When most people think of Blu-ray, they picture movies, not music, but some heads of the recording industry see untapped potential in Blu-ray music.
Members of the National Association of Recording Merchandisers believe Blu-ray can bring new value to physical media and music, Video Business reports. They say the format's high-quality sound and video can be attractive for communities of music aficionados. (The heck with consumers' increasing preference for quick fixes over the Internet.)
The idea is for retailers to host "listening parties," during which the customer will learn about Blu-ray's audio fidelity, video capabilities and BD-Live features, such as notification of when new downloads are available. "“About 40 people I know had a party at a Best Buy watching Blu-rays,” Larry Johnson, a producer on a recent Neil Young box set, sad. “Stores can do that across the country.”
Does this seem like an ill-informed pipe dream to anyone else? Who are these people that will go to a retail store for a listening party? Certainly, they can't be the same ones that will no longer set foot in a Best Buy or F.Y.E. when they need music. And where's the proof that people can be persuaded to invest in Blu-ray music, not to mention all the high-quality audio gear that's necessary to take full advantage? I wonder how many of those 40 people at the Best Buy party turned around and bought something.
Don't get me wrong, it's good that retailers are throwing ideas around on how to engage customers and give the store value. Listening parties sound like a good idea -- if the retailers can actually motivate people to attend -- but tacking on a Blu-ray music pitch ignores the direction in which music consumption is headed. Of course, that direction is toward digital downloads, putting the retailers in a tough spot no matter what they try.
