale.
Then speaking of content, it has to be viable – not filler. Remixes aren’t my preferred option, however they are more viable than Instrumental, Acapella, Karaoke versions — unless you’re planning to remix or sing the song these are worthless.
I think the perfect single should have:
1. Main Song (preferably edit or single remix version)
2. New Song or Demo
3. New Song or Demo
4. Main Song (Remix) &/or Other Song (remix)
Anything other is usually filler and doesn’t inspire me to purchase.
ippy says
“…paying just $1.99 for a physical CD single with anything from two to five tracks on them.”
I remember paying $4.95 for my singles, about 7 years ago.
$2.19 is definitely too much for a song. There’s no packaging involved, no shipping costs, nothing.
I suppose they do this to make up for pirating.