Record Companies Rip Off Consumers

Re “The Internet or a .45, It’s Robbery of the Artist,” Commentary, May 15: John Balzar misses one very important point. Consumers have no problem compensating artists for their work, but CDs that are priced at $18.99 are paying for record company executives’ lavish lifestyles. I have worked at a record company in the past, and these record executives are living large. High-six-figure and even seven-figure salaries are paid to these people. We consumers are paying for it.

The Internet gives artists the opportunity to market directly to their audience without the record company. Getting rid of the middleman is a good thing. It’s about the artist’s relationship with the consumer. Plus, an artist does not have to sell a million copies to start making a profit. If CDs were priced at $9.99, I believe that people would be more than happy to pay the bill. At $18.99-plus, it is the consumer who is being ripped.

Ken Salottolo

Studio City

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Oh, please, the only people with intellectual property rights are those who haven’t been forced to sign them away to keep their jobs, along with their right to sue for wrongful discharge.

Ronald Webster

Long Beach