THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED?

As much as I love empirical evidence, I'm going to go against what the statistics tell is and say that the music industry is in a lot of trouble. You just have to go to a local HMV, and take a look at the prices of CDs, and even DVDs: 2 CDs or DVDs for $30; 2 CDs for $25; or if the retailer is really lucky: 2 CDs or DVDs for $40. Of course, there is also the combination of 3 for $30. Given that most retailers buy hit CDs from distributors for around US$12, it's not hard to see how selling CDs can be a losing proposition for the retailers.

The recording industry estimates that it loses about $4.2 billion dollars to illegal piracy each year. Sales of music has fallen by 10% in the last four years. Only so much of that can be blamed on the crappy music being put out the last little while. And while some sales are being diverted to legal music download sites, there still has to be that part of decline in record sales that can be directly attributed to illegal downloading, regardless of these studies that show that it is not having a negative effect on music sales.

Retailers have to be feeling the pinch from the Napsters, Kazaas, Limewires, Bit Torrents of the world. Otherwise, why else would they have CDs, like the new Coldplay or Sheryl Crow on sale for $9.99, which has to be at a loss for them?

Those who don't feel the need to have the extra-packaging of a CD, such as liner notes, a case or even a disc, can't really justify downloading a song and not paying for it. While, in Canada, it is not legally illegal according, the artist is still being shortchanged out of a royalty. With iTunes and other avenues that will direct the royalties to the artists' pocket, no one has an excuse to not pay for their music.

Afterall, if you have a job, you'd want to get paid for the work you do, too. Don't you?