Comments on: Digital music sales skyrocket

By: Robert

Robert — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 14:33:03 +0000

@Indianna #6:
“What is ‘up’ in digital sales is a far cry from what was once ‘up’ in physical sales. A dilapidated and outdated myth really.”

Please explain what you are saying here.

Is it you are in agreement with the “physical sales were once amazing” as the labels have said? Or is that the myth you are referring to?

My issue:
Physical sales when CD’s really took off were artificially high, as people replaced worn cassettes and scratched vinyl. No, I haven’t the demographics to back this up, but I could do the research myself to prove it. If I did though I know I would be wasting my time, as the labels would make up some other BS to cry out “foul” on part of the consumer and “loss of sales” from the “glory days.”

The same happened with tapes, people replaced damaged media with the newer media. That’s just what happens and it does not mean “wow, our material is so great, look at these numbers.”

I’d really love to see a demographic study showing sales from 1959 – 2009. 50 years, showing each year the albums sold, not in total, but broken out by media type (cassettes, vinyl, CD, 8-track) and by year released. When CD’s came out in the late 80’s and sales took off in the early 90’s, was that mostly new music (not likely) or 70’s music released on CD? Or 20’s music? Classical music?

Having all that data, you could easily set to rest the claims of the labels and “high sales killed by the internet from the new releases of artists.”

Again, not saying YOU feel the above is true, just asking, as I wrote in the very beginning.

~Robert

By: Dreddsnik

Dreddsnik — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 01:25:06 +0000

” Labels are going to have to let go of some of the ‘control’ that they have and license to the masses. (IMO). Copyright is a figment of their imagination. They will need to put everyone on the playing field if they want to see sustainable growth (again IMO). ”

This is true, but that’s not what they are focusing on doing, and you know that. Instead of doing anything resembling what you mention, they are working feverishly to create even more restrictions and control. Supporting 3 strikes and pushing levies moves forward THEIR agenda, and does nothing to clear the figment out of their imagination. Please, PLEASE stop suggesting that a levy of any kind is of any benefit to anyone but the labels, and the FAC ?? … they need to stop helping the labels as well, or the future won’t be as bright as it should be, except for the executives.

By: Indiana Gregg

Indiana Gregg — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 00:13:53 +0000

e.g. deals that aren’t going to be profitable .. like, I’m not going to gamble against them. (if you’ll forgive me and let me add). Labels are going to have to let go of some of the ‘control’ that they have and license to the masses. (IMO). Copyright is a figment of their imagination. They will need to put everyone on the playing field if they want to see sustainable growth (again IMO). What is ‘up’ in digital sales is a far cry from what was once ‘up’ in physical sales. A dilapidated and outdated myth really. The future is bright, but, it’s not going to be about ’sales’ (IMO… once again). Blinding really. and should be.

By: Indiana Gregg

Indiana Gregg — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 00:09:25 +0000

guys, have you actually read through the IFPI report or the BPI report? A lot ( great percentage) is based upon the licensing deals that they’ve done over the past 18 months.

By: Dreddsnik

Dreddsnik — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 22:01:19 +0000

What an incredible surprise.

Not one comment from our vocal ‘artists’.

// yes, facetious.

By: Dreddsnik

Dreddsnik — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 01:04:49 +0000

It will be even more interesting to see if those artists that cry for the need for an internet tax to compensate for the damage from sharing comment. This simply underscores what we’ve been saying for years. Fans will buy, no other legal recourse is necessary. If your stuff is good, nothing else is really necessary. All this 3 strikes and levy crap is just that .. crap, and a way of clamping ‘radio’ like controls on the net.

By: Jon Newton

Jon Newton — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 17:26:47 +0000

@ Dredd:

It’d be interesting to know in dollar terms how much of that trickled slowly down to musicians.

Cheers!

By: Dreddsnik

Dreddsnik — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 16:58:06 +0000

So if this is true, why is any legislation needed, three strikes, levies or otherwise ?

If this is fact, then ‘devastation by filesharers’ must be false and no threats or taxes are necessary.

Which is it ?

” However, “Despite this progress, piracy is the major barrier to growth of the legitimate digital music sector and is causing severe damage to local music industries around the world”, says the report. ”

Riiight. 940% growth is a sure indicator of the destruction of sharing.