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Media Research Exec Says Music Industry Is On Its Last Legs

Posted by Zonk on from the internet-killed-the-video-star dept.

Ponca City, We Love You writes "For years, the major record labels have fought a pitched battle against the MP3 format. Although major labels like EMI and the Universal Music Group have embraced MP3s in recent months, a story from the Mercury News says early returns from those moves indicate they've had little impact on the industry's fortunes — for better or for worse. 'These are ailing businesses on their last legs,' said Eric Garland, chief executive of BigChampagne, a market research company focused on digital media. The question of copy protection on song downloads 'matters a whole lot less to them than it once did.' The industry has a bigger problem. Consumers used to buy CDs for $10 or $15 a pop. Increasingly, they're buying songs at about $1 apiece instead. So, even if transactions continue to increase, the industry is seeing far less money each time consumers buy and it's having a difficult time making up the difference."

16 of 401 comments (clear)

  1. So long Music Industry... by PollGuy · · Score: 5, Funny

    So long Music Industry, and thanks for all the Phish!

    1. Re:So long Music Industry... by Plaid+Phantom · · Score: 2, Funny

      You don't *really* want that old music. You want to get this new fifty dollar Britney Spears box set. You want to go home and rethink your life.

      Labels really aren't concerned with what you actually want. They want to tell you what to want and then make you buy it through a system geared toward the label instead of the artist.

      --
      All comments are properties and trademarks of the voices in my head. Not like I'm gonna claim them.
  2. And here is me... by Jaysyn · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...playing the world smallest violin.

    --
    There is a war going on for your mind.
    1. Re:And here is me... by Hanners1979 · · Score: 4, Funny

      If that doesn't get the RIAA knocking on your door, I don't know what will...

    2. Re:And here is me... by Dr.+Eggman · · Score: 4, Funny

      Sir, I have been authorized by the RIAA to halt this unauthorized and illegal reproduction of copyrighted silence.

      --
      Demented But Determined.
  3. A DRM'd copy... by Suicide+Drink · · Score: 2, Funny

    of a recording of the world's smallest man playing on the world's smallest violin plays the world's saddest song...

  4. Re:Recruit Better Talent by RingDev · · Score: 3, Funny

    You need better radio stations.

    -Rick

    --
    "Most people in the U.S. wouldn't know they live in a tyrannical state if it walked up and grabbed their junk." - MyFirs
  5. Re:death of the industry or of the album? by GodfatherofSoul · · Score: 5, Funny

    You, Sir, were not alive in the 80s.

    --
    I swear to God...I swear to God! That is NOT how you treat your human!
  6. Reality copies art? A sum. by mattr · · Score: 1, Funny

    Here is a series of terms. Do we add, subtract, multiply, or divide them?

    TFA is in a locked site so nobody can comment on it.
    MP3 made sense in the last generation of technology, no longer does it make sense to embrace it.
    Buying an album always is waiting for the other shoe to drop - which is the good song in it?

    An album of filler is to a lossy MP3 of a great performance,
    as a subscription-only website is to which of the following:
    a. TFA
    b. Record industry profits
    c. Slashverbowling
    c. CowboyNeal
    d. All of the above

  7. Re:death of the industry or of the album? by spyrochaete · · Score: 5, Funny

    I was going to dial 867-5309 to ask for a witty retort but instead I ran - I ran so far away.

  8. Re:Apropos quote in the article by Chris+Mattern · · Score: 2, Funny

    if the music industry goes away, who will provide music?


    Musicians?

    Chris Mattern
  9. Re:Indie music (and albums) by Genjurosan · · Score: 2, Funny

    For me this is a very strange moment. In my entire life, I've never met anyone who has even heard of Andreas Vollenweider, and I'm sitting here with my IPOD listening to "Down to the Moon" when I read your comment.

    Off-topic, yes, but mod me up +5 for CREEPY.

  10. Re:death of the industry or of the album? by rudeboy1 · · Score: 4, Funny

    I was at a White Wedding, watching a Stray Cat Strut, when I said Come On Eileen, but she was doing the Safety Dance, so I decided to wear My Sunglasses At Night. What can you do? Girls Just Want To Have Fun. Your only option is to Whip It and tell yourself It's Hip To Be Square. //sorry. Couldn't help myself.

    --
    Raging in an online forum won't do anything for the world around you. To see change, you must take action.
  11. Re:death of the industry or of the album? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Maybe that's because you always feel like somebody's watching you.

  12. Re:death of the industry or of the album? by zotz · · Score: 2, Funny

    And here I thought everyone knew Video Killed The Radio Star.

    all the best,

    drew

    --
    FreeMusicPush If you want to see more Free Music made, listen to Free
  13. Re:Just like the VCR killed Hollywood. by mcmonkey · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'll just make my own recording studio! With hookers, and black jack...

    (I couldn't resist)