The Future of the Music Business?

I agree Gary. I don't download that much and never have, unless the CD price is unreasonably high.

I prefer the tangible thing, but thats the collector in me, and I believe in todays young music fans will eventually want a physical product. I mean, I haven't tried it yet, but I suspect it isn't so much fun browsing through someone's external hard drive and trying to start a meaningless geek conversation. The physical product CD or LP does just that.

I did a one hour chain radio programme a couple of years ago. The links in the chain were mostly all obscure 'factoids' gleaned from liner notes. Going download just doesn't resonate in the same way.

Reading the article it looks like Zep missed a trick. A year ago they had the combined CD/DVD reunion show package coming out. They could have done the same as Beyonce then.

the shift has happend, - ownership of physical product be it music, software, film is no longer the way. Yes, I still buy CD’s because I am a collector, and buy them for the information booklet as well as the music, BUT I (and others here) are very much in the minority. Why don’t teenagers wear watches? Because they do not need to own a single function device that may stop working when they can carry a smart phone that is always connected and therefore always accurate.

The problem is it is a mind shift from us oldies who still relate paying for something with owning something physical. Kids do not see it this way. They also want immediate access, - they hear a track on a TV show, they “google”it, listen to a clip on free “YouTube” and download it probably from a pirate site or if the artist is lucky on iTunes…..

Physical product sales continues to fall, - digital download grows. 

Spotify is about the delivery, and the immediate availability. It is about the user, not the artist. Artists agree to have their music on the service and they get paid per download or play. The convenience to it is that the user pays a relatively small subscription (or get it free with adverts interrupting your music) and can access music on multiple devices, - computer or smartphone and easily link via bluetooth to speakers. Sound quality can be okay.

The other reality is music sales be it physical or virtual product are low or not growing in comparison to games, - (console).

http://www.gartner.com/newsroom/id/2614915

The money is in live performance, which is a shift from a few years ago.

Late last year I passed the 4000 mark on the number of CDs on my shelf in the music room.  Some, but not many, are CDs I burned from iTunes downloads where there was no other choice.  It bugs me that these CDs are inferior due to their lossy mp3/m4a origin.  I paid for the full sound, not the 1/10th they make available through downloads.

Mp3s are the devil.  When that is the only way to get new music, I'll probably be done buying and just do the even crappier streaming route.  Sigh ...

One more thing - at least Trent Reznor understands music is about the sound!  His downloads are offered in several lossless formats and even a HD format.  And he packages it with a high resolution PDF artwork/documentation file.  So if I have the equipment and willing to do the work, the normal CD experience is possible.

I would rather have a CD in my hands so I can hear a fully body of work that the artist did. Plus, there's the booklet to read and explore.  Some don't both and throw in a mini poster but darn it, I want album art, song lyrics, thank-yous, special guests, equipment used, where it was recorded.  It seems trivial but it matters. 

I think downloading a song robs a listener of a whole album - a full body of work.  I have friends who dowload music all the time but they do songs not entire albums which makes it hard when we attempt to talk about an artist.

I've downloaded some songs that were hard to find or a CD no longer exists but I don't particular like to - I dread doing so. I like having something physical in my hands while listening to music it enriches it, makes it more alive than a simple download.

(And to think I thought I had a lot of CDs with 1000 - silly me!  I can only imagine what 4000 looks like.) :-)

Late to the topic as always, I work so it's hard to keep up.   Anyhow,  I like the actual album/CD to be in my hand. I love reading the liner notes etc..   I like to know who wrote what and what artists are appearing on the album.   I do buy from ITunes but usually just individual songs and then If I like it I buy the actual CD.   I think the sound quality does suck on mp3's but  some times its an easy way to listen to a new artist.  I do listen to Spotify a lot at work.  I think that young artists like Joe have a lot at their disposal to bring music to a wider audience.   I feel there will always be a place for the actual album even vinyl for purists.   Folks like Joe realize this and offer it all.

I think that if your primary listening is on a mobile device then why wouldn't you just buy downloads.With me it is in the car due to my work so I prefer the physical cd.It would be a pain for me to have to download all my CDs into the computer then I
To iPhone so I haven't made the switch.I know in newer cars you can plug the iPod/phone in or you can retrofit your car for it,but just can't brimg myself to do it.
I see a fair amount of new and upcoming bands who only offer mp3 downloads for their albums now.I would say for the artist it certainly is more  cost effective.So I wonder how long before a cd becomes like vinyl is today?

Thanks for the visual.  *looks at her two jukeboxes and the stack of CDs beside them*  Your CD collection should meet my CD collection.  It would also seem that we share the same DVD situation too.