By the outdated “album format” metric this looks like bad news, but my daughter and her friends buy music the way we did as kids - singles. I suggest that the metrics used in the music industry are lagging indicators. Music consumption (and the underlying distribution model) has changed forever and it’s time to stop using obsolete metrics to describe this business. It is self serving for the distributors, is used to justify offering fewer consumer choices, and limits revenue opportunities for artists.

I don’t think it has to do with “outdated metrics” at all. It is historic that kids go more for singles while a more mature audience prefer albuns… there are several reasons for that one of them being, off course, the budget they both have.
I think that record companies always fail to include the most important factor: Quality! Shouldn’t we interpret this drop in sales like a drop in music quality?

Absolutely Victor. I’m a music nut and there just hasn’t beebn anything out new that has really made me go nuts to want to buy. I mean, a FEW albums over the past year but nothing like in previous years.

Drake and Vitor both make very valid points.

CD-singles are grossly overpriced.
Around $3-4 for 1 song, plus a few different versions and maybe another song included.  It only encouraged one to buy the whole album disc for $12-18.

Lots of music is crap these days. Lots of retarded record execs promoting flash in the pan artists. We will not see the like of the Stones, U2, Madonna et al ever again. Artists with dozens of hits and 20+ years of longetivity and creativity.  Lots of people are also starting to turn away from some genres like hard core rap or ignore some rock bands because it just sounds all the same, not much originality. Plus they all dated Paris Hilton at one time or another.

I agree with everyone. I’m a teenager, and although I generally go for the whole album, probably 95% of my friends go for stupid cookie-cutter singles from these flash-in-the-pan artists that we hear on the radio instead of the likes of the stones, Beatles or Fleetwood Mac. Plus, most of them steal the singles from Limewire or something anyway. Out of probably 50 people I know with iPods, I’m the only one who really uses iTunes to actually purchase and legally own the stuff on my iPod.
  Also, these people are not buying the album because of their continuously declining attention spans. American society has moved into the digital age, and with the ability to purchase individual songs comes an economic change as well. Probably the best thing to do is to start making music that sounds special. The last album that I was really excited to buy was the Chili Peppers’ new one last May! It’s time for a reform…

I think these numbers will justify the riaa even more in their witch hunts, however if the numbers are accurate and just some rough math it indicates people are tired of recieving filler songs on albums, they sold 23 million less albums in the last year and yet sold 46 million more songs.

I buy the CDs of artist I like. If sales are down…its because there isnt any new artist out there worth it (Fergie, Timberlake, etc)

You would think the Record companies would add extras not availble through digital download. You can even get the booklet of liner notes of the CD from the digital download. What incentive is there rather than a physical object.

I guess this means the RIAA hasn’t sued enough teenagers yet? They have pointed to plummeting CD sales as justification for law suites against 12 year olds. Does this mean its not helping or that they haven’t seud enough?

I’ve been doing my part.  I purchased a couple hundreds CDs last year.

There hasn’t been anything good for quite some time, plus, now that I have my entire library on my iPod, I don’t even listen to the radio in the car.
It had to happen, the industry has been hit by the fact that the bulk of their customers that have money and spend it, have already invested in iPods and are quite happy with their collections.
I have a 20 G iPod, and to get space on there, you better be good. Better than the stuff I already deem “my favorites”. Not only does the new music have to be good, it has to make me want to delete something to make room.

Tough order to fill.

This really isn’t that surprising.  The first few months of this year were marked by only a handfull of big releases.  The only albums that were really noteworthy were smaller, indie-related releases that have a limited audience.  It’s not an accident that bands like The Shins and Arcade Fire managed to make a dent in the Billboard 200 this year.  They were some of the only things released worth paying attention to.

Yeah, a couple hundred blank cds.

I agree that there just haven’t been any albums released in the past year that have made me want to run right out and buy (or download) the CD.  I don’t necessarily think that a lack of quality big name releases should equate to the demise of quality music in general.  Bands like The Shins, Arcade Fire, TV on The Radio, The Decemberists, etc. are still making (in my opinion) outstanding music.  We may not see record execs jumping at these bands because they aren’t as commercially viable as say, Justin Timberlake, or Beyonce, but there are plenty of bands that will have 20+ year careers filled with creativity.  We just have to seek them out ourselves rather than flip on the radio.

I would attribute slow album sales to the consumer who has traditionally purchased an album for the couple songs they hear on the radio.  I know plenty of people that buy the new (insert singer’s name here) album for the song they hear on the radio.  Why spend the $15 when you can download the one, two, or three songs you really want for a fraction of the price.

It’s hard to know why we consumers aren’t buying more CDs when there are so many good ones out there to buy. I’m talking to you, Paris Hilton, Kevin Federline, Fergie, and all you kids on American Idol. Maybe if the artists would stop going to rehab and just produce their wonderful music nonstop, we could save the RIAA. Maybe we need a Live 8 for CDs. Somebody call Bono…

Sid32, if you’re referring to me, I’d be happy to send you a photo of my CD collection.  Rock stars gotta eat, too!

I agree with everyone: Artists that suck, all the good artists are retiring or just haven’t put anything out, and downloading from Limewire and downloading individual songs from iTunes. We need some kind of music revolution to bring back good quality music instead of all this crappy stuff about sex and killing people. I am only 19 but I happen to enjoy music my parents and grandparents enjoyed. So the people that make music need to figure out making good quality albums instead of one time singles.

I still buy a lot of cds.  Probably 5-10 a month.  However, most of what I buy is used so it does not count on these list.  Also most of the CDs I buy these days are from bands from the 50s-90s.  I can’t recall any bands that started in 2000 that I have bought a cd of.

I think used cd stores play a bigger part of the decline in numbers of new cd sales than most people think.  That coupled with the stagnant music genres would erode sales. 

If you look at where people buy CDs.  It’s either buying a $15-20 cd at a Best buy, target, or walmart or going to a local store which will mostly be used cds.

honestly, it really doesn’t matter to me what format the material comes in, it’s the price that matters most.  the last cd(s) i bought were from amazon, and only because they were all cheaper than $10, and were not available through the U.S. itunes store (nightwish).  itms quality is good enough for me, so having a hard copy is not that big of a deal.  the first thing i do when i buy one anyway is import it into itunes to listen to on my ipod.  also call me old school, but i usually only buy albums…usually after much preview, or from bands i already like or know about.  who has the time to go cd shopping anymore anyway?  because of the “fillers” I never buy music without previewing it first.  back in the day I used to take a chance and buy some artist I heard little about, but that was when cds used to regularly be under $10, and you didn’t have the option of listening to it first…it’s just too expensive to do that these days.  it seems the prices have went up and the quality of the artists’ creativity has gone down…imo.

There hasn’t been anything good for quite some time, plus, now that I have my entire library on my iPod, I don’t even listen to the radio in the car.
It had to happen, the industry has been hit by the fact that the bulk of their customers that have money and spend it, have already invested in iPods and are quite happy with their collections.
I have a 20 G iPod, and to get space on there, you better be good. Better than the stuff I already deem “my favorites”. Not only does the new music have to be good, it has to make me want to delete something to make room.

Tough order to fill.

Carl has a good point. the iPod is changing the way people listen to music.  if everyone is so busy enjoying ther music collection( hours maybe days) people are not discovering music thru the radio or other old fashion forms.  They are discovering it on itunes,  they they now have the option to get the individual song.

I think downloading single tracks from iTunes is a lot better than buying the (entire) album because to me, theres no point buying the entire album just to listen to 2 or 3 songs, like my brother used to do before MP3’s came out.
I also think it’s a good thing that people are choosing to buy albums and songs from iTunes because the RIAA (hopefully) gets less money. F*** THE RIAA!
Personally, I listen to the radio to get new songs, I don’t browse iTunes for good songs. I listen to the radio, and if there is a good song I hop over to my PC and download it.

I think it is easy to make blanket statements about how your own personal bubble but just because you believe that no good music has been released in the first three months of the year does not mean that amazing music hasn’t been released for someone else’s stylings.  Without looking at all the facts and having a way to quantify the quality of the music being produced, it is important not to look too in depth at these statistics that are simply put out their to satisfy the needs of the writer.

It’s so true.  I just went and bought the new Andrew Bird album.  I used to buy albums like crazy, because I believe artists should get paid for their work.  But the stuff out today sounds like the same crap they’re using to sell hair products and cars.  It just plainly sucks.  They’ve missed their market and gone completely for 13-year-olds, who don’t exactly have jobs.  We need real freaking talent out there to be noticed!  If we were in the 90’s, American Idol would be urinated on so quickly it would be shut down.  But I really believe that show is a meter to gauge how many people are so subdued, so dumb, that they don’t care about the war and how wreckless our country has become.

Ding dong the witch is dead…..

I would have to disagree with the statement that “there’s no good music anymore.” The reason no one out there has the 20+ year fame of Madonna or U2 is because they haven’t been around for 20 years…. And what about the likes of John Mayer or The White Stripes. And Scott (comment 14), you can hardly say that the likes of Ozzy and the Stones didn’t have drug problems… and end up in rehab from time to time. There’s been a plethora of bad music since the dawn of time. I’m finding plenty of music worth listing to…. and it’s all on iTunes

Looks good on them.  I download lots of music but will never…never… pay for a CD again.

joebob, I don’t dispute that my statement was probably unnecessarily broad, but I think the numbers put forward in this article basically support my assertion.  If a lot of music was being put out that people were interested in, it’d be selling.  Yes, I personally despise most of what shows up on Top 40 or Modern Rock radio, but all quality arguments aside, it’s pretty difficult to say that sales wouldn’t have been better if there had been more compelling music available.  And I’m not saying that only music that I find compelling falls into that category.  People aren’t buying music at least in part because they aren’t hearing music worth buying.  Yes, it’s easy to blame illegal downloads, and that is definitely a factor, but it can’t possibly be the only factor in a dive of this magnitude.

Has there ever been a more tired cliche than the one being grumbled about here?  Namely, the “back in my day, music was so much better…” cliche.  People recall these golden days of earth-shattering brilliance playing 24/7 on the radio.  It just wasn’t so, folks.  I understand the temptation and I certainly remember the days of which many of us are speaking.  But time has a way of smoothing away the rough spots in our memories.  Crap has always been around and always will be and I’d be wiling to bet that it sticks around at about the same percentage.  It’s true of all art forms:  most of everything is no good and will be forgotten.  Just because it seems true to you that music is no good anymore does not make it so by any means.  Technology like the internet, the mp3, the ipod, satellite radio, etc., has dispersed music to the four winds, as opposed to to having a handful of radio stations, one MTV, whatever.  Great music, timeless music, the kind of music you subjectively proclaim no longer exists certainly does, if you seek it out.  More than ever before, you, as the listener, are empowered to shape what you hear, if you invest your time/interest in doing so.  If you rely on major record companies to present you your product, then, yeah, things might sound fairly dismal out there.  But it’s simply untrue to say good music is somehow dead.  All it reveals is that you haven’t heard anything you liked, which is utterly subjective.  I’m sure Bing Crosby fans lamented the state of affairs when the Stones, whoever, hit the scene.  It’s a timeless complaint but as ever shortsighted.

testing 1,2, 3

One reason for CDs is many of the best tracks are not the ‘hook’ songs for radio play.  Serious artists put together thoughtfully composed albums that tell a story, make a statement or create a mood.  Sadly those that buy singles never get exposed to the really good stuff or the whole story.  Nothing has really changed except the delivery method.  Top 40 fans of the past bought 45’s and now they download singles.  Those that delve deeper still buy albums.

I worked in an independant brick & morter music store for ten years.  The major labels and the RIAA hated or ignored these places ‘cause they couldn’t control our opinions or their product placement and promotion. I’m sure that label execs do the happy dance every time one of these stores goes out of business.
Many people can remember the horrid experience of requesting an album at one of these places and being ridiculed by the sales rep for their uncool choice.  I once special ordered a “Peter, Paul,  and Mary” cassette and was treated as though I was personally responsible for all the evils in the world. Mind you, I played bass in Punk and Prog bands, but it was somehow wrong for me to play or buy Scarlatti on harpsichord.
There are great CD’s out there.  I buy them directly, at the shows, from the unsigned DIY bands and ensembles.  Labels have always wanted their artists to have an established base first.  Nowadays, by the time the artist has that they don’t need the labels for distribution.  That much has changed since the bad old days when you had to get the cash together for a thousand record pressing, or you signed for pennies on the dollar and after a hit record you owed the label money.  When iTunes comes up with a method for anyone at all to put up their inventory easily, the playing field will truly be leveled.
Long Live Great Music - Death to the Majors!

The Problem i think is that there is nothing new out there. Everytime i turn on the local radio station i hear songs that have been out since before christmas. I have yet to hear a song this year that is new and original. Maybe Hip-Hop really is dead, like NaS says it is

What’s interesting is that iTS doesn’t just sell RIAA music, but a slew of indie-stuff as well. Not that Apple would ever share the data, but I’m curious whether their sales reflect any disproportionate sales growth between the RIAA and non-RIAA stuff. That would certainly mean that people are being a bit more choosy about where their money goes. A 20% drop in CD sales can’t solely be attributed to music theft. This smacks of a boycott.

As ridicuous as it might sound, I realized that a lot of the albums I bought in the 90’s, I never listened to again. NEVER AGAIN. Probably just a handful were worthy. I stopped downloading albums several months ago, with a few exceptions. Nowadays I download several singles from new upcoming or recently released albums, and I say to myself, IF I like the singles enough, I will go on and buy the albums. If not, the song will go into a new playlist, and there it is quite enjoyable. Very enjoyable. Sttange. Maybe I never really liked the album concept that much.

Nathan,
Did the guy that berated you look like Jack Black too?  Big businees and the RIAA are all about control. Music is art and the two will always be at odds, hence the Indie movement.  Pink Floyd’s Dark side of the Moon was on the charts for something like 8 years. “They” changed the rules to get it off the charts because that doesn’t go well with the Top 40 haircut formula band of the month set.  Come in here, dear boy, have a cigar. youre gonna go far, fly high,
Youre never gonna die, youre gonna make it if you try;theyre gonna love you.
Well Ive always had a deep respect, and I mean that most sincerely.
The band is just fantastic, that is really what I think. oh by the way,
Which ones pink?
And did we tell you the name of the game, boy, we call it riding the
Gravy train.