It's simple really. This is way more intensive than buying a track on iTunes (which has instant gratification). Plus, iTunes doesn't have a contract, and they have a sizable catalog which doesn't disappoint often. Finally, plenty of people have a negative opinion of BMG. They think the discs are inferior or otherwise shady or that the club is some kind of scam. With a forum, you can let other members assume the risks before you try the club out for yourself.

I agree with all of your points but most of the points you make are general public perception, which, if the general public was more educated would not matter. The CDs are not inferior quality. The membership obligation is easy to follow. The prices on available selections are most often better than anywhere else without being a scam or making the contract a burden. The points you make, though, are unfortunately true due to the general public's ignorance and have undoubtedly led to the decreased catalogue selection and will ultimately lead to the demise of the club. The only true benefits of purchasing music on-line, that I can see, is instant gratification and no need for "physical" storage of CDs, but neither of these reasons carry enough weight for me to abandon BMG and the great prices they have. I prefer the physical CD and artwork hands-down and put more weight on that alone than the pros of instant gratification and storage problems combined.

1. BMG Music Club keeps sending out unwanted feature CDs to people. Most people just don't want to deal with the hassle of having to respond to and cancel monthly feature selections. When they don't cancel the selections in time, they will have to return the CDs. Either way, it's just a hassle. Most people have plenty of other things in life to worry about without having to deal with that kind of hassle.

Digital music is just convenient. That's a really big factor why it's so successful and killing CDs.

2. Why do you assume people want to buy every track or most tracks on any given album?

Most people just want one or two tracks from an album. Most tracks on any given album are just filler craps. Paying for one or two songs is still way cheaper than buying a whole CD.

If you get your BMG account set up to notify you of featured selections by email, it takes only a few mouse clicks to decline the selection. In all my years of being in and out of BMG, probably 15 years, I have not once received an unwanted featured selection. But yes, it is a hassle. You have to read your email, and respond.

What has truly led to the growth of iTunes and other commercial download services is that most people are incapable of hearing the quality loss inherent in compressed music files. They prefer convenience and instant gratification. That's their loss. But remember, the customer is always right. Even when he/she chooses an inferior product.

Your hassle point is on target but it goes back to my point of the ignorant consumer. As ericjanderson said, "But yes, it is a hassle. You have to read your email, and respond." Not much of a hassle. Even a Featured Selection that you get is free to return by writing on the box, "Refused -- Return to Sender." Not difficult in my opinion.

I strongly disagree on your second point, though. Since I joined BMG and started taking advantage of the great prices I have gone back and purchased whole albums from artist's that I knew had BIG hits that I liked. I found incredible "B-sides" that I really enjoy. If I hadn't purchased the whole CD and only let the commercialized world dictate what songs I should like I wouldn't be half as fulfilled as I am today thanks to the "B-sides."

Lastly, I can honestly admit that I don't notice a substantial loss in audio quality at 192 kbps mp3, but the lesser audio quality in mp3 format is another valid point.

I am really enjoying the debate but I am wondering if there is a more appropriate thread somewhere that we can take this? The "Hot Deals Forum" just doesn't seem like the place and people definitely have something to say on this matter.

I said most people, not you, want just a few tracks from most any given album. Obviously you are not like most people. They rarely if ever buy every track in an album. For them, it makes more sense to buy individual tracks instead of CDs. Digital download becomes popular because of them.

Of course, if they like the whole album, they will still buy the full CD from Amazon. The problem is that most artists fill up a CD with a few good songs and mostly fillers. There is very little reason for most people to buy the full album.

Let me tell you how I buy music. I suppose I represent how the majority buy music because CDs are dying.

I had been joining the BMG club on and off since before digital download was available in the 1990s. Back then, I had to buy the whole CDs in order to get a few songs on each CD. So the BMG club was the cheapest way for me to buy music, because I could not buy individual tracks. There were singles, but they were often hard to find and unreasonably priced at $4 or $5.

I bought those full CDs in order to get a few songs on each, and I have listened to the full CDs. I still think those CDs have only a few good songs on them and mostly filler craps. That's just how most CDs and albums are. There were albums in which all or most songs were good, but they were few and far between. Most CDs overally suck. But back in 1990s, I had no choice, and I had to buy the full CD just to get a few good songs.

Nowadays, I have a choice. If an album sucks overall, I just waste my money on buying the whole CD. I can just buy a few songs on it. Nowadays, even with BMG Club, I personally stay away from most pop, rock and hip-hop CDs -- because those CDs are mostly fillers. Now I have a choice of buying just one or two songs from the album instead of paying more for the rest of the filler craps. Nowadays, the only pop CDs that I buy seem to be the "best of" collections.

I personally don't buy too many full albums in the pop/rock/hip hop genre because they generally suck. When I buy CDs, I mostly get other stuff like movie soundtracks, new age, contemporary instrumental. But most kids nowadays listen to pop, rock, hip hop, so they have no reason to buy the full albums when most of the songs on any given one suck.

why bother?
 

from the last few posters I wonder why they even bother listening to music since the majority of it sucks...might be a sign to find a new hobby :) if most people believe that albums generally sick then I truly feel sorry for them for all the music they are missing. I can easily list off 30 albums in EACH of the last 20 years that are good from beginning to end and span all genres including rock, pop and rap (oh my). That's 600 albums at about 10 songs per album for a grand total of 6000 songs...I bet I'll get them all for cheaper on BMG than anyone on iTunes ;)

off topic
 

hey fellers! can you take your debate(s) somewhere else? this is a thread discussing hot deals & values at BMG.

maybe time to start a new thread?

I just got this lovely letter today after using the codes about a month ago.. Was odd, I wrote her back and was like what the hell. I am not reselling anything. Nice assumption on BMG's part.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We have reviewed purchase activity under your membership with BMG Music
Service.

One of the conditions of membership in BMG Music Service is that CDs be
purchased for personal use only and not be made available for
commercial purposes or resale. This is clearly stated in our Welcome
Guide and on our Website. The purchase activity on your account,
however, suggests that CDs purchased through your membership may not be
for personal use.

Please call me at 317-542-6392 within fifteen business days to discuss
your accounts, or e-mail me at [email protected], to let us
know how product you are purchasing is being used. Please be specific.
You are welcome to reverse the telephone charges when calling.

It is important that we have the opportunity to review your accounts
with you directly in order to keep them active. Thank you for your
cooperation.

Sincerely,


Christina Curtis
Customer Relations Specialist
BMG Music Service

C29MH03003

Did you buy multiple copies of the same CD, possibly within the same order?

Frankly, I am shocked they are interested in talking with you at all.

Nope, like I said I bought one copy of each cd I ordered. I told her in my message back to her that I would take pic of the albums to prove I did not sell them... Stupid if you ask me.

Strange...maybe they are trying to scare you into not buying any more albums for pennies on the dollar.

How many CDs have you ordered recently?

If you've ordered several hundred over the past couple of months, that might set off some kind of red flag.