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UK Music Industry Sees Record Sales

ardmhacha writes "Despite the claims of gloom and doom from the BPI (the UK equivalent of the RIAA) the BBC is reporting that 'UK record companies are celebrating their best ever year for album sales, with a record 237 million sold in the 12 months to September. The British Phonographic Industry (BPI) trade body said albums by the likes of Keane and The Streets had helped drive a 3% rise compared with last year. It also said sales of single tracks were up thanks to the availability of legal download services.' It looks like music sales will continue to climb if the customers get something they like. The article also discusses adding music downloads to the charts."

18 of 244 comments (clear)

  1. Too much Limewire here... by Gothmolly · · Score: 5, Funny

    I read s/Phonographic/Pornographic, time to shut the computer off and go outside, I think.

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  2. I'm surprised by heptapod · · Score: 5, Funny

    I thought it was all CDs nowadays, not records.

    1. Re:I'm surprised by toddestan · · Score: 4, Funny

      Well, you can download ripped music off the internet, burn it to CD, and have a copy that is indistinguishable from the original as far as the audio is concerned. You can't do the same for records. So I guess it's no surprise that records sales are up, as the people who prefer the sound of vinyl aren't going to be downloading music off the internet... or maybe I am just reading the headline wrong.

  3. So this means what? by jarich · · Score: 5, Insightful
    I guess it depends on which spin doctor you listen to...

    A) Cracking down on P2P apps is driving sales again

    B) Good new music is driving sales

    C) The economy is picking up so people are spending money on things like music again

    D) P2P apps have exposed people to enough new music and now they are all out buying it

    1. Re:So this means what? by WIAKywbfatw · · Score: 5, Interesting

      If you look at the article, you'll notice a link to a related audio story in the top right corner, that talks about how the UK is bucking music industry trends. In other words, how the UK industry's growth is the exception rather than the norm.

      --

      "Accept that some days you are the pigeon, and some days you are the statue." - David Brent, Wernham Hogg
  4. And at the same time... by mikael · · Score: 4, Informative
    --
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  5. P2P makes me buy more albums by grundie · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Well I for one am definately buying more albums as a result of exploring new (to me) music on P2P networks. I'd never heard of Vanglis before P2P came along, now I own his entire back catalog. Surely, I'm not the only one like this?

  6. Price of legal downloads by TheBadger · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I don't understand why the price of a single track is 99p and albums are > £10!

    They don't made into CDs with packaging.
    They don't need to transported around the world/country in various forms of transport.
    They don't need to be stocked in a store which employs loads of people.

    Why, with practically 0 distribution chain, is the price still about the same as CD?

    When they come down to 25p then I'll start buying this way. Well, so long as there's no DRM.

  7. Sign some bands that aren't pure fluff... by bcore · · Score: 4, Insightful

    ...and see better record sales. Go figure.

    This might just be a better business strategy than suing your customers!

  8. No, the BPI is failing. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The British Phonographic Industry (BPI) trade body said albums by the likes of Keane and The Streets had helped drive a 3% rise

    I'd be impressed if the BPI said that they had a 3% increase due to the sales of new, smaller artists.

    But the BPI accounts the 3% rise in sales based on a few large pop acts. Undoubtably there was a reduction for all other artists. This isn't a success - this is a long-term failure in the making.

    The average pop act has a very short life. If you bet the bank on one or two hugely successful acts, then you're committing yourself to financial chaos.

    It is best to have a large number of stable, repeatable acts with long-term purchases that you can depend on.

  9. Piracy = Bad sales: always FUD? by MasterC · · Score: 5, Insightful
    I've always considered the stuff put out saying piracy is bad as FUD. Lawsuits also FUD. Etc.

    This article is just some of what I think should be common business sense shining through:
    • Don't force people to buy songs they don't want (by bundling them (aka album-filler) with a few good songs)
    • Give people a cheap way to buy individual tracks (iTunes, etc.)
    • Give people faster/more instant gratification via online sales
    • Put out good talent and not another Spears or Backstreet Boys or mo-thugging-gangster-wannabie
    • $18 for a soundtrack & $16 for the movie is ridiculous considering movies are like twice as long with VIDEO and usually contain something called talent

    Forcing customers to do business on your terms (buy the CD @ the producer-price-fixed $18 or break the law) while simultaneously feeding them no talent hacks (most anyway) is just begging for them to "steal" the few decent songs produced. Maybe I'm just messed in the head in thinking that suing your customers because you (the producer) won't listen to what they (the consumer) want is just FUBAR'ed.

    Note to the entertainment industry: we computer scientists have jumped into the 21st century by getting through the Y2K bug, I suggest you push your business model to the 21st century as well and reap the benefits be earning my money instead of coercing me. iTunes started it, now embrace it.

    PS: I'm not the only one waiting for you to do so.

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    :wq
  10. The Streets!?! by payndz · · Score: 4, Funny
    The British Phonographic Industry (BPI) trade body said albums by the likes of Keane and The Streets had helped drive a 3% rise

    I think the mere fact that The Streets sell any copies proves conclusively that the UK music industry is in terminal decline!

    I mean, Christ. Some chav who sounds like a 15-year-old schoolyard weed dealer whining about his girlfriend, who just talks on his record, can get to number one? Kids today! Never thought I'd say this, but bring back National Service!

    --
    You must think in Russian.
  11. No suprise.. by locarecords.com · · Score: 4, Insightful
    The major record companies are never going to be in any danger of going out of business due to downloading. And regardless of claims about 'piracy' and 'theft' this clearly demonstrates that much like any other industry they go through cyclical stages. Does this mean they'll hold back from all the big claims of the dangers of the evil pirates? I don't think so.

    Considering how much of the industry has been locked down due to vertical and horizontal integration and oligopolistic market practices it is no suprise that they can sell so much. Just don't believe the lies they tout about how hard their lives are.

    I still think that downloading has exciting possibilities for creativity and a line of flight from traditional music channels - especially through the potential of peer2peer networks and so on. But unfortunately there is a real danger of colonisation from the majors who have deep pockets and sharp lawyers.

    The Internet offer the possibility of difference and a reterritorialisation of music creativity which is at essence a collective (networked) endeavour. If we allow the major's (few and fewer as they are) to close down this space with DRM and monopolisation of the distribution channels then it will be a very sad day for alternative music.

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    ---- The Open Source Record Label : : LOCARECORDS.COM
  12. What does this mean? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    It looks like music sales will continue to climb if the customers get something they like.

    I understand the first part of your sentence.. but what's a "customer" and why do they have to like the music we sell?

    sincerely,
    record company executive

  13. I'm not suprised by the+real+darkskye · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The recent music to come out of the UK hasn't been the usual global tripe.
    Looking pretty and being able to sing won't sell records anymore, posters maybe but not records.

    The fact that bands are back is why sales are up, seeing the guys and gals with the instruments is a good thing, more so when it comes to live performances like V or Glastonbury.

    There is still room in the UK for gimic groups, take GLC for example, it put Aberdare on the map! (if you don't know of GLC (or Goldie Looking Chain ) its like a cross between Eminem, Weird Al and Tom Jones ... White, Welsh comedy rap)

    The future is bright, the future is turned up to Whut-ohh!

    --
    Music is everybody's possession.
    It's only publishers who think that people own it.
    Fuck Beta
    ~John Lenno
  14. Title confused me too, differently... by theluckyleper · · Score: 4, Informative

    I read it as "UK Music Industry Sees Record(=ALBUM) Sales".

    I was like... so... the music industry sold some records? AMAZING!

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  15. UK Music Industry Admits to Record Sales by bugi · · Score: 4, Funny

    A better headline would have been "UK Music Industry Admits to Record Sales".

  16. Related News by AmberBlackCat · · Score: 4, Funny
    Porn Industry Sues File Swappers

    Anonymous sources indicate that the Porn Industry Association of America (PIAA) intends to file suit against up to 20,000 illegal file swappers, with the British Porn Consortium to follow suit in the coming months. The new wave of peer-to-peer file-sharing networks has allowed pornographic material to be shared easily, causing dramatic decreases in pornography sales. The biggest sources of illegal file sharing appear to be college campuses, insecure wireless networks, and people's basements.

    Also indicated, C-Net affiliate porn.com.com reports that in order to fend off the consumer backlash, the PIAA has enlisted the help of the celebrities it represents to endorse the legal purchase of pornographic material. In the coming months, superstars Pamela Anderson and Lil' Kim will deliver spots informing consumers of how stealing pornography deprives artists of the income they deserve. Furthermore, filmographer Rick Solomon will deliver spots on how the decrease in revenue stifles his innovation.

    Suggested alternatives to illegal porn swapping include the new Apple-supported service iPorn, RealNetworks' secure RealPorn protocol, and Microsoft's Porn Media 9 format featuring 5.1 audio.