They are just attempting to keep an inflated market price that is not at a free market equilibrium point. I bought my 1st CD in 1985 for $14.00, all other technology based industries have reduced cost to compete (what was a computer worth then verse now?) They just have too much EMPIRE to feed and need to realize that anyone with a few thousand bucks can start a recording label and produce and market their own (or other’s) content for much less. All they are protecting is a large marketing / production / distribution network that the internet can and has started to replace. My “Make / Buy” brake point cost is when the blank media + my opportunity cost (time and equipment deprecation) make it better to buy than make. At this point I would pay $4.00 to get a CD that I want with the artwork. I would still rip to my hard drive and use it where and how I want.

Bottom line, they are a dying old technology and they know it, but they are using their shear size and power to continue to breath. Death is near, look at General Motors!!