September 25, 2010

So. We have it on good authority that Amazon will be selling The Age of Adz for a very low price on release date, not unlike they did with Arcade Fire’s recent (and really terrific) The Suburbs. We’re not 100% sure Amazon will do this, but mostly sure.

We have mixed feelings about discounted pricing. Like we said, we love getting good music into the hands of good people, and when a price is low, more people buy. A low price will introduce a lot of people to Sufjan’s music and to this wonderful album. For that, we’re grateful.

But we also feel like the work that our artists produce is worth more than a cost of a latte. We value the skill, love, and time they’ve put into making their records. And we feel that our work too, in promotion and distribution, is also valuable and worthwhile.

—  - Asthmatic Kitty Records, in response to the news that Sufjan Steven’s new album will probably be a selection in Amazon’s “MP3 Daily Deal”.

I completely agree that music is worth more than the cost of a latte, but their statement as a whole just rubs me the wrong way. Anybody want to volunteer to take Sufjan’s spot? I could think of a few bands who would kill for that kind of visibility and promotion.