h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The British record industry is stating that is has experienced a 5% downturn in profits as a direct result of P2P software. Of course, they have no way of proving that P2P is actually responsible for that drop in sales...

In my experience, P2P users fall into three camps;

1) Those who wouldn't have bought the music in the first place, but who download music because they can. No sales lost there.
2) Those who think that CD prices are a joke, and refuse to pasy them. These people are either using P2P to experience music they wouldn't have bought in the first place, or to 'sample' music that they may then buy. So, again, no sales actually lost, and in most cases sales actually go up.
3) Those who want to get hold of recordings that are no longer available on the market place. Deleted recordings by obscure artists. Again, no sales lost there...

The music industry continues to refuse to accept the evidence that is in front of it's face - that sales are not generated by pre-packaged drivel like Popstars the rivals or the latest nonsense on TV. The recent cancellation of tours by the winners of Pop Idols has proven that this simply isn't fooling anybody. You may get good Tv, you may get an initial set of sales figures that are fantastic, but what you won't get is long term saleability - Hear'say, anyone?

The Industry continues to deny that it is killing the goose that laid the golden egg - the Beatles wouldn't get a contract now because they can't dance. The Stones are far to ugly. Long term profits means long term investments, not short sighted blundering.

The message of P2P has been very clear - bring down prices, and stop trying to manufacture the music. Until the record industry listens, the market will continue to decrease, though slowly. P2P isn't killing the industry, it doesn't need to - the Industry is killing itself far too efficiently...

I'm inclined to agree with you, Shark, except I think you may be wrong about the whole "what sells" thing.

Unfortunately, it seems that (although Hear'Say didn't) some of these acts do have long-term saleability - look at how much revenue is being generated by all the ex Spice-girls, who had one remotely (and I don't use the word "remotely" lightly here) talented member...

There are still bands out there who have the appeal of the Beatles or the Rolling Stones. The truth is that people really just don't want to know any more. For a rough comparison I'd say U2 are the Stones, Coldplay are the Beatles and Radiohead are the Floyd. These bands all enjoy success, they've all had at least two number one albums, and they have huge fanbases, but you ask a random person on the street who they are and they don't know, whereas ask them about the Spice Girls and they could probably name at least three of the five. Cheesy s is the (albeit temporary, i suspect) future of music.

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Well, I think I'd beg to differ about the Spice Girls, as all their solo careers are now firmly in the bargain bin, especially as Mel C's new album is said to be an absolute stinker. Spice re-Union here we come...

Frankly, I think the fact that the average member of the public can't name those bands is pretty healthy. The future of music is diversity. The 5% sales drop is only atr the major labels, but labels such a World Circuit and Cooking Vinyl and Catfish and a host of others selling to niche markets are doing very nicely thank you...In the age of the internet, where more and better choice is the watchword, it's foolish of the record industry to think that any band wil ever conquer the sort of all inclusive demographic that was enjoyed by the Beatles, or even Abba...

I'm inclined to agree with you, although I still get all my music inspiration from BBC 6 Music and NME Radio. I think cheesy pop acts still have a future (at least in the next ten years or so) as far as "big" well-known acts are concerned. Ah well, one day people will learn that the best way is to have a bit of everything, and if P2P is what convinces them, all the better.

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