This post will be exploring the rise of digital downloads and file sharing while record sales are starting to come tumbling down. Furthermore in an odd fashion vinyl are starting to make a comeback.
In the past decade there has been a huge increase in digital sales while record and CD sales have started to slip. Why is that? It is because of the internet. Musicians are able to distribute online their music and to share them with the world all in an instant. Musicians and artists are able to reach out to their fans a lot easier and share their songs and albums with them. By a click away a consumer or fan are able to access their music on Amazon or iTunes. According to Billboard, "This year has been amazing for music. Perhaps most important is the big improvement in download sales. This
year's increase in digital downloads could result in around $300 million
of incremental consumer spending by the end of the year, based on
Billboard estimates using Nielsen SoundScan data." All that needs to be said from this is that people are starting to go online to access music. It has pretty much changed the music industry around. A few years ago people weren't able to do these things as the Internet (compared to today's standards).
A consumer syncing their iPod with iTunes
Furthermore with online sales, record companies, musicians are able to cut out the middle man. They no longer have to pay for stamping CDs, distribution within the country, air freight for overseas, paying stores to hold on to their CDs. It has revolutionised people buying products. Like every other store that is online it is much cheaper and if you don't mind the wait, it will leave the consumer satisfied because they didn't spend all that much. All the more can be said for online music because there are no hard copies, artists don't need to ship it, but all they have to do now is pay either Amazon or iTunes to host their music and they'll get a share in the profits. Pretty simple.
One thing has also increased but has not been touched on. Mobile song downloads have increased. People are able to download music anywhere to their phones and listen to it all in an instant. I have personally been part of this. For example, a few months back i read online that Coldplay were dropping their new single "Every Teardrop is a Waterfall." Excited as i was, i furiously opened my iPhone, searched the iTunes store and there it was for $1.69. Instantly i downloaded it over the 3G network and in under 2mins, i had the song to listen to over and over again. Because of this convenience, online stores are starting to eat away at records because you can't do that with a record. It all takes time and nowadays people don't have the time and need everything presented to them all in an instant.
The Evolution of iTunes from 2003-2011
Having said that CDs aren't about to disappear from the industry. People still appreciate the authenticity as well as hard copy of a record so there are a few (like myself) who feel satisfied when they buy the copy. It gives the consumer a sense of satisfaction when they buy the CD because it feels like they partly own the music and acts as a souvenir to keep. Furthermore there have been increase sales on vinyl. I believe that people are starting to appreciate not only the sound quality from vinyls that surpasses any form of mp3 or CD, but the history and uniqueness to it. People love collecting vinyls because not only does it have that hard copy feel to it but it feels genuine and wholesome.
What has happened to the distribution of music has changed. It has changed because people have chosen convenience and spending over hard copies and the exorbitant prices that stores charge. With a click of a button a consumer is able to download their favourite music from anywhere in the world and are able to do it all in an instant. While what was once seen as a fun and interesting has now become a tedious task to get out of the house, drive or walk to the local music store, buy the album for at least 20% more than what you may pay on the internet, come home and as most people would, rip it to their iTunes.
Many music artists have admitted to doing this themselves. Katy Perry, Kanye West, Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers have stated that they use the iTunes stores to listen to their favourite artists and search for new ones. For example in a recent interview, Mark Hoppus from blink-182 said "“iTunes is my favourite record store.
I wish there was some cool, independent record store that I could name.
I love those stores. I grew up in those stores, and I wish there were
more of them. But as much as I enjoy browsing the aisles and digging in
bins, I also love the convenience of being able to buy music at 3 A.M.,
half-drunk, and in my underwear.”"
Mark Hoppus - blink-182
In the coming years to follow, mp3 and file sharing online are bound to increase and it won't stop. Convenience has played a huge factor in this market and consumers are drawn into the whole scheme of downloading on the spot for a very cheap price. Whatever appeals to their short attention span and need to know information quickly, they will take it. iTunes is a primary example. They are taking the ball and running with it.
- RustleXer
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