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Album sales down in 2006, but downloads soar
While U.S. album sales continued to decline in 2006, total music sales were up nearly 20 percent thanks to a large increase in digital downloads. Approximately 588.2 million physical albums were sold last year, down 4.9 percent from 2005, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Digital music sales, however, increased by 65 percent over the previous year. Some 582 million tracks were sold, and digital album sales more than doubled, with nearly 33 million sold. Overall music sales—which includes all albums, singles, music videos and digital downloads—increased by more than 19 percent in 2006.
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1
The report that album sales are down is a disasterous outcome - even if individual downloads are higher.
Its the redirection of the creative spirit of music even more into a business.
Its a hit-maker machine, based upon airplay & 30 second sample snippets, which may not give a good sense of the music.
Combine that with the suppression of internet radio - and there is scant opportunity for music “without a hook” to get out there.
Its a radical change to the landscape & a potential narrowing of the art. A commercial success, but achieved through selective breeding & drowning most of the litter.
Posted by Jamaica on January 7, 2007 at 5:33 AM (PDT)
2
Will grant you one thing:
One thing downloads have done - is make it as easy to buy music, as it is to steal it. As long as you have the money.
It sort of says how we value a thing in a society, when what we pay for has to have social status. If its popular - it must be good.
Posted by NorthStar on January 7, 2007 at 5:44 AM (PDT)