After a decade and a half of nothing but dismal, downbeat news, the music business received an unexpected boost last week with a report that sales had increased for the first time since 1999.
Strike up the band. Let the music play. Party like it’s 1999.
After a decade and a half of nothing but dismal, downbeat news, the music business received an unexpected boost last week with a report that sales had increased for the first time since 1999.
To be sure, the revenue rise was minimal – a mere 0.3 percent – but given how things had been going year after year, how often the music industry’s obituary had been written and rebroadcast, the change in direction is reason to celebrate.The revenue increase was not because of more sales of CDs. No, what’s been happening is that more and more people are spending money downloading music from sites such as Apple’s iTunes and listening on paid-subscription and advertiser-supported services.
Not coincidently, people have been eschewing the illegal methods they’d been relying on to obtain music. This isn’t to say that no one is buying tangible goods any longer. Sales of vinyl records are up. Yes, vinyl. Records played on turntables. They are being embraced by younger listeners, too.
Last year’s best-selling vinyl record wasn’t by The Beatles or some other ‘60s act, but was “Blunderbuss,” the solo debut by Jack White, formerly of The White Stripes. Ask your kids.
When music turned digital three decades ago, no one could have predicted what was ahead. It’s been a long and winding road. With many twists to come.
While everyone in the music business – publishers, songwriters, performers, record companies, executives – has got to be pleased by the news, anyone who loves music should be thrilled, too. If your favorite band doesn’t find a way to make some money, you soon enough won’t be hearing much from them.
Record Store Day this year is on April 20. See you in line.
