Mr. Lucky, Chris Isaak's first album of new material in seven year, is available at enough price points and configurations to confound a supercomputer. The distribution strategy appears to be one of making separate deals with individual outlets and then letting them handle to promotion and fallout. I've sorted through some -- and I emphasize some as opposed to all -- of the options simply to illustrate the bewildering array facing consumers. Let's start with the baseline CD, with no discount and no bonus tracks. In other words, what you would pay in a randomly chosen CD store not offering a discount for a newly released CD:
14 songs
Price before tax: $18.99
Price per song: $1.39
Now consider some of the alternatives:
From chrisisaak.com:
2 bonus tracks
alternate cover
6" x 6" lithograph of cover
Price including shipping estimate: $24.96
Price per song: $1.56
From Borders:
Baseline CD, discounted
Price: $15.99
Price per song: $1.14
From Walmart:
Baseline CD, discounted
Price: $11.88
Price per song: $0.85
Note: According to Walmart's web site, Mr. Lucky is not available for order on-line and is in stock only at selected stores.
From amazon.com:
Configuration #1
Baseline release
Price including shipping: $12.97
Price per song: $0.93
Configuration #2
Download baseline CD
Price: $10.49
Price per song: $0.75
Configuration #3
Download baseline CD plus three bonus tracks
Price: $12.99
Price per song: $0.76
Other Amazon Options:
Baseline CD
Price: $12.23-$27.89 (import)
Price per song: $0.87-$1.99
Note: Imports often have 1-2 songs not on the standard U. S. version, so the high end price per may be a few cents lower.
From iTunes:
Configuration #1
Download baseline CD
Price: $10.99
Price per song: $0.75
Configuration #2
Download baseline CD plus four bonus tracks
Price: $13.99
Price per song: $0.78
Unless you badly want the lithograph and alternate cover, I don't know why you would do otherwise than download from amazon.com or iTunes. If you don't have an mp3 player, you'll want to track down the most discounted price at the most convenient location, factoring in any qualms you may have about buying from Walmart.
Now, think about this pricing and distribution model in terms of health insurance. This is essentially the approach conservatives recommend to seniors for purchasing health insurance, but with infinitely higher stakes, ever more puzzling options, and finer fine print. Just how is this more preferable to Medicare? Inquiring minds want to know...
From Offbeat: Funeral plans for Snooks Eaglin have been announced. There will be a visitation for him at the Howlin' Wolf Friday (tomorrow) from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., a service from 10 to noon with music by Allen Toussaint, Irma Thomas and Deacon John, then a second line with the Hot 8 Brass Band and the Senior Division of Young Men's Olympia Brass Band. After that, there will be a repast, and Eaglin will be buried at Providence Park Cemetery (8200 Airline Dr. in Metairie)...
Quote of the Day:
"It's much better to give someone roses before they go, baby."
-Antoinette K-Doe
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