Mark Braboy
Blue & White Flash / Staff Writer
This month, pop superstar Rihanna is slated to release her seventh studio album “Unapologetic” which includes her leading hit single “Diamonds.” The album features guest appearances from artists such as Eminem, Future, Chris Brown, and David Guetta.
In December Rihanna will release a deluxe version of her album unlike anything her fans have seen before. Just in time for the holiday season, she is releasing her “Diamonds Executive Platinum Box” with over 13 rare and exclusive items for her most dedicated fans. And diehard Rihanna fans can have this treat for a whopping $250 dollars!
The items that will be included in this hefty box are a unisex t-shirt, a 2GB USB stick which contains many exclusive documents, the deluxe edition of the CD, a bonus DVD, a vinyl record of the song “Diamonds” and its remixes, a 40 page notebook with album lyrics and handwritten notes, a 28 page photo and art book, a fan poster, a silver and white view master with exclusive 3-D images, seven laptop stickers, three device (Smartphone) adhesives, seven art print 12 x 15 lithographs (reproductions of original artwork), and a personal handwritten note from Rihanna herself. This box set is exclusively geared towards the most diehard of fans and avid collectors of rare music items.
Many music fans however are bothered by the fact that she is releasing a box set this expensive in such a terrible economy.
Khadijah Karriem, a senior biology major from Houston, Texas said she would not bother purchasing this set.
“I would not buy Rihanna’s $250 deluxe collection edition. I just feel that she’s not on that level to be selling her stuff for that high of a price,” said Karriem. “Yes, she’s a good singer, she’s a good artist, she makes nice music, but I just feel that it’s not on that Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan Type level for her stuff to be going for $250 dollars for all her stuff. I don’t even too much buy CDs anymore, but I’m sure her fans will buy it.”
Connor Thompson, a senior criminal justice major from Tallahassee, Fla. agrees.
“Personally I think it’s a bit pricey,” he said. “You’re saying $250 [but], the economy’s not that good. She’s popular and she probably has that fan base that would pay that money but I just think for the regular customer that’s too pricey.”
It is not uncommon for artists to release deluxe editions or collectors editions of their albums whether it is for the sake of creating value behind their work, to give back a generous amount of content to their fans, or an attempt to rake in profits from their fan base to increase record sales.
Retail outlets such as Best Buy often release their “Best Buy Exclusive” editions of popular albums. According to Amazon.com, box sets and collectables from legendary musicians such as Johnny Cash, The Beatles, Bob Marley, and Aretha Franklin range from about $40 up to less than $300.
Keep in mind that these prices are usually reserved for artists and/or albums with proven longevity. Never before has there been such an extreme price for an artist who has been in the industry for a such a short period of time.
For the Rihanna fans that desire to have such a collection of items, but cannot afford the executive box, she has that covered as well. When the album is released, the singer will also release her “Diamonds Deluxe Edition Box” which will only include the t-shirt, laptop stickers, CD and DVD, fan poster, and exclusive to this collection will be a limited edition diamond bracelet. The retail price will be $79 dollars.
The album will be in stores Nov 19 while the Diamonds Executive Platinum Box will hit store shelves Dec. 11.
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