What's the value of a song?

A new member of the Positive Music Association wrote me recently asking what I thought about her giving away MP3 songs in an ezine that she sends out. I responded saying that giving away music for free is a good way to expose new people to your music. However, the danger is that your audience may start expecting free songs from you. I like streaming songs. That way people can hear the songs and if they like it, they can buy it. The average cost of 99¢ for an MP3 download is nothing. But that got me thinking. What is the value of a good song? Is it worth a 99¢ bottle of Coke? A $3 latte at Starbucks? A $4 video rental at Blockbusters? The $21 we spent today on the last Harry Potter book? My wife and daughters might argue that one song is not worth the same as a Harry Potter book. But there are people who have told me that some of my songs have really touched and inspired them. They've listened to the same songs over and over again. It's changed their lives somehow. That's got to be worth more than 99¢. Now I know that most of us live in a free market economy run by supply and demand, but sometimes I feel like I want to educate people on the real value of music. I'm even thinking of adding an option on my website encouraging people to pay more than 99¢ per song if that song is making a difference in their lives, if that song, which they now own for life and can listen to as many times as they'd like, is worth more than the buzz from a $3 cup of coffee. Wouldn't that be cool to start selling music for $5 a song. Heck, if it changes your life, it's worth at least that much. Scott