Re: [ARSCLIST] RIP: EMI

[David Lennick <dlennick@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Tom Fine wrote:
> This says it all:
>
> Creative priorities had taken second place to share price and EMI's 
> technology was typically behind the times. The company almost went bust 
> in 1954 by resisting long-playing records; it was the last label, in 
> 1983, to adopt CD; and lately its download strategy has been sluggish.

This, of course, is inaccurate. EMI resisted the long play but had definitely 
made the plunge long before 1954. And the CD was introduced in 1982, so 1983 is 
not exactly "way behind the times". Most CONSUMERS didn't even switch to CDs 
till the late 80s.
> A company simply cannot operate that way and expect a long life. 
> Sentimental nonsense aside, business is business.

Being accessible is also part of business. I shed no tears for the closing of 
Sam The Record Man (except memories, since I was wheeled into its original 
incarnation, Sniderman's Music Hall, in 1946)..I haven't shopped in Toronto's 
large record stores in years because parking is impossible and traffic is not 
worth the bother. I buy my CDs from online dealers or at large stores in 
Buffalo and Rochester because I can get at them!

dl