Quakester2000 used our news submit to tell us
that the music business is coming out of the hole. At least in the United
states, as music sales jumepd 9% in the first quarter of 2004. The folks that
make a living from this are hoping it signals the end of a four year slump. For
the first time in years two albums by Nora Jones and Usher had weekly sales of 1
million.
 "We've had a big run so far," Billboard Magazine's Geoff Mayfield said.
But he added: "Because we've
had three years of erosion, at least for the first eight months of the
year, it will be relatively easy for the industry to post increases."
The upturn, which began at
the end of 2003, saw CD sales rise 10.6%, according to the figures from
Nielsen SoundScan.
Cary Sherman, president of
the Recording Industry Association of America, said the figures were "good
news" - but were being compared with a very low point.
"The numbers of 2003 were
down about 10 to 12% from the year before. If we didn't have that kind of
increase, it would be really terrible," he said.
The music industry has
been hit hard by the sales slump, with many record companies forced to
restructure and shed jobs. |
Would you like a little bread with your whine there
Sherman? Thanks for the story Quakester2000, we appreciate it.
Source: BBC News
