As for the CD situation, I agree wholeheartedly that $20 is an unacceptable price for a CD at any vendor, retail or direct. As you stated, I have about a $15 maximum for music purchase, excluding some sort of special/limited edition (what can I say, I am a sucker for cool packaging and the promise of exclusive art and DVDs). Generally speaking now, most new releases run from $9.99 to $14.99 depending on artist, label and the aforementioned special editions. I buy most things from the bands I love, directly if at all possible. For bands I don’t know or am unsure of, typically I will download some stuff and try it out, if I like it then I will purchase their album, if not, DELETED!

I also read not to long ago, a very compelling argument for basically downloading the bands music illegally and then buying a t-shirt or other merchandise of that sort instead of purchasing the album from the record label. More money for the band and less money for the record label. Sounds about right to me.

This is also an interesting read if you have a few minutes.
http://www.demonbaby.com/blog/2007/10/when-pigs-fly-death-of-oink-birth-of.html

Honestly, my price point is just about $0 these days. I’ve been spoiled by the internet. I want it now, and I want it cheap.

What are the options?
Order a CD and wait. I don’t want to wait. I’m excited about it now.
Go to the store. But it’s $5 more expensive than Amazon.ca – price point.
Download it legally. All the DRM hassles. If I pay for it, why can’t I just have it?

As for your scenario…at a show, CD in hand…that’s a hard one. Probably comes down to whether I could acquire the music from other places. I would be willing to accept a higher price from an independent or unsigned band than from a more establish act.

It’s weird thinking this out. Discovering all the multi-tiered criteria I have constructed to justify my theft of music.

Just wanted to point out that even artists on independents have to kick back a percentage of album sales at concerts back to their labels (well, some of the time, anyways). Not sure where you saw Hawksley play, either – but sometimes venues and/or the person selling the merch is taking a cut as well. So artists will sometimes raise the price to compensate.

I agree with you that $20 seems like a lot for an album at a show. Just wanted to say that it’s likely that not all of the $20 minus manufacturing costs is going to Hawksley himself (although I think it’s very true that most bands make their real cash from merchandise).