LOS ANGELES, June 3 (UPI) -- CD prices in the United States were down nearly 4 percent during the first quarter of 2004 from the same period in 2003, Daily Variety reported Thursday.
Citing a study by the NPD Group's MusicWatch PriceLab, the paper said the average price of a CD during the first quarter was $13.29. The study showed that the average price of the top 50 sellers during the quarter was $13.36 nationwide, a decrease of more than 3 percent from the first quarter of 2003.
Russ Crupnick, president of NPD Music, said competition from other forms of entertainment is causing the recorded music industry to rethink pricing.
"Consumers are increasingly exposed to everyday low prices or terrific discount offers," he said.
The PriceLab report also found that catalog CDs -- defined as titles 8 months old or older -- sold for an average of $12.99 in the first quarter.