I have only bought/burned a handful of tracks and two CDs in the time that I’ve been a Rhapsody subscriber. Traditionally I have purchased a couple CDs a month on average, so this has been a good savings $$ for me being a Rhapsody subscriber.

MUSIC PURCHASE COMPARISON
2 x 6 months = 12 CDs x $13 (avg price)
= TOTAL: $156
====================================
2 CDS over 6 months = $26
+ 5 x .99 = $4.95 — burned/ripped tracks purchased
+ 6 x 9.99 = $59.94 — cost of the monthly Rhapsody subscription 
= TOTAL: $90.89 (42% savings)

42% savings, but willing to give up “total freedom” (the ability to rip/burn an unlimited amount of times and in any format desired) for 10 CDs. Obviously I’m not a huge music afficiando, so the numbers could be dramatically different for someone else.

I should also note that during this time I attended the Metallica concert and one of the two CDs was purchased from the concert (Godsmack for $10). If I hadn’t gone to that concert, I would not have purchased that CD. Also, I purchased the Los Angeles Metallica concert from LiveMetallica.com in MP3 format ($9.95) which isn’t DRM protected. I also would like to purchase (but haven’t yet) the concert from the Seattle show we attended in FLAC format (which is DRM-free) for $12.95. So even if you factor in these purchases on the non-CD column, the numbers still show that online music for one music customer — me – has resulted in a reduction in revenue for the record company. However, at least one band (Metallica) in the last six months has profited from the internet from me. Or at least, they should have.

Did this post make you go hmm?

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