The music industry five years from now......

[R-Tistic]

What do you think the state of the music industry will be like in five years? Will ringtones, or something similar, still be higher than the sale of CDs? Will they end up changing things to where they don't expect to make any money period off of the CDs, and even put the albums up for free...but expect to make all of their money from concert sales and the like? Will CDs even be made anymore? Will the major record powerhouses still have contorl of the industry as they do now, or will there be more balance due to the decline of sales? Will CDs end up making some return due to the laws and regulations against illegal downloads? (LOL)

[M Dogg™]

online trading of music will go up, especially through iTones and whatnot, and that's how they'll measure sales, CDs will still be around, but not as big as now, might even cut the price because most people will buy online.  MP3 player will be $25s... 

[everlast1986]

online trading of music will go up, especially through iTones and whatnot, and that's how they'll measure sales, CDs will still be around, but not as big as now, might even cut the price because most people will buy online.  MP3 player will be $25s... 

that would put alot of record stores out of business too

[Al Bundy]

I think the album is going to die and Singles will start appearing more. Maybe the rebirth of a EP?

[Narrator]

I can tell you one thing...5 years from now, people are gonna be saying, "Remember the days when a really successful album sold Diamond?"

There will almost surely never again be a Diamond-selling album...EVER.  Those days are gone, and I imagine the next 5 years will confirm that.

[Larrabee]

It's gonna get to the point where they're gonna have to sell CD's for like 6 or 7 bucks, because no one buys them anymore anyway. Especially not hip hop records. The days of multi-platinum selling albums is gone or close to being over. These days if a record sells 1 million on CD sales alone, that's a huge accomplishment.

[rik]

The rap game will be obsolete.

[QuietTruth]

It's gonna get to the point where they're gonna have to sell CD's for like 6 or 7 bucks, because no one buys them anymore anyway. Especially not hip hop records. The days of multi-platinum selling albums is gone or close to being over. These days if a record sells 1 million on CD sales alone, that's a huge accomplishment.

Ain't nobody buying cassestes no more but they are still over $10.00 in shops still and that's hip hop. But I hope CD's do get down to that price, than I can afford them more.

[gav09]

Great thread (As always R-Tistic!). I think that 5 years from now most of the money in the music business will still b made from downloads, but I think CDs will still b a big part of the industry. A few reasons I think that CDs will still b a part of the industry are:

1. Like me, a lot of ppl still want 2 hav something to hold 2 show for your money. For example, I do download music but anythin that I like I will go and buy the album and read the album notes/credits and build my collection. I like havin the artwork 4 the CD. I no a lot of ppl r like me and still like 2 own the CD.

2. CDs are very cheap 2 produce, labels wont lose massive amounts of money on CDs, they will just make less 4 wen the album is initially released.

3. If artists arent goin 2 make and release albums anymore then wot are they workin toward? If they are not workin towards makin an album then will more than likely just release tracks that are radio/commercially friendly and make a video for them and we will all miss out on a lot of good music.

4. I'm not sure bout anywhere else in the world, but I know in the UK stores like HMV hav reduced the price of 90% of new release/chart CDs and they are now around the same price as they are to order from online stores such as amazon/play etc.... If more strategies like this are put in place then album sales will surely maintain a steady sales pace if not improvin.

5. More ways are being introduced 2 make CDs worthwhile. I.E. more albums are bein released with a DVD/live CD/special edition etc... 2 offer more value for money. Altho these are still not common for all releases they are more common than they were 5 yrs ago. Also older albums are being re-released with this sort of shit 2.



And on your point of the major record labels still bein the major labels, I think most of them will. They hav sum obviously clever/business minded ppl workin for them so these ppl will find new ways 2 develop music, promote and sell the music. Obv. this doesnt apply 2 all labels, sum will fade from the limelight, but most hav enuff brain power and money 2 develop in2 the future.



These are just some of my views, I dont think CDs will disappear for a while yet.

[Larrabee]

Major labels are surely worried about the decline of record sales in the last few years. Think about all the major players that released albums in 2006 because money had to be made due to drops in sales.

Ice Cube, Jay-Z, Nas, The Game, Snoop Dogg, Diddy, Busta Rhymes, Ludacris, Young Jeezy etc.

I can't remember the last time so many big name artists released albums within 4-6 months of each other so quickly. And yet, sales are still at an all-time low.

[MontrealCity's Most]

Back then artist did certain things to get the music heard like commercials interview things like that. NOwadays artits use their cd's to get deals with other ocmpagnys i.e shoes, drinks, tv shows.

[Mr. O]

Major labels are surely worried about the decline of record sales in the last few years. Think about all the major players that released albums in 2006 because money had to be made due to drops in sales.

Ice Cube, Jay-Z, Nas, The Game, Snoop Dogg, Diddy, Busta Rhymes, Ludacris, Young Jeezy etc.

I can't remember the last time so many big name artists released albums within 4-6 months of each other so quickly. And yet, sales are still at an all-time low.

WHo's fault is that?  The record labels.  THey're the ones who wanna bring out all b.s. music.

[Larrabee]

Exactly. They fucked themselves if you think about it. The genre itself is going through a phase, either that or people don't care about lyrics at all anymore. If it'll get spins in the clubs and it sells, the record labels have no choice but to feed the people whatever they like.

I just hope that five years from now, joints like "This Is Why I'm Hot" and "Pop Lock & Drop It" aren't considered "classic" material.