While I do not wish to promote illegal downloading and sharing of music, it is quite clear that the music industry is gauging its customers.

I also do not know how much it costs to produce an album; although I am confident it takes longer than most people (myself included) would think, and that more people are involved than a small village.

Those thoughts aside, it is hard for me to feel bad for an industry that charges $16 for the CD soundtrack (or any other major release) of a movie like Chicago, and buy the movie DVD for about the same price.

Surely it cost more to produce the movie, which in this case (and other examples, such as Grease) would have covered such fees as writers/composers/musicians in addition to the vocal talent, scenery, costumes, camera crew (including lights and audio), editors, choreographers, etc.

I apologize for digressing here, but I do not have much sympathy for the music or airline industries when they complain that they are not making enough money when the artists (or counter workers) are not well compensated for their work, and the customers pay premium dollars.

I am very excited about the ability to download many of todays newest releases one-at-a-time. I have numerous “albums” that I have had to shell out $17 for a single song; only to be disappointed by most of the remaining tracks. Unfortunately, not all artists (or is it labels?) make this option available (example; Finger Eleven release of One Thing) but I am encouraged that the pressure will continue to both allow independents to release their music easily over the web, and the customer able to enjoy as little or much music as they like for a more ala-carte pricing structure.