Slashdot Mirror
Music Downloading not Entirely to Blame
Outlyer writes "A recent article in The Economist discusses the proximate causes for the decline in music sales. Of some note is this quote in the article:
"According to an internal study done by one of the majors, between two-thirds and three-quarters of the drop in sales in America had nothing to do with internet piracy. [...] Other explanations: rising physical CD piracy, shrinking retail space, competition from other media, and the quality of the music itself. But creativity doubtless plays an important part." The article discusses in some depth the short-term viewpoint of the majors and why that is likely to be the dominant problem, not the internet bogeyman."
May I be the first to say ... "No shit!"
Who doesn't like free music?
According to an internal study done by one of the majors, between two-thirds and three-quarters of the drop in sales in America had nothing to do with internet piracy.
OMG, like I am..sooo SHOCKED to hear that!
These people will never "get it"....
Did they ever think their current business process and ATTITUDE towards its customers could be the problem????
Heck, I remember that some of the stuff was so good that I actually went to the music store to buy the album. (Which was subsequently copied and distributed to friends...)
"Learning is not compulsory... neither is survival."
--Dr.W.Edwards Deming
Obviously "Tainted Love" was the pinnacle of musical creativity in the world, and CD sales were bound to decline.
"Tainted Love ... oh, oh, oh, don't touch me please"
(The boardroom of a major record label)
"Guys, we have a major problem. Sales are at an all-time low, and if you all want to be able to pay for your BMWs and 2-million dollar mansions, we need a new strategy!"
"Now, our attorneys and marketing boys have been hard at work, attempting to pass th blame for this dilemma for months on such things as piracy of all kinds. However, these conclusions just haven't explained the numbers, and we have just recently uncovered a shocking statistic that cannot be ignored. Please consult the chart on the wall to see how the numbers break down."
Internet piracy: 9%
Media piracy: 7%
Any other kind of piracy that we couldn't pull out of our asses: 2%
We sign crummy bands and try to pass their music off on people who actually have taste, despite all of our really expensive research: 80%
But God demonstrates his love for us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us - (Romans 5:8)
80s music is crappy compared to everything. Even compared to poop itself.
Time Warp ...
Hey, wow, what am I doing here !
Last thing I remembered, I was reading the inner sleeve of my Madness 7 album which said "Home Taping is Killing Music" while recording it to cassette tape for my buddy.
Now it's 20 years later and Music isn't dead !
Arghgh ! - what's going on !
A slashdotting - you get the stick first and then the carrot !
what record company do you work for?
Show me where I can buy a copy of Kraftwerk's latest ("Tour de France Soundtracks") for $12 and I'll buy it immediately. I've been looking online and offline since it was released.
GCHQ Quantum Insert installed. If only our tongues were made of glass, how much more careful we would be when we speak
I believe the major reason for lackluster sales of CDs is that MTV doesn't play videos anymore and radio is payola, playing the same crap over and over. I think a lot of music buyers have also been alienated by the rise of hip-hop.
Bet I've listened to Wagner more recently than you have, therefore I am the superior music listener, and have a demonstrably larger penis.
Why yes, I AM a rocket scientist!