Physical media continue downward sales trend

[Jenn]

Digital Purchases Rise as Album Sales Fall

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: July 5, 2007

NASHVILLE, July 4 (AP) ‹ Album sales have continued their downward slide
this year, but sales of digital tracks are up almost 50 percent over
this time last year.
A total of 229.8 million albums were sold in the United States from Jan.
1 to July 1, according to Nielsen SoundScan figures released Wednesday.
That is a 15 percent decrease over the same period last year. Sales of
digital tracks increased 49 percent, to 417.3 million this year.
The decrease in album sales becomes only 9.2 percent, however, if
digital singles are bundled together and counted as albums.
The trend away from albums and toward digital tracks has been going on
for a few years, and industry insiders attribute it to pop music¹s
emphasis on hit singles. Consumers simply buy the songs they want and
skip the albums.
One of the most consistent album chart-toppers is the blockbuster ³Now
That¹s What I Call Music!² series, which features a compilation of the
hottest tracks of the season and routinely makes its debut at No. 1.
³Now 24² is the ninth-best-selling album so far this year.

[ScottW]

"Jenn" > wrote in message
...
> Digital Purchases Rise as Album Sales Fall
>
> By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
> Published: July 5, 2007
>
> NASHVILLE, July 4 (AP) ‹ Album sales have continued their downward slide
> this year, but sales of digital tracks are up almost 50 percent over
> this time last year.
> A total of 229.8 million albums were sold in the United States from Jan.
> 1 to July 1, according to Nielsen SoundScan figures released Wednesday.
> That is a 15 percent decrease over the same period last year. Sales of
> digital tracks increased 49 percent, to 417.3 million this year.
> The decrease in album sales becomes only 9.2 percent, however, if
> digital singles are bundled together and counted as albums.
> The trend away from albums and toward digital tracks has been going on
> for a few years, and industry insiders attribute it to pop music¹s
> emphasis on hit singles. Consumers simply buy the songs they want and
> skip the albums.
> One of the most consistent album chart-toppers is the blockbuster ³Now
> That¹s What I Call Music!² series, which features a compilation of the
> hottest tracks of the season and routinely makes its debut at No. 1.
> ³Now 24² is the ninth-best-selling album so far this year.

They haven't broken down this trend by demographic but I suspect
that it is strongly centered among the music buying youth who
don't have much of a system and prefer iPod listening.
Once they get maxed out on downloads the trends will end
and a stabile mix established.

ScottW

[[email protected]]

On Jul 8, 1:28 pm, "Soundhaspriority" > wrote:
> "ScottW" > wrote in message
>
> ...
>
>
>
>
>
> > "Jenn" > wrote in message
> ...
> >> Digital Purchases Rise as Album Sales Fall
>
> >> By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
> >> Published: July 5, 2007
>
> >> NASHVILLE, July 4 (AP) < Album sales have continued their downward slide
> >> this year, but sales of digital tracks are up almost 50 percent over
> >> this time last year.
> >> A total of 229.8 million albums were sold in the United States from Jan.
> >> 1 to July 1, according to Nielsen SoundScan figures released Wednesday.
> >> That is a 15 percent decrease over the same period last year. Sales of
> >> digital tracks increased 49 percent, to 417.3 million this year.
> >> The decrease in album sales becomes only 9.2 percent, however, if
> >> digital singles are bundled together and counted as albums.
> >> The trend away from albums and toward digital tracks has been going on
> >> for a few years, and industry insiders attribute it to pop music¹s
> >> emphasis on hit singles. Consumers simply buy the songs they want and
> >> skip the albums.
> >> One of the most consistent album chart-toppers is the blockbuster ³Now
> >> That¹s What I Call Music!² series, which features a compilation of the
> >> hottest tracks of the season and routinely makes its debut at No. 1.
> >> ³Now 24² is the ninth-best-selling album so far this year.
>
> > They haven't broken down this trend by demographic but I suspect
> > that it is strongly centered among the music buying youth who
> > don't have much of a system and prefer iPod listening.
> > Once they get maxed out on downloads the trends will end
> > and a stabile mix established.
>
> > ScottW
>
> But Scott, you are neglecting that as time goes on, youth become old people.
>
> Bob Morein
> Dresher, PA
> (215) 646-4894- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Quite. And the choices they used to make get more and more narrowas
they get older.
I do not see what is so surprising about most people going for the
least-demanding background noise medium. Remember the rush to audio
cassettes and away from Lps? Did you ever listen to the "music"
choices of the car radio enthusiasts?
Ludovic Mirabel