The music industry is angry because they can no longer overcharge consumers.
1) Before the commercial release of the first Compact Disc in 1983, several record labels announced the price for a Premium Digitally Mastered CD would be $12.98. A Philips representative I spoke to stated that the hardware side of the music industry believed that the cost of Compact Discs would decrease as manufacturing techniques improved to increase yield. In the early days of CD production 50% of CD's had to be discarded because of manufacturing defects.
2) In early 1983 the first Compact Discs were released.
3) By the middle of 1983, because of the tremendous demand, record stores placed a $4.00 Premium on Compact Discs. Compact Discs that had a catalog price of $12.95 now sold for $16.95. Record stores even charged $16.95 for Compact Discs that were intended to be sold for the budget price of $7.95 for $16.95. Who kept the extra profits? Non other than the record store owners.
4) In 1984 performers sued the RIAA because they were receiving copyright fees based on an MSRP of $12.95 when the record stores were actually selling the product of their work for $16.95. Performers prevailed and the list price of Compact Discs were raised to $16.95.
5) Unfortunately for consumers there were enough customers still buying Compact Discs at inflated prices to continue to support the inflated prices.
6) By the mid 1990's most record collectors had replaced their record collections with Compact Discs. The outrageous price for Compact Discs could no longer be supported.
7) Rather than lowering prices the record labels raised prices further cutting demand.
8) Fortunately for the RIAA the Internet and Computer CD Drives became available to be used as a scape goat for a decrease in Compact Disc sales.