U.S Music Album sales down 7%

[fishepa]

Re: U.S Music Album sales down 7%

If CD's didn't cost $15 they would sell alot more of them. Why would I spend $15 on a CD when I can download it LEGALLY in MP3 format for about $1.50?

[bball_1523]

Re: U.S Music Album sales down 7%

I think a lot of the sales declines has to do with both legal and illegal downloading, not one or the other. If you look around, I will guarantee you that you will see Ipod's everywhere! Now I wonder why CD sales are down...

I completely support downloading music, whether legal or illegal. I on the other hand support the music I listen to. Since napster went down and the RIAA started going insane, I have bought more albums then I had ever bought before, both old and new. Now these albums are mostly from bands you probably will never hear on mainstream radio or tv, but I can care less, they deserve my money and support.

someone mentioned (I think it was jmood) how to find good music: I think we have to find a way to expose different ways to find music. Maybe sites like yahoo can start exposing underground bands more often, or if MTV would ever be fair, expose lesser known music in the mainstream during primetime hours and more often, or school's can have music classes where it covers appreciation of music that shows where to find good music, or we the people can help each other out through communicating info.

I learned through observing others on the internet such as forums, music websites, etc.

[Heelfan71]

Re: U.S Music Album sales down 7%

I am surprised the number is not greater than 7%.........Most kids today think the way to get music is download it for free.

[CM1847]

Re: U.S Music Album sales down 7%

I am surprised the number is not greater than 7%.........Most kids today think the way to get music is download it for free.

And most parents don't know enough about it to tell them to stop.

[VanCitySportsGuy]

Re: U.S Music Album sales down 7%

I am surprised the number is not greater than 7%.........Most kids today think the way to get music is download it for free.

I'm also surprised it's only 7%. I read a study that showed most teenagers didn't think illegally dl'ing music was a crime.

I imagine if you're a teenager and don't have a lot of cash, it's vety tempting to illegally dl music if you know you won't get caught/punished.

Why should I pay $15 if Timmy's getting it for free.

Having a store like iTunes partially helps solve the problem, but even that costs money. Some people refuse to even fork over one penny when they know they can get it for free. I imagine it's very hard to change their mindset unless you start handing out big fines (which ironically might even create more backlash).

[CM1847]

Re: U.S Music Album sales down 7%

I'm also surprised it's only 7%. I read a study that showed most teenagers didn't think illegally dl'ing music was a crime.

I imagine if you're a teenager and don't have a lot of cash, it's vety tempting to illegally dl music if you know you won't get caught/punished.

Why should I pay $15 if Timmy's getting it for free.

Having a store like iTunes partially helps solve the problem, but even that costs money. Some people refuse to even fork over one penny when they know they can get it for free. I imagine it's very hard to change their mindset unless you start handing out big fines (which ironically might even create more backlash).

It is down 7% from last year, correct? I think a more interesting stat would be how much it is down compared to, say, 5 years ago when legal/illegal downloading of songs wasn't HUGE(it was there for sure, but illegal d/ling didn't hit it's prime until about 02, and legal downloading was non-existant). Sales have been(if I remember correctly) steadily dropping for a few years now, so 7% is a little misleading. That is 7% from last year, which was down _% from 03, which was _% down from 02, ect.

[BGarrett7]

Re: U.S Music Album sales down 7%

I'd like to know the RIAA's comments on this...

Downloaded tracks from online retailers soared to 332.7 million this year, compared with 134.2 million in 2004, an increase of 148 percent.

So what if CD sales are dropping, look at what digital downloads are doing. We're due for a possible format shift, it would appear. That's like the record labels ignoring the fact that an increase in compact disc sales lead to the decrease in cassette tape sales. Those dropped sales are more than being picked up in another format, so what is the big deal? Instead of focusing on the 48.6 million drop in album sales, why not put a positive spin on it by putting the slightest imphasis on the 198.5 million rise by online download retailers?

[Heelfan71]

Re: U.S Music Album sales down 7%

I imagine that record stores will be obsolete pretty soon too. Everything will be bought online and downloaded.

[bball_1523]

Re: U.S Music Album sales down 7%

I imagine that record stores will be obsolete pretty soon too. Everything will be bought online and downloaded.

that's gonna suck though, this is one thing I am afraid of. I am partially a traditional guy and like traditional things. I just hope if this is the case that it won't mean school will be all online and movies will be online and all our shopping is online. It sucks for me because it takes away the physical social atmosphere of doing these traditional things. I love the internet and I like some technology, but some of these techie's are taking things way too far IMO.

[Beantown]

Re: U.S Music Album sales down 7%

I buy all my Cds through iTunes these days. 9.99 a cd, new or old, is pretty damn good in my book.

[Nivek]

Re: U.S Music Album sales down 7%

I imagine that record stores will be obsolete pretty soon too. Everything will be bought online and downloaded.

Yep, for the most part I buy cd's and never listen to them on a cd player. Just rip em and play the tracks on my ipod. Might as well cut out the middle man, but I do like most of the artist notes and stuff you get with a new cd.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: U.S Music Album sales down 7%

Once they start making in-dash mp3 players, I won't need CDs anymore.

[dieselboy]

Re: U.S Music Album sales down 7%

Downloading is still huge.

[CM1847]

Re: U.S Music Album sales down 7%

Yep, for the most part I buy cd's and never listen to them on a cd player. Just rip em and play the tracks on my ipod. Might as well cut out the middle man, but I do like most of the artist notes and stuff you get with a new cd.

The notes, case and CD art are the reason that actual physical media isn't going to become obsolete anytime soon. Too many people like having actual CDs rather than just the song(s) on their computer. Plus we are way too far away from the point when everybody who buys music has high speed internet connections, CD burners and credit cards to purchase online music and use it. I could see it happening sometime down the line, but not anytime soon, CDs are extremely cheaply made, record companies aren't going to be saving much by not making them.

I understand that no one is calling for the end of CDs tomorrow or anything, but we are still really, really far away from that point. They still haven't completely phased out cassette tapes, have they? Doesn't Wal-Mart still sell new albums on cassettes? They did a couple of years ago I know...

[dieselboy]

Re: U.S Music Album sales down 7%

I do like most of the artist notes and stuff you get with a new cd.

Thats really the only reason why anyone buys CD's anymore. Or to support the industry...