This is from the famous music critic Robert Christgau. It's funny how similar it sounds to the RIAA and what happening in 2003.

Nota bene: Philip Steinberg, president of Mercury Records, proposed at a recent NARM (National Association of Record Manufacturers) convention that rack jobbers (the distributors who stock big general outlets like discount houses and supermarkets) be put on the European no-return system--in other words, that they be required to pay in full for every record they purchase from the manufacturer, even if they can't sell it to retailers. Understandably, the rack jobbers were a little disturbed at what this might do to their profits, but Steinberg had an equitable solution in mind: the retail price of phonograph records would go up to $5.98. Well, it hasn't happened yet and it isn't about to happen, but be prepared. Record co-ops, anyone? But what good would that do?


Village Voice, Nov. 19, 1970

italics are hard to read - edit
[This message was edited Tue Jul 1 17:05:41 PDT 2003 by Slave2daGroove]

Slave2daGroove said:

lol. weird.

Apologies for my ignorance from across the pond, but what are the RIAA doing??

They are attempting to sue people that trade songs. Before that, they sued college kids.

My point is that in 1970 it had a different name but the same organization were still treating their customers like shit.

By the mid-seventies record prices were up to $5.98 retail price. I bought most of my records at Korvettes & paid $2.99 to $3.99. I remember thinking I would never pay $7 for a record. If they went that high I would stop buying records. Luckily I never went thru on that threat. I believe I paid $8.99 for 1999.