The words “minimum advertised pricing” may sound like a bargain to the untrained ear, but those in the music industry know better.

According to Reuters, record labels Vivendi Universal’s Universal Music group, Sony Corp, Sony Music, Bertelsmann AG, BMG Music Group, Warner Music Group and EMI Group Plc, along with major retailers Musicland Stores Corp, Trans World Entertainment Corp and Tower Records have agreed to pay $143.1 million to settle a CD price fixing case that was set rolling in New York and Florida in 2000. Two years ago, states throughout the U.S. signed on to a lawsuit alleging MAP needlessly raised the price of CDs between 1995 and 2000, which is a violation of federal and state antitrust laws.

Under the dark cloak of this illegal industry practice, Reuters said, the labels had been subsidizing advertising for retailers that agreed not to sell CDs below a given price. The labels and three retailers who agreed to settle the case will stop using MAP policies, and those companies that refused to admit any fault of their own will be forced to pay $67.4 million to compensate the consumers they’ve been ripping off, as well as donate $75.7 million worth of CDs to public institutions and nonprofit organizations throughout the country.

The idea of not having to fear that CD prices will be jacked up again anytime in the near future is a refreshing thought to any music lover.

“The price of CDs is so inflated!” said senior journalism major Samantha Haggerty. “The artists get, like, five cents from the $15 to $20 and the big corporations are making millions! What a scam.” Haggerty added that she usually purchases her CDs from Amazon.com because of their low prices.

Hopefully, those low prices will stay that way for awhile.