Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) President and CEO Gary Shapiro, has had a belly full of the RIAA and it's ilk pointing to piracy as the cause for lackluster sales. He says the time is now to explode the myth and get on with business by spending less time litigating and more time innovating and promoting.
"Second, there may be a host of reasons for a sales drop, but piracy is not likely high on the list. Plenty of studies, including one from Harvard University, demonstrate that piracy is not a major driver of declining music sales. "Third, consumers are listening to music differently. Loudspeaker sales have fallen 33 percent since 2000 - twice the drop in music sales. Yet, we are not running to Congress and insisting the law be changed to protect our industry. "The recording industry needs to stop shedding crocodile tears and instead embrace all the new ways consumers can now access and enjoy the classic rock track 'Crocodile Rock.' |
There's another problem with the music industry. Right now, the message from the labels to the musicians it seems, is for the next hit to sound very similar to the last. Due to this cautious posture, there are many segments of the music loving society left out, as they don't wish to contribute to the American Idol dynasty, or finance the latest cookie cutter, lip synching pop star. It's not that it is all bad, but many of the choices for music, are as hackneyed as the labels tiresome refrain.
Source: Music Industry News
